{{Short description|none}} {{For|the political system of the country|Politics of Iran}} {{Infobox presidential government | government_name = Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran | image = 150px | caption = Emblem of the Islamic Republic of Iran | date = {{start date and age|1979|4|1|df=yes}} (Islamic Republic formed)<br />{{start date and age|1980|8|21|df=yes}} (first Islamic Consultative Assembly session) | document = Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran | jurisdiction = Iran | legislature = Islamic Consultative Assembly | meeting_place = Baharestan | leader_title = '''Head of state ''(de jure)'':''' Revolutionary Leader (1979)<br />Supreme Leader (since 1979)<br />Interim Leadership Council (2026)<br />'''Supervisor of the three branches of the state (the Judiciary, the Legislature, and the Executive):''' Supreme Leader (since 1979)<br />Interim Leadership Council (2026)<br />'''Head of state ''(per UN)'':''' President (since 1980)<br />'''Head of government:''' Prime Minister (1979)<br />Chairman of Council of the Islamic Revolution (1979–1980)<br />Prime Minister (1980–1989)<br />President (since 1989)<br />'''Acting Head of the Executive Branch:'''{{efn|except in matters directly related to the Leadership}} President (since 1980)<br />'''Deputy head of government:''' First Vice President (since 1989)<br />'''Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces:''' Revolutionary Leader (1979)<br />Supreme Leader (1979–1980)<br />President (1980–1981)<br />Supreme Leader (since 1981)<br />Interim Leadership Council (2026) | appointed = Assembly of Experts (Supreme Leader)<br />Direct popular vote (President) | headquarters = Pasteur | main_organ = Cabinet | departments = 19 ministries | court = Judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran | seat = Courthouse of Tehran | url = {{URL|https://irangov.ir/}} }} {{Politics of Iran|expanded=Leadership}}
The '''Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran''' ({{langx|fa|نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران|Nezâm-e Jomhuri-ye Eslâmi-ye Irân}})<ref>{{cite web |date=21 March 2010 |title=Glossary of Iranian Political Terms |url=http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/en/news/8727/glossary-of-iranian-political-terms |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822175305/http://www.irdiplomacy.ir/en/page/8727/Glossary+of+Iranian+Political+Terms.html |archive-date=22 August 2017 |access-date=20 August 2017 |website=Iranian Diplomacy}}</ref> is the national government of Iran,<ref>{{cite web |title=تاریخچه انقلاب اسلامی ایران از ابتدا تاکنون |url=http://www.dana.ir/news/630099.html/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DA%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425060720/http://www.dana.ir/news/630099.html/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DA%86%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%AA%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%A7%DA%A9%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |access-date=5 February 2019 |website=dana.ir |language=fa}}</ref> which, per the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran, is founded on the principles of Islamism.
Its constitution, adopted in 1979 by referendum,<ref>{{cite web|title= همه پرسی قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی |trans-title=The Highest Legal Document: Referendum on the Constitution of the Islamic Republic|url=http://www.imam-khomeini.ir/fa/n21417/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B3_%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9_%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C_%D9%88_%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87_%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C_%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C_%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C|url-status=live|access-date=9 February 2019|publisher=imam-khomeini.ir|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427002057/http://www.imam-khomeini.ir/fa/n21417/%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B3_%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D8%B7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B9_%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C/%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%85_%D8%AE%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86%DB%8C_%D9%88_%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%A8_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1_%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87_%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%DB%8C_%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C_%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C_%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C|archive-date=Apr 27, 2019}}</ref> established a system combining elements of theocracy and republican governance. The constitution provides for separation of powers, among executive, legislative and judicial systems.