WANA (Mar 09) – The New Leader of the Islamic Revolution Has Been Selected and Announced by the Assembly of Experts. Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei was elected as the third Supreme Leader of Iran after the assassination of the former leader of the revolution. Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei is the son of thelate Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.

 


Full text of the statement of the Assembly of Experts of the Iranian leadership
In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Noble and freedom-loving people of Islamic Iran, peace and God’s blessings be upon you.

 

The Assembly of Experts, while offering condolences for the martyrdom of the great and eminent leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (may God sanctify his pure soul), and of the other precious martyrs—especially the high-ranking and self-sacrificing commanders of the armed forces and the students of the Shajareh-Tayyebeh School in the city of Minab—and while condemning the brutal aggression of the criminal United States and the malicious Zionist regime, announces the following:

 

Immediately after the news of the martyrdom and heavenly ascension of the wise and discerning Leader of the Islamic Revolution was made public, despite the severe wartime conditions and direct threats from enemies against this popular institution—and despite the bombardment of the Secretariat offices of the Assembly of Experts, which resulted in the martyrdom of several staff members and members of the security team—this Assembly did not hesitate for a single moment in the process of selecting and introducing the leader of the Islamic system. In accordance with the duties stipulated in the Constitution and the internal regulations of the Assembly of Experts, it promptly undertook the necessary measures and arrangements to convene an extraordinary session for the introduction of the new leader.

 

Accordingly, appropriate planning and coordination were carried out for the gathering of the honorable representatives of this Assembly, who are present across different parts of the country, so that—despite the foresighted provisions set forth in Article 111 of the Constitution regarding the formation of a temporary council—the country would not face a leadership vacuum.

 

The Assembly of Experts, while honoring the lofty position of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) during the occultation of Muhammad al-Mahdi (may God hasten his reappearance), and emphasizing the importance of leadership in the system of the Islamic Republic of Iran, commemorates 47 years of wise governance based on the principles of dignity, independence, and strength under the leadership of the two leaders of the Revolution. While honoring the memory of those divine and popular leaders, the Assembly declares that after careful and extensive deliberations, and utilizing the provisions of Article 108 of the Constitution, and in accordance with its religious duty and its belief in standing before Almighty God, in today’s extraordinary session it has—by the decisive vote of the honorable members of the Assembly of Experts—selected and introduced Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei (may God protect him) as the third Leader of the sacred system of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

 

In conclusion, while expressing appreciation to the members of the temporary council established under Article 111 of the Constitution, the Assembly calls upon all the noble people of Iran—especially the intellectuals and scholars of the religious seminaries and universities—to pledge allegiance to the leadership and to preserve unity around the axis of the guardianship. It also asks the Almighty God to continue His grace and favor upon this country and its great people.

 

Peace and God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.

Assembly of Experts
17 Esfand 1404 (Iranian calendar)

Secretariat of the Assembly of Experts