Who is running Iran?

 

Who is running Iran?

Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, during joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, Iran is currently being governed by a Provisional Leadership Council.

 

This council consists of three key figures who will manage state affairs until the Assembly of Experts elects a new permanent Supreme Leader:

 

Masoud Pezeshkian: The current President of Iran, representing the elected executive branch.

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei: The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, representing the judicial system.

Ayatollah Alireza Arafi: A member of the Guardian Council and deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts, representing the clerical establishment.

 

Key Power Brokers and Transition

While the council holds formal authority, other figures and institutions are exercising significant influence during this transition:

 

Ali Larijani: The current head of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC). Although not on the interim council, he is viewed as a central power broker overseeing defense and transition plans.

Ahmad Vahidi: Recently appointed as the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after several top military leaders were also killed in the strikes. The IRGC remains a decisive force behind the scenes.

Assembly of Experts: This 88-member body of clerics is constitutionally tasked with choosing the next Supreme Leader. Their deliberations are reportedly ongoing but complicated by the current military conflict.

Contenders for Successor: Names frequently mentioned as potential candidates for the permanent role include Mojtaba Khamenei (Khamenei's son), Hassan Khomeini (grandson of the revolution's founder), and Alireza Arafi.