The Assembly of Experts of Iran said it had reached a consensus on the successor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a joint United States and Israeli attack on February 28, but the name of the new supreme leader has not yet been officially announced. The information was disclosed by Iranian religious authorities and carried by Al Jazeera and other international agencies.
Ayatollah Mohammad-Mahdi Mirbagheri, a member of the Assembly of Experts, said that the body had reached a “decisive and unanimous opinion” about the new leader, although there are still “some obstacles” regarding the procedure to formalize the choice. Under the Iranian Constitution, this body, composed of 88 clerics, is responsible for selecting the supreme leader, the central figure of the country’s political and religious system.
In a video released by Nournews, another member of the assembly, Ayatollah Mohsen Heidari Alekasir, said that a candidate had already been chosen based on guidance attributed to Khamenei — who ruled Iran for 37 years and was killed on February 28 in a joint attack by the United States and Israel. According to him, the former leader argued that the successor should “be hated by the enemy,” and not praised by him. Alekasir also stated that “even the Great Satan [the United States] has already mentioned his name,” without directly naming who the chosen one would be.
The statements come just a few days after the U.S. president, Donald Trump, said that Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the deceased leader, was the most likely name to take the post, but he called it an “unacceptable” option.
Mojtaba is described by the international press as a hardline cleric, with strong ties to the Revolutionary Guards and influence built behind the scenes as the main adviser to his father, although he has not held formal government positions beyond his role in the supreme leader’s office.
The semi-official Mehr Agency, cited by both Al Jazeera and international outlets, said that the announcement of the new leader will fall to the secretary of the body, Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, but it is not yet known whether the formalization of the decision will take place in a face-to-face meeting, given the context of military escalation and security concerns.
The uncertainty about the form of the announcement comes amid direct threats from Israel to the succession process. In a Persian-language message posted on the X platform, the Israeli army warned that it “would not hesitate” to strike anyone taking part in the meeting intended to choose Khamenei’s successor.
The succession at the religious leadership takes place in parallel with the intensification of the war in the region and an increase in pressure on Iran’s strategic infrastructure.
Read more: Iran says U.S. bases in the Middle East are legitimate targets of retaliation
More Attacks
Israeli jets attacked large fuel depots in the Kuhak and Shahran areas of Tehran, as well as the neighboring city of Karaj. Local authorities reported explosions in parts of the capital and advised residents to wear masks and stay at home, citing risks of air pollution due to clouds of debris. The Red Crescent Society warned of the release of large quantities of harmful particles into the atmosphere after the explosions at fuel storage tanks.
Iran, for its part, expanded its attacks with missiles and drones against Gulf countries. An Iranian strike damaged a desalination plant in Bahrain, according to the local government, though water supply was not disrupted.
The offensive comes after Tehran accused the U.S. of striking a similar facility on Iranian soil. Gulf countries rely heavily on desalination plants for their potable water, which increases the potential impact of successive attacks on such facilities.
Energy Market
The conflict is also weighing on the energy market. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait began reducing oil production in response to the near-blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, the route through which about a fifth of global energy exports pass.
According to Bloomberg, U.S. crude oil futures closed the week above $90 per barrel, more than $20 above the previous week’s level, the largest weekly percentage gain in records dating back to the 1980s. Saudi Aramco shares rose nearly 5% in Riyadh, reflecting the perception of a higher regional risk premium.
Trump
Meanwhile, the conduct of the war and the succession in Tehran continues to be under international scrutiny.
The Trump administration says it is considering broadening the scope of attacks inside Iranian territory, and Israel indicates that it will continue to target both military and energy installations as well as key figures in Iran’s power structure.
The selection and profile of the new supreme leader — especially if it confirms a name associated with the Revolutionary Guards and the regime’s hardline wing — are expected to be watched as an indicator of the future direction of Iran’s foreign and security policy, with potential effects on the ongoing conflict and on volatility in oil markets and regional risk assets.
