Tehran, March 1 (SANA) Iran will form an interim leadership council in accordance with the constitution following the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, a senior Iranian official said Sunday.
Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the temporary body would be established later in the day. The semi-official Tasnim news agency quoted him as saying that targeting senior leaders would not achieve the “enemies’ objectives” but would instead strengthen internal unity and prompt a decisive response.
“Iran’s armed forces will stand against any attempt to fragment the country and will thwart the enemies’ plans,” Larijani said.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Iran had prepared for all possible scenarios and put in place plans for the post-Khamenei period.
“Our red lines have been crossed, and the enemies must pay the price for this heinous crime,” Ghalibaf said, adding that the confrontation had moved beyond a traditional conflict and was now “a time for revenge.”
For a second consecutive day, the United States and Israel continued striking targets inside Iran, including in the capital Tehran, using precision-guided munitions launched from air, land and sea. The strikes killed several senior Iranian officials, including Khamenei, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard and the defense minister.
Iran responded with missile strikes on Israel, killing one woman and wounding more than 100 people, according to Israeli authorities. Iranian strikes also targeted five Gulf states and Jordan, resulting in reported casualties in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.
N.J
