Supreme Leader of Iran

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The post of Supreme Leader (Persian: رهبر انقلاب, Rahbare Enghelab,<ref>Article 108, Iranian Constitution</ref> lit. Leader of the Revolution, or مقام رهبری, Maghame Rahbari,<ref>Article 89-91, Iranian Constitution</ref> lit. Leadership Authority, or ولی فقیه, Valî-ye Faqîh,<ref>Article 5, Iranian Constitution</ref> lit. Guardian Jurisprudent ^{(see guardianship of the jurists)}) was created in the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran as the highest ranking political and religious authority of the nation. The title "Supreme" Leader (Persian: رهبر معظم, Rahbare Moazzam), is often used as a sign of respect, however this terminology does not exist in the constitution.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the current Supreme Leader of Iran.

1 Mandate and status
2 Functions and duties of The Supreme Leader
3 Incumbents
4 See also
5 References
6 Sources and references

[edit] Mandate and status

Main article: Politics of Iran

The Supreme Leader is elected by the Assembly of Experts, which is also in charge of overseeing the Supreme Leader, and has the power to dismiss and replace him at any time. Although the members of the Assembly of Experts are elected by public vote, the Guardian Council (whose fuqaha members are appointed by the Supreme Leader) vets the candidates before the election. Many political analysts believe this creates a "closed loop of power" and many prominent Iranian reformists have voiced their opposition to the current election laws (including Abdollah Noori) but have not been able to bring any changes to the law.

While the Supreme Leader is generally considered as the ultimate head of the Iranian political establishment, the President of Iran, who is elected by direct public vote, is the Executive President (Head of government, directly in charge of the executive branch).

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The question of how to fit the Supreme Leader and the President in the theoretical definitions of Head of state and Head of government is as thorny as with the atypical products of various other revolutions, even long after the regimes were constitutionally stabilized, such as the Libyan Guide of the Revolution or the party chairmen in the Soviet model, who systematically 'outranked' both (or may hold one or both posts) politically, or real political power may even clearly with one who (sometimes no longer) holds none such formal positions, as in the Chinese case of Deng Xiaoping for whom the -unofficial- term paramount leader was used; however, de facto and de jure the Supreme Leader's ideological and political authority is, as the title implies, supreme. While the Supreme Leader lacks crucial attributes of a Head of state (such as the summit position in diplomatic relations; though supreme command is very rarely entrusted to a third office) and of a Head of government (a lead role in daily government) his clear ideological leadership resembles that of a single-party-leader (the Islamic religion holding the guiding prominence instead of a strictly political ideology) and his formalized kingmaker position both that and a paramount leader, be it not behind the curtain.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

[edit] Functions and duties of The Supreme Leader

Delineation of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran after consultation with the Nation's Expediency Discernment Council.
Supervision over the proper execution of the general policies of the system.
Issuing decrees for national referenda.
Assuming supreme command of the armed forces.
Declaration of war and peace, and the mobilization of the armed forces.
Appointment, dismissal, and acceptance of resignation of:
1. the fuqaha' on the Guardian Council.
2. the supreme judicial authority of the country.
3. the head of the radio and television network of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
4. the chief of the joint staff.
5. the chief commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
6. the supreme commanders of the armed forces.
Resolving differences between the three wings of the armed forces and regulation of their relations.
Resolving the problems, which cannot be solved by conventional methods, through the Nation's Exigency Council.
Signing the decree formalizing the elections in Iran for the President of the Republic by the people.
Dismissal of the President of the Republic, with due regard for the interests of the country, after the Supreme Court holds him guilty of the violation of his constitutional duties, or after a vote of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (The Majlis of Iran) testifying to his incompetence on the basis of Article 89 of the Constitution.
Pardoning or reducing the sentences of convicts, within the framework of Islamic criteria, on a recommendation (to that effect) from the head of the Judiciary. The Leader may delegate part of his duties and powers to another person.

[edit] Incumbents

Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iran has had two Supreme Leaders:

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, 1979–1989.

Acknowledged as the father of the Islamic Revolution, Khomeini retained a uniquely prominent position as Guide of the Revolution until his death. Article 107 of the constitution named him to the position for life, imposing election only after his death.