Iran's supreme religious leader, Seyyed Ali Khamenei, was killed in his residence in Tehran as a result of US and Israeli airstrikes. This event has sparked discussions about who will be elected to the post considered the main authority in the country. Although Khamenei had chosen 3 individuals as his successors a few days before his death, the election of the supreme leader is carried out based on a special constitutional procedure.
Modern.az reports that, according to the Iranian Constitution, the supreme religious leader – the Leader – is not elected directly by the people, but by the Assembly of Experts.
The members of the Assembly of Experts, which was established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution and currently consists of 88 clerical members, are formed through a nationwide popular vote. One of the main powers of the Assembly is to elect the supreme leader and oversee his activities.
According to Articles 107 and 111 of the Constitution, if the supreme leader dies, resigns, or is determined to be unable to perform his duties, the Assembly of Experts convenes an emergency meeting. Until a new leader is elected, the supreme leadership functions of the country are temporarily carried out by a council consisting of three individuals. This council includes the president, the head of the judiciary, and one of the faqih members of the Guardian Council of the Constitution (Supervisory Council).
A candidate for supreme leadership must be a high-ranking cleric with religious knowledge and distinguished by political and social management skills. The Assembly of Experts discusses the candidates and makes a decision by majority vote. If necessary, leadership can be entrusted not to a single individual, but to a collegial leadership. The election of the new supreme leader is expected today.
It should be noted that there have been two supreme religious leaders in Iran's history to date. Ruhollah Khomeini held this position from 1979–1989. After his death, Ali Khamenei was elected supreme leader by a decision of the Assembly of Experts.
