Security chief Ali Larijani promises the quick establishment of an interim council as Iran navigates its leadership transition.
Published March 1, 2026
Iran's security chief Ali Larijani says the leadership transition after the assassination of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will begin on Sunday.
“An interim leadership council will be formed soon. The president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council will assume responsibility until the election of the next leader,” said Larijani, head of Iran's top security body, the Supreme National Security Council. He was also an adviser to Khamenei, 86, who was killed in a joint attack on Iran by the United States and Israel on Saturday.
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“This council will be established as soon as possible. We are working to form it today,” he said in an interview broadcast on state television.
Larijani accused the United States and Israel of trying to loot and divide Iran and warned “secessionist groups” inside Iran of a harsh response if they try to act, state media said.
“The brave soldiers and the great nation of Iran will teach an unforgettable lesson to international oppressors,” he said.
Larijani, a former parliamentary speaker and senior political adviser, was appointed to advise Khamenei on strategy in nuclear talks with US President Donald Trump's administration.
What happens next?
Khamenei's death after nearly 37 years in power raises crucial questions about Iran's future.
Under Article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, a transitional council will be formed to handle state duties until a panel of religious leaders elects a new supreme leader.
That body will be composed of President Masoud Pezeshkian, the president of the Supreme Court, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, and a religious leader from the Guardian Council, according to Iranian media.
The interim council will function until an 88-member panel called the Assembly of Experts elects a new supreme leader.
Although the leadership council will govern in the meantime, the Assembly of Experts “must, as soon as possible,” elect a new supreme leader, according to the constitution.
