Iran’s clerical regime is now trying to find a successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following his killing in joint US-Israeli strikes. The veteran leader, who ruled for nearly four decades, has not officially declared an heir. Instead, an elected body of 88 senior clerics, known as the Assembly of Experts, will select the next leader.
The ruling establishment is expected to move quickly to show stability in the republic, with members of the assembly to deliberate over possible candidates before naming Khamenei’s replacement. But it is unclear if they can manage to form a meeting, given that US President Donald Trump has vowed that the joint US-Israeli bombing campaign will continue in the days ahead.
The constitution stipulates that the leader chosen must be a cleric with political competence, moral authority, and loyalty to the Islamic Republic. According to experts and analysts of CNN, here’s a look at some of the contenders for the position.
Mojtaba Khamenei
Mojtaba, 56, is Khamenei’s second son and is known for his influence and strong links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most powerful military body in the country, as well as its Basij volunteer paramilitary force. But Mojtaba’s potential succession would face significant hurdles since father-to-son succession is frowned upon in the Shiite Muslim clerical establishment.
Alireza Arafi
Arafi, 67, is the current deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts and has been a member of the powerful Guardian Council, which vets election candidates and laws passed by parliament. He is also head of Iran’s seminary system and an established cleric with a track record in government institutions. Arafi is also a published author with 24 books and articles.
Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri
Mirbagheri is a hardline Shia cleric and a member of the Assembly of Experts who represents the most conservative wing of the clerical establishment. He also currently heads the Islamic Sciences Academy in the northern holy city of Qom.
Hassan Khomeini
Hassan is the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, giving him religious and revolutionary legitimacy. He is also custodian of the Khomeini mausoleum. However, he hasn’t held public office and appears to have little influence with the country’s security apparatus.
Hashem Hosseini Bushehri
Bushehri is a senior cleric who serves as the representative of Bushehr province in the Assembly of Experts, which makes him closely linked to the institutions that manage succession.
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