Expert: Iran's leadership transition will remain smooth despite US-Israeli attacks
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Iran’s leadership transition is assured to proceed smoothly following the death of Ali Khamenei due to American and Israeli missile strikes, according to academic and Middle East observer Dina Sulaeman from Padjadjaran University.
Iran’s ideological and institutional system, which has been operational for four decades, has matured and possesses a layered power structure, said Dina in response to questions from ANTARA regarding the continuity of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s government.
“The experience of Imam Ruhollah Khomeini’s death in 1989 demonstrates that transition can proceed without shaking the foundations of the state,” said Dina in a written statement in Jakarta on Sunday, referring to Iran’s first Supreme Leader following the 1979 Revolution.
Furthermore, the Islamic Republic of Iran does not operate as a “personalistic regime” dependent solely on a single figure, she stated.
Regarding the figure who will replace Ali Khamenei, Dina noted that such a person must be a cleric holding the title of Ayatollah, which represents the highest rank in religious scholarship in Iran.
“Iran has many Ayatollahs,” the academic confirmed.
Beyond the Ayatollah title, Iran’s system requires integrity and proven leadership as additional conditions for any figure nominated as Supreme Leader, she explained.
Dina further noted that during the vacancy of the Supreme Leader position, the Assembly of Experts, comprising religious scholars and clerics from across Iran’s provinces, will convene to select a new Supreme Leader.
On Saturday morning (28 February) local time, the United States and the Zionist entity of Israel launched a series of attacks on Iran, including the capital Tehran, resulting in infrastructure damage and civilian casualties.
Iran subsequently launched retaliatory missile strikes against Israeli territory and US military facilities in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Iran’s national television confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had died as a result of the US-Israeli missile strikes.
On the same day, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani assured that the Assembly of Experts would convene shortly and begin the process of selecting a new Supreme Leader for Iran to replace the fallen Ali Khamenei.