Supreme Leader of Iran facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Supreme Leadership Authority of the Islamic Republic of Iran |
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| Office of the Supreme Leader | |
| Style | His Eminence |
| Residence | Jamaran Hussainiya (former) House of Leadership (former; destroyed) |
| Seat | Tehran |
| Appointer | Assembly of Experts |
| Term length | Life tenure |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Iran |
| Precursor | Shah of Iran |
| Formation | 5 February 1979 (as Revolutionary Leader) 3 December 1979 (as Supreme Leader) |
| First holder | Ruhollah Khomeini |
| Succession | Interim Leadership Council if the office is vacant |
| Deputy | Deputy Supreme Leader (1985–1989) |
The Supreme Leader of Iran is the most important political and religious leader in Iran. This person is above the President and has the final say on many important decisions. The official title is the Supreme Leadership Authority.
The Supreme Leader guides the country's main policies. This includes overseeing the government's three main parts: the law-making body (legislature), the courts (judiciary), and the executive branch (which carries out laws). The Supreme Leader also makes final decisions on things like the economy, foreign policy, and education. They can also approve or dismiss government officials.
This important position was created by the Constitution of Iran in 1979. It was based on Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's idea of "Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist." It is a job for life. The Assembly of Experts chooses the Supreme Leader. This group also checks on the leader and can remove them. However, the Assembly has not publicly challenged any Supreme Leader's decisions.
Iran has had three Supreme Leaders in its history. The first was Ruhollah Khomeini, from 1979 until his passing in 1989. The second was Ali Khamenei, who served from 1989 until his passing in 2026. The current Supreme Leader is Mojtaba Khamenei, who has held the position since March 8, 2026.
Contents
The Supreme Leader's Role in the Constitution
How the 1979 Constitution Created the Role
In March 1979, after Ruhollah Khomeini returned to Iran and the monarchy ended, people voted in a national referendum. They were asked "Islamic Republic, yes or no?" Most people, about 98%, voted "yes." After this, a new constitution was created for an Islamic state. It was approved in December 1979.
This 1979 constitution mixed religious and democratic ideas. Much of it came from Khomeini's book, Islamic Government. In his book, Khomeini said that the government should follow traditional Islamic laws, called sharia. He believed that a leading Islamic scholar, or faqih, should guide the people politically.
The constitution highlights the importance of religious leaders in government. Article 4 states that all laws must follow Islamic rules. Islamic legal scholars on the Guardian Council make sure this happens. Article 5 says that the leadership of the community belongs to a righteous, God-fearing legal scholar.
The constitution also specifically mentions Khomeini. It praises him as a very wise and skilled leader. The Supreme Leader's duties are broadly described in the constitution. This gives the leader wide-ranging powers. The Supreme Leader does not receive a salary.
Changes to the Constitution in 1989
Just before Khomeini passed away, a change was made to Iran's constitution. This change allowed a religious scholar of a lower rank to become the Supreme Leader. Khomeini had disagreements with his chosen successor, Hussein-Ali Montazeri, about how the country was being run.
Montazeri was then removed from his position. Khomeini chose a new successor, Ali Khamenei, who was a lower-ranking cleric. The original constitution said the leader had to be a "source of imitation" (Marja-e taqlid), which meant a very high-ranking cleric.
Khomeini wrote a letter to the Assembly for Revising the Constitution. He explained that being a "source of imitation" was not a requirement for the leader. So, Article 109 was changed to allow Ali Khamenei to become the next Supreme Leader.
Powers and Responsibilities of the Supreme Leader
The Supreme Leader has many important duties and powers. These are given by the Constitution and other laws.
- Sets the main policies for the Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Makes sure these policies are carried out correctly.
- Helps solve disagreements between the three branches of government.
- Can call for national public votes (referendums).
- Is the top commander of the Armed Forces.
- Decides on declaring war or peace and mobilizing the military.
- Can stop laws passed by the parliament (veto).
- Appoints, removes, or accepts the resignation of many key officials. These include:
- Members of important councils like the Expediency Discernment Council.
- Six religious scholars (fuqaha) of the Guardian Council.
- The top judge of the country, known as the Chief Justice of Iran.
- Ministers for defense, intelligence, foreign affairs, and science.
- The head of the national radio and television network.
- The highest commanders of the armed forces.
- Can remove and reappoint government ministers.
- Resolves problems that cannot be solved by normal methods, often with the help of the Expediency Discernment Council.
- Approves the results of presidential elections.
- Can remove the President if the Supreme Court finds them guilty of breaking constitutional duties, or if the parliament votes to impeach them.
- Can pardon or reduce the sentences of prisoners, based on recommendations from the head of the judiciary.
- Approves decisions made by the Supreme National Security Council.
- Oversees a special court for religious leaders.
