Iran's Interim Leadership Council

Why in news? Iran's Interim Leadership Council has assumed the duties of the Supreme Leader following the confirmed death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026.
•    This council comprises President Masoud Pezeshkian; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i; and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts and a member of the Guardian Council.
•    The events showcase the established procedures that the Iranian political system has in place for times of crisis.
KEY BODIES
Interim Leadership Council
Under Article 111 of Iran's Constitution, a temporary leadership council would assume the Supreme Leader's duties until a successor is elected. This council comprises President Masoud Pezeshkian; Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i; and Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, deputy chairman of the Assembly of Experts and a member of the Guardian Council.
Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)
Responsible for debating and building consensus on critical national security issues, the SNSC is Iran's top national security body. While the president serves as its chairman, its other members include top ministers, the Speaker of parliament, the Chief Justice, and top military officials representing the armed forces and the IRGC, among others.
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)
The IRGC is the strongest and best-equipped section of Iran's armed forces. Formed soon after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, it answers directly to the Supreme Leader - unlike the ordinary military. Over the decades, it has gained and extended its influence both at home and abroad.
Basij and Quds Force
The Basij militia, an internal security paramilitary force controlled by the IRGC, is often used to crack down on protests inside Iran.
The Quds Force, an elite IRGC unit focusing on special operations outside Iran, has spearheaded the country's regional strategy of supporting affiliated Shiite groups in West Asia.
Assembly of Experts
Made up of senior ayatollahs elected every eight years, the Assembly is the body that appoints the Supreme Leader. The constitution also gives it power to question and even dismiss a leader. In practice, the republic's most senior figures usually choose the leader, which is then approved by the Assembly.
Guardian Council
Half appointed by the Supreme Leader and half by the Chief Justice of Iran, the 12-member Guardian Council can veto laws passed by parliament and disqualify election candidates. In the past, this mandate has been used to block potential critics of Khamenei.