Iran’s Assembly Of Experts To Meet Within 24 Hours To Pick New Supreme Leader

A member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts has announced that the body is set to convene within 24 hours to begin selecting the country’s next supreme leader following the death of Ali Khamenei.

Hossein Mozafari, one of the 88 clerics in the assembly, disclosed on Saturday that the session will take place “with divine assistance” within the next day. He urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading speculation until the assembly formally meets.

The announcement comes roughly a week after Khamenei was killed in a joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel. Mozafari emphasized that Iranians should refrain from circulating unverified claims about the succession process.

In a related development, the United States condemned recent Iranian drone strikes near Azerbaijan, describing the attacks as an escalation in the ongoing Middle East conflict. The Department of State reported that Iranian strikes targeted infrastructure in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave, hitting an airport and a school and causing civilian injuries.

“These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and a needless escalation of Iran’s aggression,” said State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott. He added that attacks on American allies in the region are unacceptable and will prompt resolute US support.

Explosions were also reported late Saturday in Baghdad and Erbil. The cause of the blasts in Baghdad remains unclear, though witnesses near the Green Zone, home to the US embassy, reported air defense activations. Multiple drones have reportedly been intercepted near Baghdad airport since the conflict intensified. In Erbil, journalists reported a drone followed by at least three loud explosions near the US consulate complex, which has been a frequent target of drone interceptions since the conflict escalated.