TEHRAN – Hojatoleslam Ebrahim Raisi was elected on Tuesday as deputy chief of the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for choosing the Islamic Republic’s Leader.

43 members of the Assembly of Experts voted for Raisi, while the runner-up, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani received 27 votes and 5 votes were cast for Ayatollah Fazel Golpayegani, Mehr reported.

The post was vacant ever since Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi passed away in December 2018.

Last week, Raeisi was appointed by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Judiciary chief, replacing Amoli Larijani.

MH/PA