Iran retains key figure in top judicial post amid leadership transition

As Iran mourns former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and navigates a sensitive leadership transition, the country's top judicial post has been renewed for another five years, signalling continuity in the Islamic Republic's leadership at a critical moment. Tehran has extended the tenure of Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei as chief justice for another five years, with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei confirming the decision.

Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since succeeding his father in March, confirmed the appointment of the 69-year-old cleric through a text message attributed to Iran's new head of state.

The announcement coincided with preparations for funeral ceremonies in Tehran, where crowds were expected to gather along a designated route to accompany the remains of the former supreme leader and four of his family members, who were killed in an air strike on February 28, the first day of the US-Israel war on Iran.

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The funeral procession, guarded by members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), will travel to Qom and neighbouring Iraq before the burial in the holy Shia city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

Mohseni-Ejei was among the senior officials present during the funeral procession, alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian, former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and IRGC commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi.

Focus on anti-corruption and judicial reforms

In his confirmation message, Mojtaba Khamenei instructed Mohseni-Ejei to remain committed to fighting corruption and to pursue unspecified measures aimed at achieving a "judicial transformation". He also asked him to pursue crimes by "arrogant powers" and "global aggressors".

Speaking to state television on Monday, Mohseni-Ejei said he remained committed to achieving the “peaks” of success envisioned by the leaders of the Islamic Republic and referred to calls for revenge following the assassination of Khamenei.

“Why do our dear people say ‘Revenge, revenge’? Because they want these criminal acts [of assassination] not to be repeated again. They want punishments that would deter enemies from committing such war and non-war crimes,” he said.

What the appointment means for Iranians

Earlier this week, Mohseni-Ejei reaffirmed his support for the “axis of resistance”, the network of regional armed groups aligned with Iran.

As Iran continues to face economic difficulties, he also pledged “decisive action” against hoarding, price gouging and other activities that harm people's livelihoods.

Following legislation passed after last year's 12-day war with Israel and the US, Iranian authorities have significantly increased prosecutions involving "espionage" and other national security-related offences.

During Mohseni-Ejei's tenure throughout the war, the judiciary has carried out near-daily executions of dissidents arrested on security charges. This includes protesters involved in nationwide anti-government demonstrations in January, when thousands were killed.

International human rights organisations have warned that executions have reached their highest levels since the late 1980s, when the theocratic establishment executed many dissidents following the eight-year war with invading Iraq.

Since the protests began, tens of thousands have also been arrested, while businessmen, celebrities and other public figures have had their assets confiscated by the state in connection with security charges.

Powers held by the judiciary chief

Article 158 of the Islamic Republic's constitution gives the head of the judicial branch authority over the judiciary's organisational structure, judicial bills, and the hiring, dismissal, transfer, promotion and assignment of judges.

Mohseni-Ejei also has the power to appoint the head of the Supreme Court and the prosecutor general after consulting Supreme Court judges. In addition, he can nominate six legal jurists to the 12-member Guardian Council, with parliament responsible for electing them.

As the Guardian Council vets election candidates and must approve legislation before it can take effect, the judiciary chief holds indirect influence over both the electoral and legislative processes.

Following Ayatollah Khamenei's killing and before Mojtaba Khamenei was selected by the 88-member clerical Assembly of Experts as his successor, Mohseni-Ejei served on a temporary three-man council overseeing the country alongside the president and a member of the Guardian Council.

He also retains influence through his position on the Supreme National Security Council, Iran's highest decision-making body, which is leading mediated negotiations with Washington.

Role in negotiations and public attention on Mojtaba Khamenei

According to officials and local media, Mohseni-Ejei supported the memorandum of understanding signed by the US and Iran last month to effectively halt the conflict between the two countries. All but one member of the council backed the agreement, paving the way for months of further negotiations towards a more permanent peace deal. Talks are expected to resume after the funeral processions, with US President Donald Trump saying negotiations are on hold until the commemorations conclude.

Mojtaba Khamenei has remained absent from family commemoration events, reportedly to avoid detection and possible assassination. On Monday, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz repeated his threat of “elimination” against senior Iranian officials.

The absence of Iran's new supreme leader has prompted widespread discussion inside the country. Several state-affiliated media outlets argued that his first public appearance as supreme leader should come at a moment that delivers the greatest psychological impact on Iran's adversaries.

State-linked Rouydad24, however, said his continued absence was creating “ambiguity at the level of the general public and international media”.