Air Strikes Target Building of Iranian Council Responsible for Picking Khamenei’s Successor

Senior Israeli security sources said the strike targeted the Assembly of Experts’ building as a vote was taking place to replace Khamenei.

Pro-regime demonstrators gather at a square to mourn the death of Iranian leader Ali Khamenei in Tehran on March 1, 2026. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

The building of the Assembly of Experts in the Iranian city of Qom was struck on March 3, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency.

Senior Israeli security sources told Epoch Magazine Israel that the strike targeted the Assembly of Experts’ building as the 88-member assembly was voting to choose a successor to the slain Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.