Iran’s Assembly of Experts is expected to convene within the next 24 hours to select the nation’s next supreme leader, according to a senior member of the body, as reported by Iranian media on Saturday.
The announcement comes a week after the reported death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in what Iranian authorities described as a US-Israeli attack.
Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88 members of the assembly, told Fars News Agency that the session would take place “with divine assistance” within a day.
He also urged the public to avoid speculation or spreading rumors, emphasizing that the assembly had not yet formally convened.
The death of Khamenei has intensified political tensions in the region, triggering concerns over a potential power vacuum in Iran.
The Assembly of Experts, the body constitutionally mandated to appoint the supreme leader, is now under pressure to make a swift decision to maintain continuity of leadership.
Meanwhile, the United States condemned Iranian drone attacks earlier this week on Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, calling the strikes a “needless escalation” amid ongoing Middle East conflicts.
According to the State Department, the drone assault targeted an airport and school, injuring civilians.
“These attacks represent a clear violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott.
“Iran’s aggression is unacceptable and will be met with steadfast US support for its regional partners.”
On Saturday night, explosions were reported in Baghdad and Erbil, the latter being the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.
AFP journalists described hearing multiple loud bangs in both cities. In Baghdad, air defenses were reportedly activated near the heavily fortified Green Zone, which houses the US embassy.
In Erbil, drones appeared to trigger the explosions, although no casualties were immediately reported.
The incidents highlight the escalating regional instability following Khamenei’s death, as neighboring countries and international powers brace for potential shifts in Iran’s leadership and its foreign policy posture.
With the Assembly of Experts preparing to meet imminently, global attention remains focused on Tehran, where both domestic and international observers are awaiting the selection of Iran’s new supreme leader.
