The son of deceased Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei, has emerged as the clear front-runner to replace his father, The New York Times reported on March 3. Alireza Arafi, a cleric and jurist on Iran's transitional council created after the supreme leader's death, and Hassan Khomeini, a grandson of the Islamic Republic of Iran's founder Ruhollah Khomeini, are also finalists.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28. Iran's 88-member Assembly of Experts is now formally tasked with naming an heir. Until that decision is made, a three-person transitional council is managing day-to-day affairs.