Iran Assembly of Experts condemns opposition leaders

Iran Assembly of Experts

Following its two-day meeting, Iran’s Assembly of Experts issued a statement stating that the time for opposition leaders to “repent and return” has elapsed. The Assembly members maintain that “leaders of the sedition had been given numerous opportunities to repent and return to the bosom of the Revolution and Imam Khomeini’s ideals until December 27.

The Assembly refers to the post-election protests as “a sedition” which Ayatollah Khamenei’s “wise guidance” led the country away from. They maintain that in the post-election events, the Islamic Republic suffered irreparable material and spiritual damages on both the national and international levels.”

The announcement adds that “identification of impurities and distinction of the forces of right and wrong” turned out to be one of the “fruits” of these events.

They also go on to commend the participation of the people in February 11 march and also thank the security and police force for their role in confronting the protests of the past eight months.

In conjunction to this announcement, the Assembly’s Research Commission also read its report on the Leader of the Islamic Republic. Among the charges of the Assembly of Experts in the Islamic Republic is the responsibility to make sure the Supreme Leader continuously meets the eligibility criteria for the position of leadership.

The report maintains that “in the past 20 something years, not only has the criteria of leadership not diminished in our dear Leader, but they have in fact become more apparent in his infinite wisdom and management.”

The Research Commission also adds that they have decided to publish their report “due to the country’s sensitive situation in the past ten months following the presidential elections.”

In the early months of the election protests with the outbreak of violence against protesters, several members of the clergy demanded a re-evaluation of the Supreme Leader’s eligibility for his post. Despite the criticisms, the Assembly of Experts has repeatedly confirmed Ayatollah Khamenei’s qualities and credentials as a leader and lauded his actions in the post-election events.