U.S. & Israel Kill Iran's Supreme Leader
A joint U.S.-Israeli strike has killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Tehran after months of CIA surveillance. Iran has retaliated with missile strikes on Israeli and Gulf targets and announced an interim government, but faces massive internal instability as some citizens are reportedly celebrating Khamenei's death.
With the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the 88-member Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked with selecting his successor. This body of senior Islamic jurists, who are elected by popular vote to eight-year terms, will convene to choose the next Supreme Leader. In the interim, a three-member council will assume the duties of the head of state. The temporary leadership council consists of President Masoud Pezeshkian, a cardiac surgeon and reformist politician; Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, a hardline cleric with a long history in the intelligence and judicial systems; and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a senior cleric and member of the powerful Guardian Council. Arafi was appointed to the council to fill the clerical seat required by the constitution. The leading contender to succeed Khamenei is his second son, Mojtaba Khamenei. The 56-year-old cleric has deep ties to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij militia. However, the concept of a hereditary succession is controversial in a republic founded on the overthrow of a monarchy and could face opposition. Another potential candidate is Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the Islamic Republic's founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. While he carries a significant symbolic legacy, his more moderate leanings may be a disadvantage in the current political climate. Other names being discussed include former president Hassan Rouhani and members of the influential Larijani family. Iran's retaliatory strikes have targeted multiple locations, including US military bases in the Gulf. In Israel, a missile strike in the Tel Aviv area resulted in one death and 21 injuries. In the UAE, at least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi, and debris from an intercepted drone caused a fire on the facade of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. Kuwait's international airport and a US airbase were also targeted. The news of Khamenei's death has been met with a divided response within Iran. While thousands of mourners gathered in Tehran's Enghelab Square, others reportedly celebrated in the streets of cities like Karaj, Shiraz, and Isfahan. Videos have circulated online showing people dancing and cheering, expressing joy at the news.