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hawzah.net/fa/Article/View/82464/%D9%82%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%82%D9%86%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 | title=قوه مقننه در قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی ایران | publisher=hawzah.net | access-date=9 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225174936/https://hawzah.net/fa/Article/View/82464/%D9%82%D9%88%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%82%D9%86%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 |archive-date= Dec 25, 2019 }}</ref> The supreme leader of Iran serves as the country's head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces and holds ultimate authority over key state institutions, including the military, judiciary, and state broadcasting.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://hawzah.net/fa/Magazine/View/5415/6369/71270/%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 | title=جایگاه نیروهای مسلح در نظام جمهوری اسلامی ایران | publisher=hawzah.ne | access-date=9 February 2019 | archive-date=26 December 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226082141/http://www.hawzah.net/fa/Magazine/View/5415/6369/71270/%D8%AC%D8%A7%DB%8C%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%AD-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%86%D8%B8%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%AC%D9%85%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86 | url-status=live }}</ref>
It is currently one of the three governments using the title Islamic Republic.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.shabestan.ir/detail/News/508812 | title= کدام کشورها، نظام جمهوری اسلامی دارند؟ | publisher=Shabestan News Agency | access-date=9 February 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190210044401/http://www.shabestan.ir/detail/News/508812 |archive-date= Feb 10, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/1/28/the-gambia-president-adama-barrow-pledges-reforms|title=The Gambia: President Adama Barrow pledges reforms |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=28 Jan 2017 |access-date=2019-03-09 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219090930/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2017/01/gambia-president-adama-barrow-pledges-reforms-170128194124520.html |archive-date= Feb 19, 2020 }}</ref> Iran operates as a unitary state.<ref name="Unitary 1">{{cite web |title=Comparison of Unitary Vs. Federal Political Systems (with an Emphasis on the Appropriateness of Federal Political System and Its Potential Advantages for Afghanistan) |url=https://cognizancejournal.com/vol4issue9/V4I918.pdf |date=September 2024 |format=PDF |author=Mohammad Yaseen Jaras |publisher=Cognizance Journal |quote=Political centrality and having a centralistic system is one of the inherent characteristics of all unitary governments, and this structure was created to carry out the country's administrative affairs as coherently as possible. therefore, most countries have a unitary system, such as France, Iran, Afghanistan, and other countries. }}</ref><ref name="Unitary 2">{{cite web |title=Islamic Republic of Iran: Report on the Observance of Standards and Codes{{em-dash}}Fiscal Transparency Module |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2002/cr02267.pdf |date=2002-12-02 |publisher=International Monetary Fund |quote=Type of government: An Islamic Republic with a unitary government. |format=PDF }}</ref>
==Creation == {{main|History of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
{{see also|Background and causes of the Iranian Revolution}} [[File:Joint Tripartite Meeting of Iranian Government - June 2, 1987.jpg|thumb|right|280px|Joint Tripartite meeting of Iranian government, 2 June 1987. Speaker of the Parliament Hashemi Rafsanjani (left), President Ali Khamenei (middle) and Head of Supreme Court Mousavi Ardebili (right).]]The Islamic Republic of Iran was created shortly after the Islamic Revolution. The first major demonstrations with the intent to overthrow the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi began in January 1978,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Iranian Revolution |url=http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch29ir.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231221081015/http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch29ir.html |archive-date=Dec 21, 2023 |website=Macrohistory : World History}}</ref> with a new, Islam-based, theocratic Constitution being approved in December 1979, ending the monarchy. The Shah left Iran for exile<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kabalan |first1=Marwan J. |editor1-last=Mansour |editor1-first=Imad |editor2-last=Thompson |editor2-first=William R. |title=Shocks and Rivalries in the Middle East and North Africa |date=2020 |publisher=Georgetown University Press |page=113 |chapter=Iran-Iraq-Syria |quote=After more than a year of civil strife and street protests, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi left Iran for exile in January 1979.}}</ref> in January 1979 after large strikes and demonstrations against him and his regime paralyzed the country. Ayatollah Khomeini would return in February of the same year after a long period of exile, greeted in the capital of Tehran by several million Iranians.