Iran’s president runs the day‑to‑day government, but the supreme leader controls the armed forces, judiciary, and strategic policy. This guide explains the constitutional powers, the real hierarchy, and the succession flashpoints that have shaped the office since 1979.
Current president: Masoud Pezeshkian, 9th president, since 2024 | Supreme leader: Ali Khamenei, since 1989 | Presidents since 1979: 9 | Presidential term: 4 years; maximum two consecutive terms | Last president to die in office: Ebrahim Raisi, May 2024
Leadership map
- Supreme leader is head of state and commander-in-chief.
- President is head of elected government.
- Guardian Council controls candidate vetting and election oversight.
Current officeholders
- President: Masoud Pezeshkian (elected July 2024).
- Supreme Leader: Ali Khamenei (in office since 1989).
- Pezeshkian succeeded after the death of Ebrahim Raisi.
System type
- Hybrid Islamic republic – elected institutions under unelected theocratic oversight.
- Elections exist but are filtered by the Guardian Council.
- Supreme leader retains final authority on strategic matters.
Succession flashpoints
- Raisi’s 2024 death triggered an early presidential election.
- Khomeini’s 1989 death produced Khamenei’s succession.
- Prime minister post abolished the same year.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current president | Masoud Pezeshkian |
| Took office | July 30, 2024 |
| Supreme leader | Ali Khamenei |
| Presidents since 1979 | 9 |
| Presidential term length | 4 years |
| Prime minister office | Abolished 1989 |
Who is a new president of Iran?
Masoud Pezeshkian became the ninth president of Iran after winning the July 2024 early election. He succeeded Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2024. The president must be a Shi’a Muslim under Iran’s Constitution, and the term is four years with a maximum of two consecutive terms.
How old is Iran’s current president?
The exact birth date of Masoud Pezeshkian is not provided in the official sources referenced in this guide; his age is not part of the public biographical data from the Office of the President.
What religion must Iran’s president be?
According to the Constitution, the president must be a Shi’a Muslim. This is a requirement for all presidential candidates, as confirmed by the Guardian Council’s vetting process.
Which Iranian president died in office?
Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May 2024, becoming the second president to die in office. The first was Mohammad‑Ali Rajai, who was assassinated in 1981.
Have any Iranian presidents been assassinated?
Yes, President Mohammad‑Ali Rajai was killed by a bomb explosion at his office in 1981. No other Iranian president has been assassinated. The current supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, has never been assassinated; he remains in office.
Why does Iran no longer have a prime minister?
Iran’s parliament abolished the post of prime minister through a constitutional amendment in 1989, shortly after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini. The amendment transferred the prime minister’s duties to the president, centralizing executive power.
“The president is the highest state official after the Supreme Leader and heads the executive branch.”
— Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran (via UN Women Constitutional Database)
Who is the supreme leader of Iran?
Ali Khamenei has been supreme leader since June 4, 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Khomeini. The supreme leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts, an elected body of Shi’a clerics. Khamenei is head of state and commander‑in‑chief of the armed forces, controlling the regular military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the police.
Who assassinated Ali Khamenei?
Ali Khamenei has not been assassinated. The question appears to be based on a false premise, likely a confusion with President Mohammad‑Ali Rajai’s assassination in 1981. Khamenei remains alive and in power as of 2024.
How many wives does Ali Khamenei have?
Public records identify Khamenei as having one wife and six children. The Washington Institute for Near East Policy and other reputable sources have not reported multiple wives.
“The Assembly of Experts is an elected body of 86 Shiite jurists tasked with selecting, supervising, and if necessary dismissing the Supreme Leader.”
— Deutsche Welle, “Iran’s complex political and military power structure”
Is Iran’s supreme leader higher than president?
Constitutionally, the supreme leader outranks the president. The president manages the cabinet, coordinates government policy, and represents Iran internationally, but strategic authority over foreign policy, the military, the judiciary, and key state institutions remains with the supreme leader. The Guardian Council, half of whose members are appointed by the supreme leader, vets all presidential candidates and can disqualify them.
Who holds more power in Iran?
The supreme leader holds more power. He can dismiss the president after a Supreme Court ruling or a parliamentary vote, appoints the head of the judiciary, and controls the armed forces. The president is head of government, not head of state.
Below is a comparison of the two offices’ core powers and constraints:
| Area | President | Supreme Leader |
|---|---|---|
| Election / Selection | Elected by popular vote (subject to Guardian Council approval) | Chosen by the Assembly of Experts (which is vetted by the Guardian Council) |
| Executive authority | Chairs the Council of Ministers, supervises ministries, implements the Constitution except matters assigned to the Supreme Leader | Determines general policies after consulting the Expediency Discernment Council |
| Military command | No direct command; can propose defense policy but cannot override the Supreme Leader | Supreme commander-in-chief; declares war, makes peace, mobilises the armed forces |
| Judicial influence | None directly | Appoints and dismisses the head of the judiciary; appoints six clerical members of the Guardian Council |
| Removal | Can be impeached by parliament or dismissed by the Supreme Leader after court ruling | Can be dismissed only by the Assembly of Experts (theoretically) |
The supreme leader’s power is constitutionally and practically greater. The president’s authority is limited to day‑to‑day governance, while the supreme leader controls the strategic levers of the Islamic Republic. The implication: Iran’s elections are real but operate within an unelected framework.
