Iran announced the launch of the process of electing a new supreme leader of the republic

The process of electing a new supreme leader of the country has been launched in Iran. This was announced on March 1 by the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, Abbas Araqchi.

The death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reported earlier on March 1. Iran's supreme leader was killed during US-Israeli strikes early on Saturday morning, February 28, while performing work duties at his residence. Against this background, rallies began in the country. The Iranian government has declared mourning.

On the same day, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, in a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan, declared Iran's readiness for self-defense after the assassination of Khamenei. The Turkish minister, in turn, expressed his condolences over the death of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. On March 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian in connection with the murder of Khamenei.

The chairman of the Federation Council, Valentina Matvienko, on the same day called the assassination of the supreme leader an encroachment on the sovereignty of the Islamic Republic.

The news is being updated