Israel and US strikes hit building of body that elects new Iran Supreme Leader

Israeli and US airstrikes on Tuesday, March 3, hit a building used by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the clerical body responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader, according to Iranian media.

The development comes days after former supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday, February 28. “The American-Zionist criminals attacked the Assembly of Experts building in Qom,” south of Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported.

The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked with appointing, supervising and, if necessary, dismissing Iran’s supreme leader. Footage broadcast by local media showed the building in Qom heavily damaged following the strikes. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

The Mehr news agency said the structure was no longer being used for official meetings. Tasnim also reported that earlier strikes had targeted the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday, March 2.

Iran announced on Sunday, March 1, that it had begun a formal transition process following confirmation of Khamenei’s death. Under the plan, an interim leadership council will be formed comprising the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council, the powerful body that oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates.

Iran’s top security official Ali Larijani is also expected to play a central role in managing the transition. The interim council is set to govern the country while the Assembly of Experts undertakes the process of selecting a permanent successor to the supreme leader, as tensions continue to escalate amid ongoing military exchanges.