Is Iran a dictatorship or democracy?
Iran combines elected institutions with unelected theocratic oversight, a system often described as electoral authoritarian or hybrid. The president, parliament, and Assembly of Experts are elected, but the Guardian Council controls candidate eligibility, and the supreme leader has veto power over many decisions.
When did Iran lose women’s rights?
After the 1979 revolution, Iran rewrote family and criminal law along religious lines. Compulsory women’s dress codes were enforced beginning in the early 1980s. There is no single date marking all losses; legal restrictions accumulated over the first decade of the Islamic Republic.
“Many researchers classify the Islamic Republic as an electoral authoritarian or hybrid regime rather than a full democracy.”
— Multiple academic and human‑rights sources cited in the research notes (e.g., Human Rights Watch, Deutsche Welle)
Who took power after Ayatollah Khomeini?
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini died on June 3, 1989. The next day, the Assembly of Experts selected Ali Khamenei as the new supreme leader. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was elected president in 1989, and the post of prime minister was abolished through a constitutional amendment later that year.
Is it true that Ayatollah Khomeini died?
Yes, Ayatollah Khomeini died on June 3, 1989, after a period of illness. His death is widely reported and confirmed by Iranian and international sources.
Did Ayatollah Khomeini fall out of his coffin?
No authoritative source confirms reports that Khomeini’s coffin fell or opened at his 1989 funeral. The story remains an unverified rumor; the official account describes a large funeral with no such incident.
Key succession events in Iran’s presidential history
- 1979: Iranian Revolution creates the Islamic Republic; new constitution establishes the presidency.
- 1980: Abolhassan Banisadr is elected Iran’s first president.
- 1981: President Mohammad‑Ali Rajai is assassinated; Ali Khamenei is elected president later that year.
- 1989: Ayatollah Khomeini dies; Ali Khamenei becomes supreme leader; the prime minister post is abolished.
- 2024: President Ebrahim Raisi dies in a helicopter crash; Masoud Pezeshkian wins the early presidential election.
Who ruled Iran before Muslims?
Before the Muslim conquest, the Sasanian Empire ruled Iran from 224 to 651 CE. It was the last pre‑Islamic imperial dynasty. Its final king, Yazdegerd III, reigned from 632 until his death in 651. Earlier pre‑Islamic rulers include the Achaemenid and Parthian empires.
What was the last pre‑Islamic empire of Iran?
The Sasanian Empire. Archaeological and historical records confirm its rule until the Muslim conquest began in the 630s. For an overview of contemporary leadership structures in the region, see Mohammed Bin Salman: Net Worth, Wife, and Succession (external context). Another historical figure with a distinct theory of power is Charles Darwin: Biography, Theory, and Personal Life (though not directly related to Iran’s political system).
president.ir, en.wikipedia.org, hrw.org, hrw.org, dw.com, constitutions.unwomen.org, en.wikipedia.org, news.bbc.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
Who has served as President of Iran since 1979?
The nine presidents since 1979 are: Abolhassan Banisadr (1980–1981), Mohammad‑Ali Rajai (1981), Ali Khamenei (1981–1985, 1985–1989), Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989–1997), Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005), Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013), Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021), Ebrahim Raisi (2021–2024), and Masoud Pezeshkian (2024–present).
How is the president of Iran elected?
The president is elected by direct popular vote for a four‑year term. Candidates must receive approval from the Guardian Council before standing, and the popularly elected winner is not officially confirmed until the supreme leader approves the election decree.
How long is a presidential term in Iran?
Four years, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. A president can serve non‑consecutive terms after a break.
What caused Ebrahim Raisi’s death?
President Ebrahim Raisi died on May 19, 2024, in a helicopter crash in northern Iran, along with several other officials. The crash was attributed to adverse weather conditions.
Can the Supreme Leader remove the president?
Yes, the constitution allows the supreme leader to dismiss the president after a ruling by the Supreme Court or a vote of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament). This provision has never been used in practice.
What is the Guardian Council’s role in presidential elections?
The twelve‑member Guardian Council vets presidential candidates for qualifications, reviews election results, and supervises the process. Six members are appointed by the supreme leader; the other six are legal scholars nominated by the judiciary chief and approved by parliament. The council can disqualify any candidate, significantly narrowing the field.
Confirmed facts
- Ali Khamenei has been supreme leader since June 4, 1989.
- Masoud Pezeshkian is president of Iran as of 2024.
- Ayatollah Khomeini died on June 3, 1989.
- Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May 2024.
- Iran’s constitution limits presidents to two consecutive four‑year terms.
What is unclear
- No official record confirms reports that Khomeini’s coffin fell or opened at his 1989 funeral; the story remains a rumor.
- The phrase “who ruled Iran before Muslims” can point to several pre‑Islamic dynasties; the last one is the Sasanian Empire.
- Descriptions of Iran as a dictatorship depend on the definition; the institutional structure is hybrid rather than a textbook single‑ruler dictatorship.
Arthur Oliver Howard Fletcher is a staff writer for NationalReport.uk, covering UK national news, politics, the economy and public services. He works under Editor-in-Chief Andreas Christodoulou and UK Managing Editor Rebecca Morgan, following the newsroom standards for sourcing, verification and fact-checking set out in our editorial policies.