Iran says all legal procedures, formalities completed in new supreme leader's appointment

TEHRAN, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said on Monday that all legal procedures and necessary formalities have been completed in the appointment of the country's new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

He made the remarks at a weekly press conference in Tehran hours after Iran's Assembly of Experts appointed the leader.

Baghaei said Iran's supreme leader has been selected and announced, adding, following the announcement, "the duty is clear, we are defending ourselves."

He added, "The messages are also very clear. Those who must receive the message have received it. The Iranian nation will stand with all its might, united and with one voice, to defend the dignity, national sovereignty, and security of its citizens in this battle, which is an existential one."

Announcing the appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei, who is the son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the Assembly of Experts said in a statement that he secured the "decisive vote" of its representatives.

Following the new leader's appointment, Iranian officials, bodies, state organizations and institutes, as well as armed forces, extended congratulations and pledged allegiance to him.

The United States and Israel launched surprise airstrikes on Tehran and other Iranian cities on Feb. 28, killing Ali Khamenei, along with some of the leader's family members, Iran's senior military commanders and civilians. Iran responded through several waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East. ■