TEHRAN, March 4 (Xinhua) -- A senior cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts said on Wednesday that the country will select its next supreme leader soon, with candidates determined.

People take part in a demonstration in Tehran, Iran, on January 12, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

Seyed Ahmad Khatami made the remarks in an interview with state-run IRIB TV four days after Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in a U.S.-Israeli attack on the Iranian capital Tehran.

He stressed that no problem has occurred in the country's leadership, noting that the interim leadership council, comprising Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian, Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei and Alireza Arafi, a jurist from the country's Constitutional Council, is running the country.

Khatami expressed his hope that the next leader would be chosen as soon as possible, noting "we are close to it."

He said the Assembly of Experts has taken initial steps, including consulting members, emphasizing that "We should act according to law."

The 88-seat assembly is Iran's supreme authority responsible for electing, supervising, and dismissing Iran's supreme leader.

The announcement follows joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities starting Saturday morning, leading to the deaths of Iran's supreme leader, his family members, top military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets in the West Asia region.