TEHRAN: A powerful Iranian cleric, a member of the Assembly of Experts that selects the country’s supreme leader, has been killed in an armed attack, state media said on Wednesday.

“Ayatollah Abbas Ali Soleimani was killed this morning in an armed attack... the assailant was also arrested,” IRNA news agency reported, citing an official. The attack took place in the north of Iran.

The Assembly of Experts is an 88-seat panel that oversees and appoints Iran’s supreme leader.

He also once was the personal representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to Iran’s restive Sistan and Balochestan province.