How the Supreme Leader is Chosen and His Authority
The Supreme Leader of Iran is chosen by the Assembly of Experts. This is the only government body that can elect and remove Supreme Leaders.
The Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. They also lead the three main parts of the government: the courts, the law-making body, and the executive branch.
The Supreme Leader oversees, appoints, or approves many important offices and organizations:
- Supreme National Security Council (SNSC): This council discusses national security and foreign policy. The Supreme Leader appoints two personal representatives to it.
- Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces: This includes the regular military (Artesh), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and the police. The Supreme Leader appoints their top commanders.
- Chief Justice of Iran: The head of the country's court system.
- Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting: The head of Iran's national news and media.
- Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution: This group works to keep Iran's education and culture aligned with Islamic values.
- Expediency Discernment Council: This council helps solve disagreements between the Guardian Council and the Parliament. It also advises the Supreme Leader.
- Head of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs: This person is nominated by the President and approved by the Leader.
The Supreme Leader also officially approves the President after elections. They can also work with the Parliament to remove a President. Six of the twelve members of the Guardian Council are chosen directly by the Supreme Leader. The other six are chosen by the Parliament from candidates nominated by the Chief Justice, who is also appointed by the Supreme Leader.
The Supreme Leader can send representatives to all parts of the government. In 2018, there were about 2000 such representatives. The Supreme Leader also appoints the leaders of Friday Prayers in each provincial capital.
The Supreme Leader's office directly controls Iran's regional foreign policy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs mainly handles formal events. For example, the Quds Force, which reports directly to the Supreme Leader, chooses Iran's ambassadors to Arab countries.
Candidates for the Assembly of Experts, the President, and the Parliament must be approved by the Guardian Council. The Guardian Council's members are either appointed by the Supreme Leader or by someone appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts has never questioned the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader is highly respected, and it is not common for people to openly criticize him.
Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist (Velayat-e faqih)
Iran's constitution combines ideas of both democracy (where people vote) and theocracy (where religious leaders have power). The religious part comes from Ayatollah Khomeini's idea of vilayat-e faqih, which means "Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist."
Khomeini believed that in the absence of the Twelfth Imam, Islamic scholars (jurists) should lead the government. He thought they were the best people to ensure the country followed Islamic laws and stayed on the right path. This guardianship applied to everyone, not just specific groups.
Before the Iranian Revolution, Shia Muslims would choose their own leading religious scholar to follow. This meant the public had a say in how influential a scholar became. After the revolution, however, Iranian Shia Muslims were expected to follow the current Supreme Leader, who became the main guide for all government matters.
This new system meant the religious leader had complete control over government affairs. The revolution and its leader also had goals beyond Iran. The constitution states that Iran aims to create an ideal society based on Islamic rules. It also wants to help other Islamic and popular movements to form a single world community and support oppressed people globally.
Ayatollah Khomeini was very popular before the revolution. He spoke to the people as "the oppressed" and used his strong leadership skills to gain support. He became a role model for many Shiites. He hoped the Iranian Revolution would be the first step towards a larger Islamic revolution around the world.
List of Supreme Leaders
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Term of office | Election | President(s) | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
| 1 |  |
Seyyed Ruhollah Khomeini سید روحالله خمینی (1900–1989)  |
3 December 1979 | 3 June 1989 (Died in office) |
9 years and 6 months | N/A |
List:
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Leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. |
| 2 | (2).jpg) |
Seyyed Ali Khamenei سید علی خامنهای (1939–2026)  |
4 June 1989 | 28 February 2026 (Passed away) |
36 years, 8 months and 24 days | 1989 | Previously served as President of Iran from 1981 until Khomeini's death. | |
| 3 | .jpg) |
Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei سید مجتبی خامنهای (born 1969)  |
8 March 2026 | Incumbent | 3 days | 2026 | Masoud Pezeshkian | Son of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, elected amid the 2026 war. |
Timeline of Supreme Leaders
Deputy Supreme Leader
The role of the Iranian Deputy Supreme Leader was eventually included within the powers of the Supreme Leader.
- Grand Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri (15 July 1985 – 25 April 1989) served in this position.
2026 Interim Leadership Council
After the passing of Ali Khamenei, a temporary leadership council took over his role. This was done according to Article 111 of the Islamic Republic constitution. The council managed the country until a new Supreme Leader was elected.
The Interim Leadership Council was formed on March 1, 2026. It included President Masoud Pezeshkian, Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje'i, and Alireza Arafi from the Guardian Council. This council served until Mojtaba Khamenei took office on March 8, 2026.
See also
In Spanish: Líder supremo de Irán para niños
- President of Iran
- List of heads of state of Iran
- List of provincial representatives appointed by Supreme Leader of Iran
- Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order
- Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Death and state funeral of Ruhollah Khomeini
- 1989 Iranian Supreme Leader election
- List of members in the Fifth Term of the Council of Experts
- Iranian Revolution
