Iran 'examining' possible successors to Khamenei
- 8 years ago
Iran has begun looking for a potential successor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, a top Iranian official said Sunday.
In comments translated by Reuters, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told the country's ILNA news agency that the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for electing the Islamic republic's supreme leader, "will act when a new leader needs to be appointed.
Officially comprised of 86 religious figures elected by the people, the Assembly of Experts chooses the supreme leader and monitors his actions.
The run-up to the election has seen tensions between Iran's conservative and moderate leaders, with hardliners recently cracking down on activists, journalists and artists in what some view as an effort to curb the influence of moderate President Hassan Rouhani.
In comments translated by Reuters, former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani told the country's ILNA news agency that the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for electing the Islamic republic's supreme leader, "will act when a new leader needs to be appointed.
Officially comprised of 86 religious figures elected by the people, the Assembly of Experts chooses the supreme leader and monitors his actions.
The run-up to the election has seen tensions between Iran's conservative and moderate leaders, with hardliners recently cracking down on activists, journalists and artists in what some view as an effort to curb the influence of moderate President Hassan Rouhani.