Sadiq Larijani

Sadiq Ardashir Larijani (born 12 March 1961) is an Iranian cleric and politician who currently serves as the chairman of Expediency Discernment Council since 2018. He previously served as the sixth chief justice of Iran from 2009 to 2019. Born in Najaf, Iraq, to the Larijani family, Sadiq Larijani began his seminary studies in Qom. He then served as one of the 12 members of the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran for eight years. He was appointed head of the judicial system of Iran by supreme leader Ali Khamenei in 2009. Larijani was one of the closest aides of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and was regarded by many commentators as one of the potential successors to Khamenei, along with the latter's son Mojtaba Khamenei, who did succeed his father.