After Khamenei, who? How Iran chooses its Supreme Leader and who could be next

US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed following joint American and Israeli air strikes.“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” he wrote, calling the strike “justice for the people of Iran” and for Americans and others allegedly harmed by Iran.The death of 86-year-old supreme leader has sent Iran into the unknown as Khamenei has left the centerstage without naming any designated successor.Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and two other top officials will lead Iran in the transitional period, state television reported on Sunday. Judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and another official from the country’s legal council will be part of the trio overseeing the transition, according to state television, which cited Mohammad Mokhber, one of Khamenei’s advisors.

An 88-member panel of Shia clerics -called the assembly of experts- appoints the supreme leader of Iran. The clerics are popularly elected every eight years and whose candidacies are approved by the Guardian Council, Iran’s constitutional watchdog.According to the Iranian law assembly of experts “must, as soon as possible” pick a new supreme leader.But until then, a leadership council can step in and “temporarily assume all the duties of leadership.” The assembly is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament. If that were to happen now, Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei would be on that leadership council.There has been only one other transfer of power in the office of the supreme leader of Iran, the paramount decision-maker since the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.In 1989, Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died at age 86 after being the figurehead of the revolution and leading Iran through its bloody eight-year war with Iraq. This transition now comes after Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran in June 2025 as well.

Mojtaba KhameneiAyatollah’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is one of the top contenders of succeeding the Supreme Leader. He is the second-eldest son of the now dead leader, and has long been seen as the rational successor to the terrorist-funding regime, Reuters reported citing sources with knowledge.The 56-year-old is inline with his father’s hardline policies, insiders told the outlet.Mojtaba Khamenei was flagged by the US treasury department as one of the parties responsible for transferring $1.5 billion out of Iran last month with Secretary Scott Bessent accusing the leadership of “abandoning ship.”Hassan KhomeiniAnother regime insider is Hassan Khomeini — the grandson of the father of the Islamic Revolution, Ruhollah Khomeini.Hassan Khomeini, 53, has emerged over the past month as a serious contender and is seen as a more conciliatory choice — both internationally and domestically.Maryam RajaviSoon after the strikes, president-elect of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran Maryam Rajavi called for the overthrow of Iran’s ruling regime and the creation of a democratic republic as conflict intensifies over Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs following Saturday’s strikes by the US and Israel.“Our homeland continues to endure greater pain and destruction under the rule of religious fascism,” Rajavi declared in a statement shared with The Post, urging Iranians — particularly the nation’s “courageous youth” — to protect civilians amid mounting instability.According to the New York Post, NCRI, formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, presents itself as a government-in-exile and says it has a ready blueprint for a six-month transitional administration that would organize free elections and transfer sovereignty to the people.Reza PahlaviThe son of last monarch, Reza Pehlavi is also planning for a democratic transition if the Islamic Republic collapses.In a post on X, Pahlavi described the US action as a “humanitarian intervention” aimed at the regime — not the Iranian people.“The final victory will still be achieved by us,” he wrote. “It is we, the people of Iran, who will finish this task in this final battle. The time to return to the streets is approaching.”Pahlavi also called on President Trump to exercise “the utmost possible caution” to protect civilians if strikes continue, adding that Iranians “will not forget your assistance during the most difficult period of Iran’s contemporary history.”Rajavi urged members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other security bodies to lay down their arms and side with the people.Pahlavi warned security personnel they would “sink with Khamenei’s ship” if they continued defending the regime rather than “protect[ing] Iran and the Iranian nation.”Rajavi pointed to her “10-point plan” advocating free elections, separation of religion and state, gender equality and a non-nuclear Iran as the framework for a transitional government.Meanwhile, both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged the Iranian people to take to the streets and seize power of their nation.“Our joint action will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their destiny into their own hands,” Netanyahu said, encouraging Iranians to “take over your government.”