🏛️ Assembly of Experts

Overview

The Assembly of Experts (Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری, Majles-e Khobregān-e Rahbarī) is the deliberative body of Iran empowered to appoint, supervise, and discharge the Supreme Leader. Established by the Iranian Constitution in 1979, it consists of 88 mujtahids (Islamic jurists) elected by popular vote to serve eight-year terms.

All candidates must be vetted by the Guardian Council, which has led to criticism that the Assembly's elections are not truly democratic. The Assembly meets at least twice every six months, and its proceedings are strictly confidential.

Leadership

Mohammad-Ali Movahedi Kermani

Chairman (since 21 May 2024)

Born 1931 in Kerman. Tehran's Friday Prayer Ephemeral Imam since 2012. Former secretary-general of Combatant Clergy Association. Member of Assembly since 1983. Conservative and principlist politician. Former deputy speaker of Parliament (1980-2000). Member of Expediency Discernment Council (1989-2022).

Tehran Province

Hashem Hosseini Bushehri

First Deputy Chairman (since 21 May 2024)

Born 1956 in Bandar-e Deyr, Bushehr Province. Twelver Shia cleric. Representative of Bushehr Province in the Assembly. Temporary Imam of Friday Prayer in Qom. Served on the Guardian Council. Head of Iran's seminary system.

Bushehr Province

Alireza Arafi

Second Deputy Chairman (since 21 May 2024)

Senior Shia cleric and politician. Member of the Guardian Council since 2019. Member of the Assembly of Experts since 2022. Played key role in the interim leadership council after Ali Khamenei's assassination in February 2026.

Tehran Province

Notable Members

Ahmad Khatami

Member

Prominent conservative cleric. Long-time member of the Assembly. Brother of former President Mohammad Khatami. Represents Kerman Province.

Kerman Province

Mohsen Araki

Member

Senior cleric and scholar. Member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom. Represents Markazi Province.

Markazi Province

Morteza Moghtadai

Member

Shia cleric and member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom. Represents Isfahan Province. Known for his conservative views on religious and social issues.

Isfahan Province

Abbas Ka'bi

Member

Shia cleric representing Khuzestan Province. Member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom. Known for his work in Islamic jurisprudence and education.

Khuzestan Province

Mahdi Mirbaqiri

Member

Shia cleric representing Semnan Province. Member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom. Active in religious education and community leadership.

Semnan Province

The 2026 Supreme Leader Election

Following the assassination of Ali Khamenei on February 28, 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, the Assembly of Experts convened to elect a new Supreme Leader. The election took place from March 3-8, 2026.

On March 8, 2026, the Assembly elected Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the deceased Supreme Leader, as the third Supreme Leader of Iran. Mojtaba Khamenei, born in 1969, had served as the Vakil (representative) of the Supreme Leader's Office since 2008 and was wounded in the February 2026 airstrike that killed his father.

The election was conducted in secret, as is tradition. The Assembly's decision was announced to the public on March 8, 2026.

Recent Timeline

Political Composition

The Assembly is dominated by conservative principlists, with a small number of reformists and independents.

• 59 seats — Principlists (The Two Societies alliance)
• 26 seats — Independents
• 1 seat — Reformists
• 2 seats — Vacant