Tehran, Iran – Iran’s regime has reappointed Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as head of the judiciary, signaling continuity as the country mourns former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28.

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father in March, confirmed the reappointment of the 69-year-old cleric for another five-year term via a text message. Khamenei has not appeared publicly since the assassination, allegedly to avoid detection and further attacks.

The funeral procession, guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will move through Tehran, Qom, and Iraq before burial in Mashhad. Mohseni-Ejei, along with President Pezeshkian and former President Ahmadinejad, attended the ceremonies.

In his confirmation message, Khamenei urged Mohseni-Ejei to fight corruption and pursue a “judicial transformation.” The judiciary chief vowed revenge for the assassination, stating that “punishments must deter enemies from committing such crimes.”

Under Mohseni-Ejei’s tenure, the regime has dramatically increased executions of dissidents, with human rights groups warning of the highest numbers since the 1980s. Tens of thousands have been arrested on security charges.

Mohseni-Ejei also voted in favor of a memorandum of understanding with the US regime to halt hostilities, as negotiations for a permanent peace deal are set to resume after the funeral period. His reappointment suggests a lack of appetite for reshuffling amid the ongoing war.

Source: www.aljazeera.com