Iran to Appoint New Supreme Leader Within Days, Foreign Minister Says

Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, on Sunday announced that a new leadership council has officially begun operations following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In a prerecorded message broadcast on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian said the council had “begun its work,” signalling the start of a political transition at the highest level of the Islamic Republic.

Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told Al Jazeera that a new supreme leader is expected to be selected within “one or two days,” suggesting an expedited process amid mounting regional tensions.

The leadership transition comes as violence escalates between Iran and Israel. A massive explosion struck Tehran on Sunday, with the Israeli military stating it was targeting strategic sites in central parts of the capital.

Earlier in the day, Iran launched missile attacks against an expanding list of targets in Israel and several Gulf Arab states, describing the strikes as retaliation.

The rapid political developments and intensifying military exchanges have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation in the Middle East.