At that time, the Guardians’ Council was given the task of overseeing Assembly elections, which has intensified the partisan nature of the vetting process in each ballot since. It is very likely that the next supreme leader will be drawn from the fifth Assembly of Experts. The 2016 race for the Assembly of Experts has seen a record number of applicants, and its limited mandate has taken on new significance because of Khamenei’s age and recent medical issues (he underwent surgery for prostate cancer in 2014). It is very likely that the next supreme leader will be drawn from the fifth Assembly of Experts.
