Ayatollah Khomeini’s grandson to vie for Assembly of Experts polls

A grandson of the late founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, has registered for the upcoming Assembly of Experts’ elections.

Speaking to reporters after his registration on Friday, Hassan Khomeini said he will run in the 5th round of the body’s elections as an “independent” candidate.

He added that his decision to vie for a seat in the body was principally made in line with the guidelines of the late Imam Khomeini on the importance of strongly safeguarding the foundations of the Islamic Republic.

“Under the current chaotic global circumstances where nothing is more important than national unity and solidarity, I expect everyone to stand by each other,” Khomeini said, expressing hope for “good elections” ahead.

Hassan Khomeini, 43, will be the first member of the late Imam’s family to enter Iran’s political scene by running in the elections.

The registration for the Assembly of Experts’ elections started on Thursday and will continue until December 23. So far and by the end of the second day of registration, 69 candidates have successfully registered for the vote.

On August 4, Chairman of Iran’s Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani also announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the Assembly of Experts’ elections.

The next elections to pick representatives for the 5th Assembly of Experts vote and the 10th Majlis elections will take place simultaneously on February 26, 2016. The Assembly of Experts and the Majlis will have 88 and 290 members respectively.

The high-ranking body of the Assembly of Experts elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, and has the authority to appoint or dismiss the leader.

Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term. The body holds meetings twice a year to review major national issues and every other year to appoint a new chairman.

Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi was appointed the new chairman of the Assembly in March this year after the demise of its former chairman, Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani.