The importance of this month’s Iranian elections may surprise you

There’s more democracy involved than you might expect in the appointment of Iran’s dictatorial Supreme Leader. It involves the Assembly of Experts, whose next election is just around the corner:

Iran is about to hold a national election that could shape the country’s future for a generation — potentially even more so than the presidential elections in 2009, when “green movement” protests signaled public outrage with the regime, and in 2013, when voters elevated the moderate Hassan Rouhani on a promise of economic and diplomatic opening.

On February 26, Iranians will vote for candidates for their parliament and for a body called the Assembly of Experts — which, though few outside Iran have heard of it, could be in a position to radically alter Iran’s politics.