Joint forces strike Iranian clerical assembly building as search for new supreme leader begins.

Coalition forces strike the Assembly of Experts building in Qom as Iran forms an interim council to find a successor for the late Ayatollah Khamenei.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 3:51 PM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Vanguard News

Targeting of succession infrastructure in Qom

The strike on the Assembly of Experts building in Qom follows a similar attack on the body's primary headquarters in Tehran on Monday. The Assembly is a powerful clerical group tasked by the constitution with appointing a successor to the Supreme Leader, making it a critical node in the current transition of power. While state media outlet Tasnim news agency confirmed the "American Zionist" attack on the facility, the Mehr news agency reported that the specific building hit in Qom was not currently being utilized for active sessions at the time of the bombardment.

Establishment of interim leadership council

In the wake of Khamenei's death, Iran has initiated a formal transition process to prevent a total collapse of the state apparatus. An interim leadership council has been formed to manage national affairs during the search for a permanent successor. This council includes the President of Iran, the head of the judiciary, and a designated jurist from the Guardian Council. This collective leadership is currently tasked with maintaining domestic order and coordinating the nation's military response to the ongoing Operation Epic Fury.

Central role of security officials in transition

Ali Larijani, a prominent figure in Iran’s national security establishment, has emerged as a central player in the interim governing structure. Larijani is working alongside the leadership council to stabilize the political landscape while the Assembly of Experts navigates the religious and legal requirements for appointing a new Supreme Leader. The involvement of top security chiefs suggests that the transition is being managed with a heavy focus on continuity of the defense sectors as coalition strikes continue to target Iranian administrative centers.