Who Will Lead Iran Now?

 UANI Policy Director Jason M. Brodsky in the Spectator: The Islamic Republic’s constitution stipulates a succession process whereby the Assembly of Experts, a clerical body, anoints a replacement for the supreme leader should the office become vacant. In the interim, a leadership council is formed which includes the president, chief justice, and a member of the Guardian Council selected by the Expediency Council. There is also a protocol should one or more of these offices lose an incumbent. After Khamenei’s death was confirmed by the state media the Islamic Republic swiftly announced that it had formed this interim leadership council. In addition to the president and chief justice, it named Alireza Arafi, a cleric on the Guardian Council who has headed Iran’s Seminary and is a member of the Assembly of Experts, as its third member. Membership of the council may prove a steppingstone to the supreme leadership, should a successor to Khamenei be chosen. Its clerical members, especially the chief justice and Arafi, are strong contenders to succeed Khamenei.