Iranian Assembly of Experts elects Movahedi Kermani as its chairman

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies + Al Mayadeen English
21 May 2024 13:23

At the start of the voting session, the Leader of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran Sayyed Ali Khamenei read a message affirming that the Assembly of Experts is the manifestation of Islamic democracy.

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Sixth session of the Iranian Assembly of Experts in Iran on May 21, 2024 (Social media)

The Assembly of Experts in Iran elected Ayatollah Movahedi Kermani as its president in its sixth session with 55 votes per the internal law of the Assembly of Experts.

The sixth session of the Iranian Assembly of Experts took place today following the passing of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, the Imam of Friday Prayers in Tabriz Mohammad Ali Ale-Hashem, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and five others accompanying them on Sunday.

At the start of the voting session, the Leader of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran Sayyed Ali Khamenei read a message affirming that the Assembly of Experts is the highest embodiment of Islamic popular sovereignty.

It is noteworthy that in its sixth session, the actual number of members of the Assembly of Experts, which is usually 88 members holding a degree of religious jurisprudence was missing two, as President Raisi and Ayatollah Ale-Hashem are both members of the assembly.

Assembly of Experts: history and functions

The Assembly of Experts in Iran plays a vital role in the country as per the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, its role is to appoint and dismiss Iran's Leader as well as to monitor the latter's term.

Article 107 of the Iranian Constitution states that the Assembly of Experts bears the responsibility of appointing a replacement for the leader in cases of death, resignation, or dismissal. Article 111 completes the latter by highlighting the assembly's role in removing the leader in case it is confident that he failed in fulfilling his role.

The Leader of the Revolution and Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for overseeing the general policy in Iran and declaring cases of war, peace, and general mobilization. The leader is also the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Armed Forces.

After Imam Khomeini passed away, the responsibility of assigning the leader was given to the members of the Assembly of Experts who have always been elected by the people of Iran. Ever since, Sayyed Ali Khamenei has been the Leader of the Revolution and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Initially, the Assembly of Experts included 70 members. In its first election cycle in 1982, the number of its members increased to 83 due to the increase in Iran's population.