Who Will Lead Iran After Ali Khamenei’s Death?

It is now officially confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed during the joint military operation undertaken by USA and Israel. After claims by International media and Donald Trump about Khamenei’s death, the Iranian state media also ratified the news.  

Reliable media and intelligence sources further revealed that around 40 Iranian officials were also killed in the air raids along with several citizens after airstrikes struck civilian areas across Iran on Saturday. Along with Khamenei, his daughter, grandchild and other family members were declared dead. 

Meanwhile, the Iranian government has reportedly announced 40 days of public mourning as a mark of national respect for the 86-year-old Ayatollah, who had ruled Iran for over 36 years.

The question now is who could replace Ayatollah as the next leader of Iran amid the ongoing crisis. The government sources stated that there is no clarity yet on the successor as the veteran leader does not have an officially declared heir. 

An elected body of 88 senior clerics, known as the Assembly of Experts, which elected Ayatollah Ali Khamenei will once again select the next leader of Iran after holding discussions. 

Some of the contenders include Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Khamenei, Alireza Arafi, a less dominant yet a established cleric and also a close confidant of Khamenei. Mohammad Mehdi Mirbagheri, Hassan Khomeini and Hashem Hosseini Bushehri also in the race to take reins of the wartorn country. 

Meanwhile, the middle East remains on the edge as theIran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned of launching a more aggressive retaliation what it called “the most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic”. This is as per a statement published by the semi-official Fars news agency.

The statement reportedly claimed that the offensive will begin in just moments and target the occupied territories and American terrorist bases across the region. Iranian cabinet also warned that both US and Israel will pay a heavy price for the devastation caused by them.