Iran is now under the direction of a temporary leadership council following the assassination of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution. The council, convened to oversee war affairs, is composed of President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Ebrahim Raisi Eje’i, and the specially appointed jurist, Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. Together, they are coordinating national defense and mobilizing the country’s military response amid one of the gravest crises in modern Iranian history.
President Pezeshkian, in a public statement on Sunday, described the assassination as “an open war against Muslims, particularly Shias, across the world.” He conveyed deep condolences over what he termed the martyrdom of the “great commander of the Islamic Ummah,” attributing the attack to “the most wicked of oppressors.” Pezeshkian framed the event as a defining test for the contemporary Muslim world and a direct affront to Iran’s sovereignty and spiritual leadership.
“The assassination of the highest political figure of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a prominent religious authority of the Shia world by the vicious American-Zionist axis is considered a declaration of an open war against Muslims, especially Shias, across the globe,” Pezeshkian said. He highlighted that for 37 years, Iran had steadfastly followed the path set by Imam Khomeini under Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership, establishing itself as a “center” for confronting global arrogance and asserting national independence.
Pezeshkian described Ayatollah Khamenei as a “great and divine” figure who had conferred integrity and honor upon the Iranian nation while remaining a “thorn in the side” of Iran’s adversaries. The president further emphasized Iran’s commitment to retribution. “The Islamic Republic of Iran regards seeking retribution and taking revenge from the perpetrators and instigators of this historic crime as its legitimate duty and right and will make use of its utmost power to fulfill this big responsibility,” Pezeshkian said, calling for increased unity among Iranian officials and citizens to uphold the principles of the Islamic Revolution and advance justice and freedom in the country.
The assassination, reportedly carried out in a coordinated aerial attack by the United States and Israel on Saturday, prompted the Iranian government to declare 40 days of public mourning and seven days of national holidays. The attacks targeted numerous Iranian cities, and according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, at least 201 people were killed and 747 wounded in the initial strikes. Further aggression was reported on Sunday in Tehran and multiple provinces.
Across Iran, citizens expressed profound grief and anger. In Tehran, tens of thousands of mourners gathered at the iconic Enqelab Square, carrying portraits of Ayatollah Khamenei and the national flag. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Down with the US” and “Down with Israel,” while reaffirming their support for the ideals of the Islamic Revolution and the continuation of Khamenei’s path. The scenes of mourning were mirrored in other cities as Iranians united in grief and defiance, underscoring the depth of national solidarity in the face of external aggression.
The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) responded swiftly, launching multiple large-scale retaliatory strikes against military targets across Israeli territory, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as American-occupied bases in the Persian Gulf region. Iranian forces targeted strategic locations in Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Iraq, the UAE, and other countries, citing prior warnings against allowing US forces to use their territory for aggression against Iran.
High-ranking Iranian officials have voiced unambiguous threats of further retaliation. Ali Larijani, the country’s top security official, asserted on social media that Iran would make the “Zionist criminals and the vile Americans regret their actions.” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf echoed the sentiment, promising that the armed forces would deliver retaliatory blows of such magnitude that the perpetrators would “beg for mercy.”
Analysts note that the temporary leadership council, now responsible for both governance and war management, faces immediate strategic and political challenges. With key figures among Iran’s senior military commanders reportedly martyred in the initial attacks, the council must simultaneously maintain internal cohesion, coordinate defense operations, and reassure a grieving population. The deaths of military leaders, along with Ayatollah Khamenei, represent not only a profound symbolic loss but a disruption to command structures at a critical moment of conflict.
Observers also emphasize the broader regional implications. The attacks have heightened tensions across the Middle East, with many countries monitoring Iran’s military response closely. The scale of Iran’s retaliatory strikes indicates a willingness to escalate the conflict significantly, potentially drawing in regional and global powers. Tehran’s direct targeting of American bases in neighboring countries represents a marked shift from previous engagements, signaling that Iran is prepared to act decisively to defend its sovereignty and avenge its leaders.
Beyond military concerns, the Iranian government has sought to frame the attacks within a narrative of historical and religious significance. Officials describe the events as a “new chapter in Islamic and Shia history,” emphasizing the spiritual and moral dimensions of both the loss and the anticipated response. National mourning ceremonies, now extended over 40 days, reinforce collective memory and national identity while reinforcing public resolve against perceived aggressors.
Despite the atmosphere of crisis, Iranian officials stress the importance of unity and perseverance. Pezeshkian called for heightened synergy between government branches and society at large, framing the struggle as both a defense of national honor and a continuation of the revolutionary ideals laid out by Imam Khomeini and carried forward by Khamenei. Leaders insist that the country’s response will not merely be retaliatory but emblematic of a broader commitment to justice, sovereignty, and resistance to foreign domination.
