Several Iranian clerics say supreme leader chosen, no name given

2026-03-08 - 10:47

Iranian clerics have picked the country’s next supreme leader, according to state media. Israel’s military has vowed to target the successor. The body tasked with choosing Iran’s next supreme leader has reached a decision, several hardline members said, without naming the candidate chosen. One senior cleric in the 88-member Assembly of Experts, Ayatollah Ahmad Alam al-Hoda, was quoted by the semi-official Mehr news agency as saying that: “The elections for the leadership have been held and the leader has been appointed.” He said rumors that tried to pretend that the Assembly of Experts, had not yet made a decision are “pure lies.” Al-Hoda said that it was now up to the Assembly’s Secretariat, headed by Ayatollah Hosseini Bushehri, to announce the decision. Ayatollah Heidari, also a member of the Assembly said that the “best” option, which is approved by the majority of the Assembly of Experts, has been chosen, according to the semi-official ISNA news agency. “Notably, even the ‘Great Satan’ has referred to the name of the individual selected by the representatives,” Heidari added. Hardline clerics usually refer to the United States as the “Great Satan.” Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump said it would be unacceptable for Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to succeed him. The succession process is defined by the Iranian constitution and involves both a temporary leadership arrangement and a formal selection by a clerical body. Interim leadership Immediately after the leader’s death, Iran activated a temporary leadership council to ensure continuity of governance. The council consists of: President Masoud Pezeshkian Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei A senior cleric from the Guardian Council (reported to be Alireza Arafi) This three-member body temporarily assumes the powers of the supreme leader until a permanent successor is chosen. Who chooses the new leader The next supreme leader is selected by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member council of Shiite clerics. Key facts about the body: Members are elected by the public every eight years. Candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council, Iran’s powerful constitutional watchdog. The assembly has the authority to appoint and even remove the supreme leader, though removal has never happened. Selection procedure The process generally involves: Convening the Assembly of Experts after the position becomes vacant. Deliberation and internal consultations among clerics and senior political figures. Voting by the assembly, with a simple majority sufficient to appoint a new leader. Formal announcement and oath, after which the new supreme leader assumes full authority. The candidate must be a senior Islamic jurist with religious authority, political judgement and administrative ability, according to Iran’s constitution. With inputs from Al Jazeera and CNN