Iran-Israel08 March, 20263 min read
Israel Threatens to Assassinate Iran's Assembly of Experts If They Meet to Choose Khamenei's Successor
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Israeli military threatened to pursue and target any successor and those appointing him Threat specifically aimed at Iran's Assembly of Experts, expected to convene soon in Qom
Israel warns Iran assembly
Israel's military publicly warned it would target members of Iran's Assembly of Experts if they convene in Qom to choose a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
“Israeli military spokesperson Ella Waweya said on X that Israel will target members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts if they convene in Qom to choose a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, whom the statement characterized as having been ‘eliminated’ in a recent US‑Israeli strike. Waweya warned Israel would pursue anyone involved in appointing a new leader. The Assembly of Experts — a body of clerics that elects the supreme leader by secret ballot — last oversaw a transition in 1989 when it chose Khamenei. The article adds wider context, saying more than 1,200 people (including Khamenei and senior military figures) have been killed in US‑Israeli strikes on Iran since Feb. 28 and that Iran has launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against Israel and Gulf sites hosting U.S. forces. (Report by Rania Abushamala; Anadolu Agency.)”
Anadolu Ajansı reported Israeli military spokesperson Ella Waweya posted on X that Israel would 'target members of Iran's Assembly of Experts' if they met in Qom and that Israel 'would pursue anyone involved in appointing a new leader'.
Türkiye Today relayed the same Farsi X message, quoting the army telling assembly members 'We will not hesitate to target you as well. Consider yourselves warned'.
Reuters summarized the statement as a pledge to 'pursue every person' involved in efforts to appoint a successor, and described it as an unprecedented and escalatory threat.
U.S.-Israeli and Iranian strikes
The warning comes against a backdrop of intensified U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and reciprocal Iranian attacks.
Anadolu Ajansı reported the Israeli statement described Khamenei as having been "eliminated" in a recent U.S.-Israeli strike.
It said more than 1,200 people, including Khamenei and senior military figures, have been killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran since Feb. 28.
Anadolu Ajansı also noted Iran launched retaliatory drone and missile strikes against Israel and Gulf sites hosting U.S. forces.
Türkiye Today likewise ties the threat to the U.S.-Israeli strike that killed Khamenei and frames the Assembly session as occurring amid that escalation.
Reuters cited the warning as part of a series of exchanges and heightened security measures across the region.
Iran succession dispute
Inside Iran, the succession process appears contested and complex. Al Jazeera reported deep divisions over procedure, with one camp pushing for a full, in-person vote by the Assembly of Experts and another advocating a remote, Secretariat-run poll that critics call illegal and unconstitutional. Al Jazeera said powerful institutions beyond the Assembly — the IRGC, army, police, political elite and senior religious authorities in Qom — are influencing the decision.
“Al Jazeera reports deep divisions in Iran over how to choose a new Supreme Leader. One camp wants a full, in-person vote by the Assembly of Experts; the other favors a remote, Secretariat-run poll — a method critics call illegal and unconstitutional. Journalists and analysts say the decision is complicated by input from powerful institutions beyond the Assembly, including the IRGC, the army, police, the political elite, and senior religious authorities in Qom (five maraji' are especially influential). Some potential nominees might refuse the post if they were not properly consulted. A temporary leadership council chaired by President Masoud Pezhikian, the judiciary head, and a jurist from the Assembly is in place and has sought formal appointment; the final choice is urgent given wartime pressures. Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, is reported to top the candidate list.”
Al Jazeera described a temporary leadership council chaired by President Masoud Pezhikian, the judiciary head, and a jurist from the Assembly. Al Jazeera noted that Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son, is reported to top the candidate list. Anadolu Ajansı added historical context that the Assembly last oversaw a transition in 1989 when it chose Khamenei, underscoring the institutional weight of the body now under direct threat.
Threat to clerical institution
Analysts and outlets warn the Israeli threat risks further destabilising an already volatile region by directly tying potential assassination plans to a constitutionally authorized clerical body. Reuters framed Israel’s message as evidence of readiness to target “individuals or networks” linked to succession planning, while Anadolu quoted the military’s explicit vow to “pursue anyone involved in appointing a new leader.” Türkiye Today characterised the warning as “unprecedented,” highlighting its direct address to assembly members in Qom and the possible legal and political ramifications of targeting a religious, constitutionally mandated institution.
Khamenei succession uncertainty
Sources diverge on how imminent a convening of the Assembly is and on the degree of consensus around a successor. Türkiye Today cites Iranian state media and an Assembly member saying a majority consensus on Khamenei's replacement has "more or less been reached."
“The warning came as Iranian state media and an Assembly member said a majority consensus on Khamenei's replacement has ‘more or less been reached,’ though some obstacles remain.”
Al Jazeera emphasises deep procedural divisions and suggests some potential nominees could refuse the post if not properly consulted. Marketscreener and Anadolu note heightened security measures and exchanges of attacks in the region that complicate any meeting in Qom, leaving the timing and safety of an Assembly session unclear and the situation highly unpredictable.
