Ebrahim Raisi appointed head of Iran’s judiciary

TEHRAN: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Thursday appointed cleric Ebrahim Raisi, a one-time presidential hopeful, as head of the judiciary, the leader’s website said. Former judge Raisi, who currently heads the holy shrine of Imam Reza, was the leading rival to President Hassan Rouhani at Iran’s 2017 election and has close ties to the supreme leader. Khamenei said in a statement that he appointed Raisi to bring about a “transformation (in the judiciary) in line with (its) needs, advancements and challenges” on the 40th year of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “For carrying out this crucial act, I have chosen you who have a long track record in different levels of the judiciary and are in touch with its nuances,” he said in the statement. He called on Raisi to be “with the people, the revolution and against corruption” in his new role. Raisi takes over from Sadegh Amoli Larijani who was in December appointed chairman of the powerful Expediency Council.