Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran | |
---|---|
رهبر معظم انقلاب اسلامی ایران (Persian) | |
![]() | |
![]() | |
since 4 June 1989 | |
Office of the Supreme Leader | |
Type | Head of state Commander-in-chief |
Residence | House of Leadership |
Seat | Tehran |
Appointer | Assembly of Experts |
Term length | Life tenure[1] |
Constituting instrument | Constitution of Iran |
Precursor | Shah of Iran |
Formation | 3 December 1979 |
First holder | Ruhollah Khomeini |
Website | www.leader.ir |
![]() |
---|
Government of Islamic Republic of Iran |
The Supreme Leader of Iran (Persian: رهبر معظم ایران, romanized: Rahbar-e Moazam-e Irân (), also referred to as Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution )[2] (رهبر معظم انقلاب اسلامی, Rahbar-e Moazam-e Enqelâb-e Eslâmi), but officially called the Supreme Leadership Authority (مقام معظم رهبری, Maqâm Moazam Rahbari), is the head of state and the highest political and religious authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran (above the President). The armed forces, judiciary, state radio and television, and other key government organizations such as the Guardian Council and Expediency Discernment Council are subject to the Supreme Leader.[3][4] According to the constitution, the Supreme Leader delineates the general policies of the Islamic Republic (article 110), supervising the legislature, the judiciary, and the executive branches (article 57).[5] The current lifetime officeholder, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khameneh known as Ali Khamenei, has issued decrees and made the final decisions on the economy, the environment, foreign policy, education, national planning, and other aspects of governance in Iran.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Khamenei also makes the final decisions on the amount of transparency in elections,[14] and has dismissed and reinstated presidential cabinet appointees.[15] The Supreme Leader is legally considered "inviolable", with Iranians being routinely punished for questioning or insulting him.[16][17][18][19][20]
The office was established by the Constitution of Iran in 1979, pursuant to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's concept of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist,[21] and is a lifetime appointment.[22] Originally the constitution required the Supreme Leader to be Marja'-e taqlid, the highest-ranking cleric in the religious laws of Usuli Twelver Shia Islam. In 1989, however, the constitution was amended and simply asked for Islamic "scholarship" to allow the Supreme Leader to be a lower-ranking cleric.[23][24] As the Guardian Jurist (Vali-ye faqih), the Supreme Leader guides the country, protecting it from heresy and imperialist predations, and ensuring the laws of Islam are followed. The style "Supreme Leader" (Persian: رهبر معظم, romanized: rahbar-e mo'azzam) is commonly used as a sign of respect although the Constitution designates them simply as "Leader" (رهبر, rahbar). According to the constitution (Article 111), the Assembly of Experts is tasked with electing (following Ayatollah Khomeini), supervising, and dismissing the Supreme Leader. In practice, the Assembly has never been known to challenge or otherwise publicly oversee any of the Supreme Leader's decisions[25] (all of its meetings and notes are strictly confidential).[26] Members of the Assembly are chosen by bodies (the Guardian Council) whose members are appointed by the Supreme Leader or appointed by an individual (Chief Justice of Iran) appointed by the Supreme Leader.
In its history, the Islamic Republic of Iran has had only two Supreme Leaders: Khomeini, who held the position from 1979 until his death in 1989 and Ali Khamenei, who has held the position for more than 30 years since Khomeini's death.
brookings-AoE
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).