Iran Announces Transitional Leadership Council Following Assassination of Supreme Leader

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Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, announced on Sunday the beginning of a transitional phase following the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes, according to state television.

Larijani stated that a temporary leadership council would be formed shortly. He said the council would comprise the president, the head of the judiciary, and a member of the Guardian Council, who would assume responsibilities until a new Supreme Leader is elected.

“This council will be formed as soon as possible; we are working on its establishment starting today,” he said.

He also stated that Iran had no intention of attacking neighbouring countries, but warned that American military bases in the region would be targeted if they were used against Iran.

“We have informed Washington through the Swiss embassy that we will target its bases if it attacks us,” he said, adding that Iran considers U.S. military bases in the region to be American territory.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced the death hours earlier, saying it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country.

State media reported that the 86-year-old was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran. Satellite photos from Airbus showed that the site was heavily bombed.

His death at his office “showed that he consistently stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities, confronting what officials call global arrogance,” state TV said.

Iran responded to the airstrikes with its own counter-attacks and warnings of further retaliation. The Iranian Cabinet condemned the strikes, stating that the “great crime will never go unanswered,” and vowed that the attack would have consequences. Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) threatened to launch its “most intense offensive operation” in history, signalling possible targeting of both Israeli and American bases in the region.




PUKMEDIA