JERUSALEM (AP) — The death of Iran’s president is unlikely to lead to any immediate changes in Iran’s ruling system or to its overarching policies, which are decided by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
But Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash Sunday, was seen as a prime candidate to succeed the 85-year-old supreme leader, and his death makes it more likely that the job could eventually go to Khamenei’s son.
A hereditary succession would pose a potential crisis of legitimacy for the Islamic Republic, which was established as an alternative to monarchy but which many Iranians already see as a corrupt and dictatorial regime.
Here’s a look at what comes next.
Iran holds regular elections for president and parliament with universal suffrage.
But the supreme leader has final say on all major policies, serves as commander-in-chief of the armed forces and controls the powerful Revolutionary Guard.
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
Insider Q&A: CIA's chief technologist's cautious embrace of generative AI
What a blast to work at NASA. Space agency is sky
The fightback begins: Boss of London's Queen Mary University tells pro
Uber and Lyft say they'll stay in Minnesota after Legislature passes driver pay compromise
Student fatally shot, suspect detained at Georgia's Kennesaw State University
‘The Blue Angels,’ filmed for IMAX, puts viewers in the ‘box’ with the elite flying squad
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
Britain's new bonkers EV: Callum Skye is an £80k electric buggy built in Warwickshire
Supreme Court rejects an appeal from a Canadian man once held at Guantanamo