TEHRAN - Ayatollah Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani was elected as the chairman of the Assembly of Experts on Tuesday by securing 63 votes.

The former chairman of the Assembly of Experts Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani withdrew from running in the elections after Mahdavi Kani announced his candidacy.
The 86-member Assembly of Experts elects its chairman every two years. The election is usually held in March.
The Assembly of Experts is constitutionally tasked to appoint and supervise Leader.
Assembly of Experts representatives are elected to eight-year terms in a general election. The current Assembly of Experts is the fourth since the victory of the Islamic Revolution