There had been intense speculation before today's announcement that Khomeini's 44-year-old son, Ahmad, might seek to succeed his father under traditions of Shiite Islam and perhaps by allying himself with hard-line factions. In a charged statement early today, Ahmad Khomeini lashed out against the "great Satan," as Iran calls the United States, and "blasphemous powers such as Britain," in exhorting Iranians to continue to follow his father's ideological line.

The speculation was fueled when it was announced that Ahmad Khomeini had been designated by his father to read his will. But instead, [Ali Khamenei] read the will to a closed meeting of the full Iranian leadership this morning. A news report of the meeting said the younger Khomeini had been overcome with grief and would read the will to the public on Monday.

Both Khamenei and [Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani] gave brief television interviews during a break in today's deliberations. Showing the exhaustion and strain of the last 24 hours, both expressed confidence that a new ruler would emerge, but Khamenei acknowledged that "there is a great vacuum in the political system" as a result of Khomeini's death and suggested that a temporary leader might be designated for now. An official of the state news agency IRNA said tonight, however, that Khamenei had been named "permanent leader."