US and Israel Strike Building Used by Iran’s Assembly of Experts to Select New Leader

Israeli and United States forces have struck a building used by Iran’s Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for selecting the country’s supreme leader.

Iranian media reported that the structure in Qom, a key religious center south of Tehran, sustained heavy damage in the attack. There were no immediate reports of casualties, and officials did not confirm whether the facility was occupied at the time of the strike.

The targeted institution, the Assembly of Experts, is tasked with appointing, supervising and, if necessary, dismissing the supreme leader. The strike comes days after Iranian authorities confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a wave of coordinated attacks by United States and Israel.

Local outlets said the Qom building had been used for official sessions, though some reports indicated that primary meetings had recently shifted to the capital, Tehran. Footage circulating on domestic platforms showed sections of the complex damaged, with debris scattered across surrounding streets.

The strike follows earlier reports that facilities linked to the assembly in Tehran were also hit. Military officials from Washington and Tel Aviv have not issued detailed public statements on the latest operation.

In response to the leadership vacuum, authorities in Iran announced the activation of a transitional mechanism. The interim structure includes the president, the head of the judiciary and a senior cleric from the Guardian Council, which oversees legislation and approves electoral candidates.

Among senior figures involved in managing the transition is national security official Ali Larijani, who is expected to play a coordinating role during the interim period.

The interim council is to govern until the Assembly of Experts convenes to appoint a permanent successor. The latest strike adds uncertainty to that process and signals a further escalation in the confrontation between Iran and its adversaries.