Iran reappoints Gholam‑Hossein Mohseni‑Ejei as chief justice

Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei confirmed the reappointment of Gholam‑Hossein Mohseni‑Ejei for another five‑year term as head of Iran’s judiciary. The decision was announced amid the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and was conveyed in a text message attributed to the new supreme leader. Mohseni‑Ejei, often dubbed the “Judge of Death,” retains authority over the judiciary’s structure, judges, and can appoint the Supreme Court head, prosecutor general and half of the Guardian Council’s jurists. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf welcomed the continuation, while hard‑line critics had previously suggested he might be replaced due to his vote on a U.S. memorandum of understanding. The appointment signals continuity in a judiciary noted for aggressive prosecutions of espionage, corruption and political dissent following the recent US‑Israel‑Iran conflict.