A member of Assembly of Experts has said the body will meet within the next 24 hours to select Iran’s next supreme leader following the reported killing of Ali Khamenei.
According to Iranian media, Hossein Mozafari said the assembly would soon convene to begin the process of appointing a new leader.
“With divine assistance, this session will occur within the next twenty-four hours,” Mozafari said, as quoted by the Fars News Agency.
He also urged the Iranian public to avoid speculation and rumours while the assembly prepares to hold its session.
The development comes about a week after reports that Khamenei was killed in a joint United States–Israel attack, an incident that has significantly escalated tensions across the Middle East.
US Condemns Iran Drone Attack
Meanwhile, the United States has condemned Iran’s drone strikes earlier this week targeting an area near the border with Azerbaijan, describing the attack as a dangerous escalation.
The United States Department of State said the drone strike, which occurred on Thursday, hit an airport and a school in Nakhchivan, injuring civilians.
“These strikes are a flagrant violation of Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and a needless escalation of Iran’s aggression,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
He added that attacks on US partners in the region are unacceptable and would prompt strong American support for those allies.
Explosions Reported in Iraq
At the same time, explosions were reported on Saturday night in Baghdad and Erbil, according to journalists on the ground.
The cause of the blasts in Baghdad was not immediately known, but a witness near the fortified Green Zone—which houses the US embassy—reported seeing air defence systems activated.
Since the start of the regional conflict, several drones have been intercepted near Baghdad International Airport.
In Erbil, which hosts a major United States Consulate General Erbil, an AFP journalist reported hearing a drone followed by at least three loud explosions.
Drones have been repeatedly intercepted over the city since the beginning of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
What you should know
The Assembly of Experts is a powerful clerical body in Iran responsible for appointing and supervising the country’s supreme leader.
The possible selection of a new leader comes at a time of heightened regional tensions involving Iran, the United States, Israel, and several neighbouring countries.
The situation has also coincided with increased drone activity and security incidents across parts of the Middle East, including Iraq and Azerbaijan.
