Appointing a new leader is the least of Iran's troubles

"The Assembly of Experts of Iran has settled on the son of the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as its next supreme leader, his supporters claim, with the announcement delayed by a dispute over voting procedures. If it is decided that the assembly does not have to meet in person to vote, its secretariat could simply declare that a consensus had been reached."

"Nevertheless, there are forces in Iran who say handing power in wartime to a relative novice would be disruptive. They believe defence efforts should be left in the hands of the armed forces and Ali Larijani, the highly experienced secretary of the supreme national security council."

"The appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei is likely to be rejected by Donald Trump, who has called him unacceptable. The US president has insisted on playing a decisive role in the choice; while Israel has threatened to kill the next supreme leader and those who selected him."

Iran's Assembly of Experts has reportedly settled on Mojtaba Khamenei as the next supreme leader, with announcement delayed due to voting procedure disputes. Council member Hosseinali Eshkevari confirmed the vote has been cast. Former President Hassan Rouhani suggested delaying announcement to avoid disrupting public focus on defense efforts. The appointment faces significant opposition: Donald Trump has declared Mojtaba unacceptable and demanded a decisive US role, while Israel threatened to kill the new leader and those who selected him. Some Iranian factions oppose the succession, arguing that wartime leadership should remain with experienced military officials and Ali Larijani rather than a relative novice. Mojtaba, deputy chief of staff to his assassinated father, is presented as understanding the supreme leader's office operations. Iran currently operates under a temporary tripartite leadership council including President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Read at www.theguardian.com