Israeli-US strikes hit building of assembly choosing new Iran supreme leader
Israeli and US strikes hit the building of a body tasked with electing Iran's new supreme leader in the city of Qom, local media reported on Tuesday.
“The American-Zionist criminals attacked the Assembly of Experts building in Qom,” south of Tehran, reported the Tasnim news agency.
The assembly is tasked with appointing, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader.
“Israel struck while they were counting the votes for the appointment of the supreme leader,” a senior Israeli official told Fox News.
Former leader Ali Khamenei was killed during a wave of US-Israeli attacks on Saturday.
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Local media showed footage of the building severely damaged in the strikes. There was no information on any potential casualties, AFP reported.
The Mehr news agency said that the building was no longer being used for meetings.
Tasnim reported that strikes had already targeted the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday. The transition process following Khamenei's death began on Sunday, the day before.
These plans include the formation of an interim leadership council including the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council, the body that oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates.
Also playing a central role is Iran's top security chief Ali Larijani, who has emerged as a key powerbroker.
The interim leadership council will lead the country while a permanent successor is found for the supreme leader, AFP reported.
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