CAIRO, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran is facing a critical task of selecting a new Supreme Leader following the death of Ali Khamenei in the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Saturday.
Seyed Ahmad Khatami, a senior cleric and member of Iran's Assembly of Experts, said on Wednesday that the country will select its next supreme leader soon, with candidates determined.
Here is a quick overview of the constitutional mechanism that will determine Iran's next Supreme Leader:
-- The Assembly of Experts
This is a body of elected clerics responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader. It is composed of 88 members, who are chosen by the Iranian people every eight years. The members of the assembly must be highly qualified and knowledgeable in Islamic law and leadership. Under the Iranian Constitution, the assembly has the power to elect or remove the Supreme Leader.
-- Qualifications
To be eligible for the role of Supreme Leader, a candidate must be a senior religious figure with deep expertise in Islamic jurisprudence, ethics, and political affairs. Additionally, the leader must also be able to command political authority, ensuring the system's ideological continuity. In case of multiplicity of persons fulfilling the qualifications and conditions, the person possessing the better jurisprudential and political perspicacity will be given preference.
-- Selection Process
In the event of the death or incapacitation of the current Supreme Leader, the Assembly of Experts convenes to select a new one. They consider various candidates and select someone who is deemed to have the necessary qualities to lead both spiritually and politically.
-- Constitutional Council
The Constitutional Council plays a crucial role in vetting candidates, ensuring they meet both the constitutional requirements and the principles of the Islamic Republic. The council is also responsible for overseeing the elections for the Assembly of Experts, the Presidency, and the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
-- Leadership Council
In the event of the death, resignation,or dismissal of the Supreme Leader, the experts shall take steps within the shortest possible time for the appointment of the new Leader. Until the appointment of the new leader, a council consisting of the president, the head of the judiciary power, and a religious man from the Constitutional Council shall temporarily take over all the duties of the leader.
-- Supreme Leader's Powers
Once selected, the Supreme Leader holds authority over all branches of government, commands the armed forces, and wields significant influence over foreign policy. The leader also has the power to dismiss the President, should the Supreme Court find him guilty of violating his constitutional duties, or if a vote by the Islamic Consultative Assembly deems him incompetent. ■
