Tasnim - Iranian President expressed condolences over the passing of Ayatollah Seyed Hashem Bathaee, a member of the Assembly of Experts who died after being infected with COVID-19.
As the representative of the people of Tehran in the Assembly of Experts and in other political and cultural arenas of the country, "this highly educated scholar" did invaluable work, Rouhani said in a message on Monday night.


The president further expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and relatives of the cleric and prayed for their patience.


Ayatollah Bathaee passed away at age 78 on Monday morning.


The cleric, who had been infected with COVID-19 died at a hospital in Qom, the city where the first cases of coronavirus in Iran were detected.


The Assembly of Experts is a high-ranking body that elects and oversees the activities of the leader of the Islamic Revolution. Members of the assembly are directly elected to office by people for an eight-year term.