February 28, 2026 at 08:56PM
Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. Here’s what that means for Iran’s leadership.
Iran’s Supreme Leader has died after 37 years in power, triggering a constitutional process to appoint a new leader and triggering potential shifts in the country’s political and religious authority.
The death raises questions about succession within the ruling theocracy, including the selection of the new supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts and possible changes in domestic and foreign policy directions.
Analysts expect a period of political maneuvering as factions position themselves for influence over the succession, with potential implications for Iran’s leadership stability and regional posture.