Council Members Temporarily Leading Iran Amid Government Crisis

Iran Establishes Interim Leadership Council Following Supreme Leader’s Assassination

Iran has announced a three-member interim leadership council, comprising President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, to assume the duties of the supreme leader until a successor is elected. This decision follows the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in Israeli-United States strikes.

According to Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution, a temporary leadership council can be established to assume the supreme leader’s duties. The council will oversee the government’s operations during this period.

President Pezeshkian, who was elected in the 2024 elections, has a background in politics and medicine. He previously served as health minister under President Mohammad Khatami and as a member of parliament representing the city of Tabriz.

Chief Justice Mohseni-Ejei is a senior religious leader who has headed the judiciary since July 2021. He was previously intelligence minister from 2005 to 2009 and prosecutor-general.

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, a member of the Guardian Council, will also be part of the interim leadership council. The Guardian Council is an Islamic legal authority that vets Iran’s laws and policies to ensure they conform to Islamic principles.

The three individuals will lead Iran as it navigates this period following Khamenei’s assassination.

Source: Al Jazeera