US-Israeli strikes target Iranian assembly building in charge of choosing supreme leader

Strikes hit body choosing Iran’s leader (Representative image)

Israeli and US strikes on Tuesday reportedly targeted the building of Iran’s Assembly of Experts — the body responsible for appointing the country’s supreme leader — according to local media.

The attacks come days after former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a wave of US–Israeli strikes on Saturday.

The Tasnim news agency said the “American-Zionist criminals” struck the Assembly of Experts building in Qom, south of Tehran. The body is tasked with selecting, supervising and potentially dismissing the supreme leader.

Footage circulated by local media showed the building suffering significant damage as a result of the strikes.

Authorities have not provided any information about possible casualties.

The Mehr news agency reported that the building was no longer being used for meetings.

Tasnim reported that strikes had already targeted the main headquarters of the Assembly of Experts in Tehran on Monday.

Iran declared on Sunday the start of a transition process after confirming Khamenei's death.

The plans include the formation of an interim leadership council including the president, the head of the judiciary and a jurist from the Guardian Council, the body that oversees legislation and vets electoral candidates.

Also playing a central role is Iran's top security chief Ali Larijani.

The interim leadership council will lead the country while a permanent successor is found for the supreme leader.

(With AFP inputs)