Top Iranian clerics urge rapid clarity on new leader

A senior Iranian cleric hinted that a vote could soon be held to elect the successor of slain religious leader Ali Khamenei, Fars news agency reported.

According to Fars, Ayatollah Hasan Musafari, a member of the Assembly of Experts responsible for the election, said he was confident that the new leader would be appointed within the next 24 hours.

He also asked people not to spread rumors about why the election has not been held yet.

Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on February 28, triggering Iran’s retaliatory strikes against targets in the region.

Criticism is increasing in religious circles in Qom, a Shiite stronghold in Iran, as to why the Assembly of Experts has not yet appointed a successor, despite being responsible for the process.

Famous Ayatollah Hossein Noori Hamedani said, “We expect the Assembly of Experts to move quickly on this issue in order to crush the enemy’s hopes and preserve the unity and unity of the nation.” he said.

Influential Ayatollah Naser Makarem Shirazi also described rapid implementation as the best way to strengthen Iran’s sovereignty and effectively conduct state affairs.

Unconfirmed reports say Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late religious leader, and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of revolutionary leader Ruhollah Khomeini, are seen as the two leading candidates.

However, neither Mojtaba Khamenei nor Hassan Khomeini holds the rank of grand ayatollah required by the Iranian constitution.

The constitution says the Assembly of Experts, made up of 88 clergy, must appoint a new religious leader.

Until a successor is appointed, an interim trio led by President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary and another cleric will run state affairs.