Iran’s Assembly of Experts chose another hardline cleric as its chief on Tuesday, keeping the powerful religious body in ultraconservative hands despite gains by reformists and moderates in February elections. The assembly oversees the work of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and would choose the 76-year-old’s successor if he dies during its eight-year term.
Its 88 members elected Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, 89, as chairman, defeating two conservatives. The cleric is one of the few hardliners who secured re-election in the February vote that saw a landslide for reformist and moderates in the capital and big gains elsewhere.
The hardliner also chairs the Guardian Council, the body which vets all candidates for public office in Iran and has a veto over all legislation.
The council sparked controversy in February’s election by disqualifying thousands of hopefuls, most of them reformists.