Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has issued a decree authorizing the extension of the term of the current caretaker of higher education until the Majlis approves a new minister.
Leader’s decree was issued in response to a request by President Hassan Rouhani, the Fars news agency reported on Saturday.
The president appointed Mohammad Ali Najafi following the impeachment of Reza Faraji-Dana in August. Najafi’s term as caretaker ended on Thursday.
Under the Article 135 of the Constitution, the president is required to select a caretaker for departments without a minister for a period of up to three months.
Upon the expiry of that period, the president has to either himself take over the ministry or ask for a decree from the Leader to extend the term of the caretaker.
Parliament is expected to hold a confirmation vote on the president’s new candidate for the post of science, research and technology minister, Mohammad Farhadi, this week.
