What's on horizon for Iran's government after Ebrahim Raisi's death?

livemint.com:

Ebrahim Raisi, in a helicopter crash on Sunday is unlikely to result in immediate changes to Iran's ruling system, which Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei determines. However, Raisi was widely viewed as a leading candidate to succeed the 85-year-old supreme leader. His sudden death raises the possibility that Khamenei's son could eventually assume the position.

Also Read: Ebrahim Raisi dies in helicopter crash: What does Iranian President's death mean for India-Iran ties? A potential hereditary succession would challenge the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic. Established as an alternative to monarchy, many Iranians already perceive the regime as corrupt and dictatorial. The aftermath of Raisi's death raises questions about the future direction of Iran's leadership and its political system.

Iran conducts regular elections for the president and parliament, allowing universal suffrage. However, ultimate authority rests with the supreme leader, who holds decisive power over major policies, serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and controls the influential Revolutionary Guard. The supreme leader also appoints half of the 12-member Guardian Council, a clerical body responsible for vetting candidates for president, parliament, and the Assembly of Experts, which selects the supreme leader, AP reported.

Also Read: Iran helicopter crash: Who was Ebrahim Raisi? Protégé of Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei In theory, the clerics oversee the republic to ensure compliance with Islamic law. In practice, the supreme leader manages the ruling system meticulously to balance various interests, advance personal priorities, and safeguard against challenges to the Islamic Republic or his leadership. Iran will hold