Dual Leadership and Constitutional Developments after Khomeini

Abstract The assembly of leadership experts met on june 4, 1989, the morning after Khomeini’s death, and elected Sayyed ‘Ali Khamenei as Khomeini’s successor, the Leader of the Islamic Republic, by 60 out of 74 votes. Except for “Imam,” all of Khomeini’s political titles were transferred to Khamenei. This appears to have been in accordance with Khomeini’s wish. According to Hashemi-Rafsanjani’s later testimony, the day after he and Khamenei delivered the letter of dismissal as Khomeini’s successor to Ayatollah Montazeri in Qom at the end of March 1989, they had a meeting with the ailing Khomeini in the company of the President and Vice-President of the Assembly of Leadership Experts, in which they reportedly tried to change Khomeini’s mind on the grounds that there was no other suitable candidate for succession. They were all surprised, and Khamenei himself was “shocked,” when Khomeini pointed to the latter as his successor. It is interesting to note that in the June 4, 1989, meeting of the Assembly of Experts after Khomeini’s death, both Rafsanjani and Khamenei argued for a Leadership Council of three, which was still in the Constitution, but the majority decided to vote for one.