Iran Faces Uncertain Future as Succession Process Begins After Khamenei’s Death

The death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on June 18, 2025, after nearly 37 years in power, has initiated a critical succession process in Iran. His passing, reportedly resulting from an airstrike campaign conducted by the United States and Israel, has raised significant questions about the future direction of the country.

In response to this development, Iran’s constitution mandates the formation of a temporary leadership council. This council, established immediately following Khamenei’s death, consists of the sitting president, Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary, Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, and a member selected from the Guardian Council. This council will assume leadership duties until a new supreme leader is appointed.

The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body comprised entirely of Shiite clerics, is responsible for selecting the next supreme leader as outlined by Iranian law. The members of this panel are elected every eight years and their candidacies must be approved by the Guardian Council, the constitutional watchdog known for disqualifying candidates. Most recently, former President Hassan Rouhani was barred from running for the Assembly in March 2024.

While this leadership council will govern temporarily, the deliberations surrounding the selection of Khamenei’s successor are expected to remain largely behind closed doors. The process is intricate and may involve various factions within Iran’s political landscape. Initially, hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi was seen as a potential successor; however, he died in a helicopter crash on May 20, 2024, significantly altering the succession landscape.

Now, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, emerges as a potential candidate despite lacking formal government experience. His ascension could provoke backlash, particularly from critics of clerical rule, who may view a father-to-son transfer as an un-Islamic attempt to establish a new religious dynasty reminiscent of the pre-1979 era under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

The transfer of power in Iran is rare, with only one prior instance occurring in 1989 when Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini passed away. As the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khomeini’s leadership was pivotal during the subsequent eight-year war with Iraq. The current transition unfolds against the backdrop of ongoing tensions, particularly following a 12-day military conflict initiated by Israel against Iran in June 2025.

The supreme leader wields substantial authority within Iran’s complex power structure, overseeing all state matters as well as serving as the commander-in-chief of the military and the influential Revolutionary Guard. This paramilitary force has been designated a terrorist organization by the United States since 2019 and has played a crucial role in Iran’s foreign policy, particularly in countering U.S. and Israeli influence in the region.

As Iran navigates this unprecedented moment, the global community watches closely, awaiting clarity on the potential direction of leadership and policy in a country that has long been a focal point of geopolitical tensions. The next steps in the succession process will likely shape Iran’s internal and external relations for years to come.