Israeli and US airstrikes on Tuesday reportedly targeted the building of the body responsible for selecting Iran’s next supreme leader, according to local media.
The development follows the killing of Iran’s former leader, Ali Khamenei, during a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.
“The American-Zionist criminals attacked the Assembly of Experts building in Qom,” south of Tehran, the Tasnim news agency reported.
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally mandated to appoint, supervise and, if necessary, dismiss the supreme leader. Footage circulated by local outlets showed significant damage to the building following the strikes.
There were no immediate reports of casualties. The Mehr news agency stated that the facility was not actively being used for meetings at the time of the attack.
Tasnim further reported that earlier strikes had targeted the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday.
Iran officially announced on Sunday that it had begun a political transition process following confirmation of Khamenei’s death.
The outlined plan includes establishing an interim leadership council composed of the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist drawn from the Guardian Council, which oversees legislation and screens electoral candidates.
Also expected to play a significant role in the transition is Iran’s senior security official, Ali Larijani.
The interim council will oversee state affairs until a permanent successor to the supreme leader is appointed.
What you should know
Israeli and US strikes have reportedly damaged a key Iranian institution responsible for appointing the country’s next supreme leader, days after Ali Khamenei’s reported death.
Iran has begun a transition process, forming an interim leadership council while preparations are made to select a permanent successor.