The Assembly of Experts (Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری; Majles-e Khobregān-e Rahbarī), also known as the Assembly of Experts of the Leadership, is the body in Iran responsible for appointing, overseeing, and, if necessary, dismissing the Supreme Leader. All members are elected by popular vote, but candidates must first be approved by the Guardian Council. The Guardian Council’s members are themselves appointed directly or indirectly by the Supreme Leader. This vetting process has drawn criticism because many reformist and opposition candidates are disqualified, narrowing the range of electoral choices.
The Assembly is composed of 88 mujtahids elected to eight-year terms from a pool of vetted candidates. For example, in 2016, 166 out of 801 applicants were approved to run. Membership has varied over time, from 82 members elected in 1982 to 88 in 2016. By law, the Assembly must convene at least twice every six months.
Under Article 111 of Iran’s Constitution, the Assembly is required to dismiss the Supreme Leader if he becomes unable to perform his constitutional duties, loses the qualifications specified in Articles 5 and 109, or is found to have lacked those qualifications from the outset. This provision has been applied only once, following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, when Ali Khamenei was selected as his successor and elevated in clerical rank to meet the requirements of the position. Critics argue that in practice the Assembly functions largely as a body that affirms and supports the Supreme Leader rather than independently exercising oversight authority.
On March 3, 2026, during the 2026 Iran war, US and Israeli air forces struck and destroyed the Assembly of Experts’ office building in Qom.
Assembly of Experts
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