This week, following the February 2016 public elections in Iran for the Assembly of Experts - the body responsible for overseeing the activity of Iran's supreme leader and, if necessary, for choosing a new one - Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, 90, was chosen as the assembly head by its members. Ayatollah Jannati is also chairman of Guardian Council, which oversees legislation by the Iranian Majlis (parliament) and is authorized to disqualify candidates for elections in the country.
Jannati, who was chosen even though he finished last in the February elections - in 16th place - in the Tehran constituency, has a history of making anti-U.S. statements. Among these statements is his claim that Iran, as a Muslim country, cannot peacefully coexist with the U.S. or its allies. He is also known for his harsh criticism of the pragmatic stream in Iran, headed by President Hassan Rohani and Expediency Council secretary Hashemi Rafsanjani - who actually finished first in the Tehran constituency in the February Assembly of Experts election.
The following are MEMRI TV clips of Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati from the MEMRI TV archives.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei Has Not Approved Or Signed The JCPOA
Channel 1 (Iran) - October 16, 2015 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Tehran Friday Sermon: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Congratulates Muslims On The Death Of Saudi King Abdullah
ANB TV (Lebanon/Jordan/London) - October 28, 2014 - View this clip on
MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati To Iran's Leaders: The People Do Not Support Your Efforts To Establish Ties With The U.S.
Channel 1 (Iran) - February 21, 2014 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Mocks Obama, Incites Against Mubarak, And Wishes Someone Would "Waste A Bullet" On Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
Channel 1 (Iran) - January 16, 2009 -
View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: We Are Happy That The American Economy Is In A State Of Confusion
Channel 1 (Iran) - October 3, 2008 -
View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati, Chairman Of The Iranian Guardian Council: The Time For America's Death Has Come
Channel 1 (Iran) - April 18, 2008 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: Arab Countries Should Have Chopped Off Bush's Head, Not Welcome Him
Channel 1 (Iran) - January 25, 2008 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: Just Like We Destroyed The Regime Of The Shah, We Will Destroy America And Israel
Channel 1 (Iran) - June 1, 2007 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati To The U.S: Invade Iran, If You Dare
Channel 1 (Iran) - February 10, 2007 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: Like Israel, America Is Weaker Than A Spider Web
Channel 1 (Iran) - September 1, 2006 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Tehran Friday Sermon: The Gates Of The U.N. And The Security Council Should Be Closed
Channel 1 (Iran) - August 4, 2006 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: I Spit In The Face Of The West, Which Has Made Homosexuality Official And Legal
Channel 1 (Iran) - February 17, 2006 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Tehran University Friday Sermon: French Muslims Are Treated In The Most Terrible Way
Channel 1 (Iran) - November 11, 2005 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Friday Sermon At Tehran University: Those Who Came To Help In New Orleans Began Looting And Raping; "Shame On America, Death To America"
Channel 1 (Iran) - September 16, 2005 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Terror In London (9) - Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Tehran Friday Sermon: The English Government May Have Caused The London Bombings Like The U.S. Government May Have Caused 9/11
Channel 1 (Iran) - July 15, 2005 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Tehran Friday Sermon: By Voting You Will Be Shouting A Gigantic "Death To America"
Channel 1 (Iran) - June 10, 2005 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati: The English Are The Father Of The Great Satan
Channel 1 (Iran) - February 4, 2005 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Tehran Friday Sermon: We Are Determined To Obtain Nuclear Technology
Channel 1 (Iran) - November 26, 2004 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Friday Sermon At Tehran University: The Americans In Najaf Are Bloodthirsty Wolves
Channel 1 (Iran) - August 13, 2004 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati In Friday Sermon At Tehran University: America Will Collapse, We Must Be Patient
Channel 1 (Iran) - June 25, 2004 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati At Tehran University Friday Sermon: Muslims Should Endanger English And American Interests
Channel 1 (Iran) - June 4, 2004 - View this clip on MEMRI TV here.
