Iran’s Complex Leadership Succession Process Explained After Supreme Leader’s Death

Following the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, an 88-member clerical panel must choose his replacement in the country's complex theocratic system. The succession process involves multiple government bodies and could potentially include Khamenei's son as a candidate, though such a transfer might spark controversy.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Following the passing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, critical questions emerge regarding the nation’s political direction. While religious authorities are responsible for selecting his successor, the transition process within Iran’s theocratic government structure presents numerous complexities.

Key details about the succession:

The responsibility for choosing Iran’s supreme leader falls to the Assembly of Experts, a body comprised of 88 members. This same group also holds the authority to dismiss a supreme leader, though such action has never been taken.

This assembly consists exclusively of Shiite religious scholars who win their positions through popular elections held every eight years. However, their candidacies must receive approval from the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional oversight body. This council has a history of rejecting candidates across various Iranian elections, including Assembly of Experts races. In March 2024, the Guardian Council blocked former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, considered a moderate who helped negotiate the 2015 nuclear agreement with international powers, from running for the Assembly of Experts.

According to Iranian legal requirements, the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible” select a new supreme leader. However, during the interim period, a leadership council may “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.”

This temporary council would include Iran’s current president, the nation’s top judicial official, and a Guardian Council representative selected by Iran’s Expediency Council, which provides counsel to the supreme leader and resolves legislative conflicts. Under current circumstances, this leadership council would feature Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian alongside hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei.

Religious discussions regarding succession and related political maneuvering occur behind closed doors, making it difficult to determine leading candidates.

Earlier speculation centered on Khamenei’s ally, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi, as a possible successor. However, Raisi died in a helicopter accident in May 2024. This development has brought attention to Mojtaba, one of Khamenei’s sons and a 56-year-old Shiite cleric, as a possible contender, despite his lack of government experience. However, a father-to-son succession for the supreme leader position could generate significant backlash, not only from Iranians who oppose clerical governance, but also from system supporters. Many might view such a transition as contrary to Islamic principles and reminiscent of establishing another religious dynasty following the 1979 overthrow of U.S.-supported Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi’s regime.

Iran has experienced only one previous supreme leader transition since the position was established following the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini passed away in 1989 at age 86, having served as the revolution’s symbolic leader and guiding Iran during its devastating eight-year conflict with Iraq. This current transition occurs following Israel’s 12-day military campaign against Iran in June 2025.

The supreme leader position represents the core of Iran’s intricate power-sharing Shiite theocratic system and maintains ultimate authority over all state decisions.

The role also includes serving as commander-in-chief of Iran’s armed forces and the influential Revolutionary Guard, a paramilitary organization that the United States classified as a terrorist group in 2019 and which gained significant power under Khamenei’s leadership. The Guard, which has spearheaded the self-proclaimed “Axis of Resistance” — a network of militant organizations and allies throughout the Middle East designed to oppose U.S. and Israeli influence — also controls substantial financial resources and assets within Iran.