The Assembly of Experts will convene on Sunday to select Iran’s next Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei. The move comes amid a joint US-Israeli offensive and internal regime chaos.
Iran’s Assembly of Experts announced on Saturday that it would “meet within a day” to select the new leader to succeed former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iranian media reported.
Ayatollah Mozafari, one of the 88 members of the assembly, reportedly confirmed that the meeting would take place.
The report comes after the IDF on Tuesday targeted the building in which the Assembly of Experts was meeting to choose the Islamic Republic’s next supreme leader, Israeli sources told The Jerusalem Post.
Iranian news agencies said the structure in Qom was “flattened.”
Tasnim, a media outlet affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), confirmed that the Assembly’s compound in Qom had been struck and that its building in Tehran, located at the former parliament site, was also hit overnight.
A person holds an image of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Iranian demonstrators protest against the US-Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026 (credit: MAJID ASGARIPOUR/WANA (WEST ASIA NEWS AGENCY) VIA REUTERS)
Assembly of Experts to select new supreme leader in virtual meeting
According to a report by IRGC-linked Fars News, the new supreme leader was going to be selected via virtual meetings, after both buildings used by the assembly were struck by the IDF.
One of the 88 members assured that a new leader would “be selected soon,” Fars reported.
According to a report by Iran International, the assembly is divided over plans to announce Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Khamenei, as the new supreme leader of Iran.
From early Tuesday, IRGC commanders across the country reportedly pressured members to vote for Mojtaba through a campaign of meetings and phone calls until minutes before the assembly began.
Without firm leadership yet decided, the authority to appoint and dismiss military officials and to declare war has been transferred to the Interim Leadership Council, Iranian state news agency IRNA reported.
Alex Winston, Dannielle Greyman-Kennard, and Omid Habibinia/The Media Line contributed to this report.