TEHRAN – Iran’s Assembly of Experts on Monday announced the election of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei as the new Leader of the Islamic Republic, following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei in a U.S. and Israeli attack.

In a statement addressed to the Iranian public, the clerical body expressed condolences for martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, whom it described as the “great Leader of the Islamic Revolution”, as well as for other victims including senior military commanders and students killed in recent enemy attacks. The Assembly also condemned the “brutal aggression” of the United States and Israel.

The statement said the Assembly of Experts moved quickly to select a successor despite acute wartime conditions, direct threats against the institution and the bombing of the Assembly’s secretariat offices, which it said resulted in the deaths of several staff members and security personnel.

According to the statement, the body began preparations for an extraordinary session immediately after news of the Leader’s martyrdom. It said arrangements were made to gather its members from across the country in order to ensure that the Islamic Republic would not face a leadership vacuum.

Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts — an 88-member clerical body elected by popular vote — is responsible for selecting and overseeing the country’s Leader.

The Assembly said that after “careful and extensive deliberations,” and in accordance with its constitutional responsibilities, members voted decisively in favor of Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei. The statement described him as the third Leader of the Islamic Republic.

The body also praised the 47 years of leadership by the founders of the Islamic Republic, referring to Imam Khomeini and Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, whose rule it said was based on the principles of “dignity, independence and strength.”

At the end of the statement, the Assembly thanked members of the temporary leadership council envisioned under Article 111 of the constitution and called on the Iranian public — including scholars and intellectuals in religious seminaries and universities — to pledge allegiance to the new Leader and maintain national unity.

The statement concluded with a prayer for divine guidance and protection for Iran and its people.