Israel strikes Assembly of Experts building in Qom as clerical body meets to deliberate on Khamenei's successor

An Israeli airstrike on March 3, 2026 targeted the Assembly of Experts building in Qom as Iran's 88-member clerical body was reportedly in emergency session to begin deliberations on naming a successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who had been killed in the February 28 strikes. The strike was designed to disrupt the succession process and prevent the consolidation of a new leadership structure. Iranian state media did not disclose casualties from the Qom strike. The Assembly of Experts subsequently relocated to a secure undisclosed location to complete the succession vote.