<ref name = "Britannica Khomeini">[http://www.britanniaca.com/eb/article-9045329 Ruhollah Khomeini] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071008024623/http://www.britanniaca.com/eb/article-9045329 |date=2007-10-08 }}, Encyclopædia Britannica.</ref> The final collapse of the Pahlavi dynasty occurred shortly after on 11 February when Iran's military declared itself officially "neutral" after guerrillas and rebel troops overwhelmed forces loyal to the Shah in street fights throughout the country. After the victory of the Islamic Revolution, a referendum was held by Interim Government of Iran on the 30 and 31 March 1979 (10 and 11 Farvardin 1358), asking people to vote either Yes or No to an Islamic Republic.<ref name="b">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CP61Ke2cTQC&q=Iranian+Islamic+Republic+referendum,+march+1979 | title=Women and the Political Process in Twentieth-Century Iran | publisher=Cambridge University Press | author=Parvin Paidar | year=1997 | page=226 | isbn=978-0-521-59572-8 | access-date=2020-10-21 | archive-date=2023-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109040323/https://books.google.com/books?id=2CP61Ke2cTQC&q=Iranian+Islamic+Republic+referendum,+march+1979#v=snippet&q=Iranian%20Islamic%20Republic%20referendum%2C%20march%201979&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> The results of the referendum were announced soon after by Ayatollah Khomeini on 2 April 1979, with 98.2 percent of the Iranian citizens voting in favor of an Islamic Republic.<ref name="c">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_kAhBQAAQBAJ&q=98.2+iranian+referendum | title=Shi'ism and the Democratisation Process in Iran: With a focus on Wilayat al-Faqih | author=Ibrahim Moussawi | date=16 January 2012 | pages=Chapter Six | isbn=978-0-86356-831-2 | access-date=21 October 2020 | archive-date=9 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109040213/https://books.google.com/books?id=_kAhBQAAQBAJ&q=98.2+iranian+referendum#v=snippet&q=98.2%20iranian%20referendum&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="ir">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AtrsAAAAMAAJ&q=referendum+of+12+farvardin | title=L'économie de l'Iran islamique: entre l'Etat et le marché | publisher=Institut français de recherche en Iran | author=Thierry Coville | year=1994 | page=46 | isbn=978-2-909961-08-8 | access-date=2016-06-30 | archive-date=2023-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109040331/https://books.google.com/books?id=AtrsAAAAMAAJ&q=referendum+of+12+farvardin | url-status=live }}</ref>
== Constitution == {{main|Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
{{see also|Assembly for the Final Review of the Constitution}} On 2–3 December 1979, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran was ratified by a popular referendum. In this referendum, 99.5 percent of Iranian voters approved the constitution.<ref name="Davari2004">{{cite book|author=Mahmood T. Davari|title=The Political Thought of Ayatollah Murtaza Mutahhari: An Iranian Theoretician of the Islamic State|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oYHi4AfofW8C&pg=PA138|date=1 October 2004|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-134-29488-6|page=138|access-date=2 November 2016|archive-date=5 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231105232044/https://books.google.com/books?id=oYHi4AfofW8C&pg=PA138#v=onepage&q&f=false|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="d">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B7ZV76gPlm8C&q=the+referendum+of+Constitution+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran++99.5&pg=PT152 | title=Iran under the Ayatollahs (Routledge Revivals) | publisher=Routledge | author=Dilip Hiro | date=5 September 2013 | isbn=978-1-135-04380-3 | access-date=21 October 2020 | archive-date=9 November 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109040214/https://books.google.com/books?id=B7ZV76gPlm8C&q=the+referendum+of+Constitution+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran++99.5&pg=PT152#v=snippet&q=the%20referendum%20of%20Constitution%20of%20the%20Islamic%20Republic%20of%20Iran%20%2099.5&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> Ten years later, in the summer of 1989, Iranian voters would approve a set of amendments to the Constitution of 1979 in another referendum.<ref name="f">{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780761416654 | url-access=registration | quote=Iranian constitutional referendum, 1989. | title=Iran | year=2003 | publisher=Marshall Cavendish |author1=Vijeya Rajendra |author2=Gisela T. Kaplan |author3=Rudi Rajendra | pages=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780761416654/page/29 29]| isbn=978-0-7614-1665-4 }}</ref><ref name="g">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0QUlwOZbUL0C&q=Iranian+constitutional+referendum,+1989 | title=Iran in Crisis?: The Future of the Revolutionary Regime and the US Response | publisher=Zed Books | author=Roger Howard | date=June 2004 | page=120 | isbn=978-1-84277-475-5 | access-date=2020-10-21 | archive-date=2023-11-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109040317/https://books.google.com/books?id=0QUlwOZbUL0C&q=Iranian+constitutional+referendum,+1989#v=onepage&q=Iranian%20constitutional%20referendum%2C%201989&f=false | url-status=live }}</ref> The constitution has been called a "hybrid" of "theocratic and democratic elements". While Articles 1 and 2 vest sovereignty in God, Article 6 "mandates popular elections for the presidency and the Majlis, or parliament".