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. HOW DOES IRAN’S GOVERNMENT WORK?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. |
Select list of nominees for 2024 Tony AwardsFinnish hacker imprisoned for accessing thousands of psychotherapy records and demanding ransomsDemocrats vow to protect Speaker Mike Johnson from being ousted from officeIran commutes a tycoon's death sentence to 20 years in prisonU.S. and Mexico will boost deportation flights and enforcement to crack down on illegal migrationKenyans in floodRemote Lake Superior island wolf numbers are stable but moose population declining, researchers sayScotland Yard to pay 'fiveUsing a walker boot for too long may mean you can't ever walk properly without it againScammers stole more than $3.4 billion from older Americans last year, an FBI report says