The Supreme Leader of Iran must come from within the ranks of the clergy. He is the highest ranking political and religious authority in the country and should be “fair, virtuous, knowledgeable about current affairs, brave, good administrator, and clever”.

This position embodies a Shiite concept, "velayat-e faqih", which roughly translates as “guardianship of the Islamic jurist”. The idea is that the country’s top Islamic jurist – the Supreme Leader – has the last word in key political decisions. That is why he is considered the most powerful man in Iran, above the Iranian president. According to the constitution, the Supreme Leader can even dismiss the president if it is “in the country’s interest”.

The Supreme Leader is appointed and supervised by the Assembly of Experts. The current Supreme Leader is Ali Khamenei, who has held the position since the death in 1989 of Ruhollah Khomeini.

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The president is the highest official in the country after the Supreme Leader. Head of the executive power, he appoints the members of his government. He chairs the Council of Ministers and the Supreme National Security Council. He is elected by direct universal suffrage for four years and for two consecutive terms maximum, and may be dismissed by the Supreme Leader if it is “in the country’s interest”, or by the parliament, if deemed unable to lead the government. Whether he comes from the ranks of the clergy or the Iranian political class, he must be “pious and attached to the founding principles of the Islamic Republic of Iran”. The current president, Hassan Rouhani, was re-elected in 2017.

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An essential body, whose 88 religious members are elected by universal suffrage for an eight-year term. This assembly appoints the Supreme Leader, who must come from within their ranks. It can dismiss the Supreme Leader if he is deemed unfit.

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The constitutionally mandated 12-member council is made up of six faqihs (experts in Islamic law) appointed by the Supreme Leader and six jurists proposed by the Chief Justice, who in turn is appointed by the Supreme Leader.

Appointed for six years, they are in charge of validating the laws voted by parliament by verifying they comply with the “commandments of Islam and the Constitution”. They are also responsible for supervising elections in the country. They have a say in who can run in elections for the presidency, the parliament and for the Assembly of Experts.

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Akin to a parliament in another country, the lslamic Consultative Assembly is bitterly contested by Conservatives and reformers. Composed of 290 parliamentarians, elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage, it can dismiss the president of the republic, or a government minister, although the Supreme Leader has the last word. The Majlis has a right of veto over proposed government bills.

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The president appoints the majority of government ministers, who are then presented to the Majlis (or Assembly) for a vote of confidence. The justice minister, notably, is appointed by the Justice Chief.

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This “ideological and popular” force is responsible “for preserving the country’s independence, its, territorial integrity, and its republic and Islamic form”. The Chief of Staff is directly appointed by the Supreme Leader, who remains the supreme commander of the armed forces.

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This elite army corps, the Pasdaran, is responsible for safeguarding the Islamic Revolution and its achievements. It is under the direct control of the Supreme Leader, who appoints their Commander in Chief.

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The head of the judicial system of Iran. This is the highest authority of the judiciary in the country. Nominated for five years by the Supreme Leader, the head must be part of the clergy and a highly regarded religious scholar.  close

Composed of 34 members, religious and political figures appointed by the Supreme Leader. It meets on his request and has supervisory powers over all the branches of the government.

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Headed by the President of Iran, this institution decides the country’s defence, intelligence and security policies. Composed of senior security officials and several members of the government (foreign affairs, interior, intelligence ministers), its policies are subject to a green light from the Supreme Leader, who appoints two delegates to represent him on this Council.

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Text Marc Daou
Design and development France Médias Monde Design Studio

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