Iran’s Experts Assembly picks new head

08 March, 2011 10:07

Ayatollah Mohammad Reza Mahdavi Kani has been appointed by members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts as the body’s new chairman.

Ayatollah Kani was picked to the leadership position Tuesday morning with 63 votes in favor in early hours of the ninth session of the 86-member body.

The Assembly was previously headed by veteran revolutionary figure, former two-term president and Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.

Ayatollah Rafsanjani, who headed the Experts Assembly for several years, declined to accept candidacy for the position and instead threw his support for Ayatollah Mahdavi Kani’s candidacy.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts is responsible to oversee the performance of the Leader and possesses the authority to either appoint or dismiss the Leader.

Members of the Assembly are religious scholars that are directly elected to an eight-year term in a nationwide poll. It holds meetings twice a year to review major national issues and every other year to appoint a new chairman.