Dozens of Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, were killed in a major military operation carried out by the United States and Israel.
Iran has attacked U.S. military bases, Israel, and other countries across the Middle East. Six US military personnel were killed in these attacks.
President Donald Trump told Fox News senior White House correspondent Jackie Heinrich on March 1 that the Iranian leadership has been destroyed.
“Forty-eight leaders have disappeared all at once, and things are progressing rapidly,” President Trump said. A complete list of those killed has not been made public.
Hundreds of people have been killed in the ongoing war, and many are wondering who will step into the power vacuum created by Khamenei’s murder. Let’s take a closer look at who was killed and who remains within Iran’s power structure.
Who are the top Iranian leaders who were killed?
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How is Iran’s leadership made up?
The killing of Ali Khamenei left a vacuum in Iran’s leadership. The supreme leader appointed by the Council of Experts is the supreme commander of the Iranian military and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC).
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said a Guidance Council made up of him, the attorney general and members of the powerful Guardian Council had temporarily taken over the duties of supreme leader, according to Reuters.
According to Al Jazeera, Alireza Alafi, a member of the powerful constitutional watchdog, was appointed to the extraordinary council along with Pezeshikian and Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejei.
On the day of the attack, Trump encouraged Iranians to take control of the country in a video posted to Truth Social.
“When we’re done, take over your government. It’ll be yours. This will probably be your only chance for generations,” Trump said. “Now is the time to take control of your destiny and unlock the rich and bright future that is within your reach. The time to act is now. Don’t let it slip away.”
On March 2, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration “doesn’t care” if the Iranian people rise up and take control of the government.
“We want a new administration, but the bottom line is that no matter who is running this country, a ballistic missile or a drone will not threaten us a year from now,” Rubio said.
Contributor: Francesca Chambers
This is a developing story and may be updated.
