Iran: Politics

Domestic

Iran's Assembly of Experts reportedly reached a consensus on a successor to the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with multiple reports indicating the chosen successor is Khamenei's son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Concurrently, Tehran named Alireza Arafi to a leadership council and reports discussed a council managing the transition, with figures like Ali Larijani also described as a key player leading an interim council. President Masoud Pezeshkian vowed revenge for Khamenei's killing, calling it a legitimate duty, but also apologized for attacks on neighboring Gulf states, stating Iran would stop launching strikes unless attacked first from those countries. Iran's foreign minister denied an attack on Oman was Iran's choice, calling the country a friend. Iranian officials, including the UN envoy and top security officials, rejected negotiations with the US, stating Iran will defend itself until US-Israeli aggression ends, while also expressing openness to diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions.

International

The United States and Israel carried out military strikes that killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Trump stated Khamenei had plotted to kill him, called U.S. celebrations over the death fantastic, demanded Iran's unconditional surrender, and said he wanted to be involved in selecting Iran's next leader. He later said he would be willing to talk to Iran's new leadership and that a diplomatic solution was now much easier. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Trump, with both emphasizing unity on Iran policy, while Trump criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer for refusing base use and threatened Spain with trade restrictions. Russia and China condemned the killing as a cynical violation of international law. The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly rejected a resolution to limit Trump's war powers regarding Iran. The European Union held crisis talks, pledging to monitor the situation but refusing to back any push for regime change.