Iranian Supreme Leaders

A history of Iranian supreme leaders.

Formally the head of state of Iran is rahbar (leader), but customarily they have been addresses as rahbar-e mo'azzam (supreme leader). The leader is elected by the majles-e xobregân-e rahbari (assembly of experts) for life.

The supreme leader's powers include:

• commander-in-chief

• approving the elected president

• appointing the ministers of government

• appointing the chief justice

• appointing the members of the shoraye a'ali enqelabe farhangi (supreme council of the Cultural Revolution)

  • 19 members directly appointed plus 9 members who have a seat ex officio, i.e. the president is also the chair of this council

• appointing 6 (out of 12) members of the shourā-ye negahbān (guardian council)

  • the other 6 are nominated by the chief justice and elected by the Majlis

• appointing the members of the majma'-e tašxis-e maslahat-e nezâm (expediency discernment council), which adjudicated conflicts between the guardian council and the Majlis

  • supreme leaders have repeatedly changed the size of this council at will

CategoryRicottone