Iran after Khamenei

Iranians protest against attacks by the US and Israel on February 28, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. | Majid Saeedi/Getty Images

Iran has already announced new interim leadership to replace Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed this weekend, along with several other high-ranking Iranian officials in an Israeli strike.

But who will lead the country in the long term is far from certain in the opening days of what could be a protracted war.

Key takeaways

• It’s not clear who’s running Iran now...