<ref name="Fukuyama">{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203946904574300374086282670|title=Francis Fukuyama: Iranian constitution democratic at heart - WSJ|author=Francis Fukuyama|date=28 July 2009|work=WSJ|access-date=3 August 2017|archive-date=27 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027080206/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970203946904574300374086282670|url-status=live}}</ref> All democratic procedures and rights are subordinate to the Guardian Council and the Supreme Leader, whose powers are spelled out in Chapter Eight (Articles 107–112).<ref name="Fukuyama"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2010/10/12/detailed-analysis-iran%E2%80%99s-constitution|title=A Detailed Analysis of Iran's Constitution - World Policy Institute|work=worldpolicy.org|access-date=2016-07-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506150238/http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2010/10/12/detailed-analysis-iran%E2%80%99s-constitution|archive-date=2014-05-06}}</ref>
=== Principles === {{further|Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist}} {{see also|Ideology of the Iranian Revolution}} The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is officially a theocratic republic.<ref name="f" /> Article 2 of the Constitution explains the principles of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran: {{blockquote|Article 2
The Islamic Republic is a system based on belief in:
1.the One God (as stated in the phrase "There is no god except Allah"), His exclusive sovereignty and the right to legislate, and the necessity of submission to His commands; 2.Divine revelation and its fundamental role in setting forth the laws; 3.the return to God in the Hereafter, and the constructive role of this belief in the course of man's ascent towards God; 4.the justice of God in creation and legislation; 5.continuous leadership (imamah) and perpetual guidance, and its fundamental role in ensuring the uninterrupted process of the revolution of Islam; 6.the exalted dignity and value of man, and his freedom coupled with responsibility before God; in which equity, justice, political, economic, social, and cultural independence, and national solidarity are secured by recourse to: 1. Continuous 'ijtihad of the fuqaha' possessing necessary qualifications, exercised on the basis off the Qur'an and the Sunnah of the Ma'sumun, upon all of whom be peace; 2. Sciences and arts and the most advanced results of human experience, together with the effort to advance them further; 3.Negation of all forms of oppression, both the infliction of and the submission to it, and of dominance, both its imposition and its acceptance.<ref name="h">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OUpAxUCviY8C&q=General+Staff+of+Armed+Forces+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran | title=The Political System of the Islamic Republic of Iran | publisher=Gyan Publishing House | author=M. Mahmood | year=2006 | page=132| isbn=978-81-7835-520-7 }}</ref>}}
==Political structure== {{See also|Politics of Iran}} thumb|350px|Political system of the Islamic Republic of Iran
===Leadership=== {{main|Supreme Leader of Iran}}
{{see also|Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran}} [[File:Ali Khamenei Nowruz 2019 message 04.jpg|thumb|left|Ali Khamenei, second supreme leader of Iran from 1989 until his assassination in 2026]] The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, officially called the Supreme Leadership Authority in Iran, is a post established by Article 5 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran in accordance with the concept of the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist.<ref name="h" /> This post is a life tenure post.<ref name="i">{{cite news | url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-election-leader-idUSKBN0TW0OV20151213 | title=Iran's possible next Supreme Leader being examined: Rafsanjani | work=REUTERS | access-date=2 July 2016 | author=Bozorgmehr Sharafedin | date=13 December 2015 | archive-date=16 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151216032752/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-election-leader-idUSKBN0TW0OV20151213 | url-status=live }}</ref> According to article 110 of the constitution, the Supreme Leader delineates the general policies of the Islamic Republic. Article 109 is about ''the Leadership Qualifications'' and Article 110 mentions to ''Functions and duties of the Supreme Leader''. According to this Article he is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. Also, according to Article 57 the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary system shall operate under the superintendence of Supreme leader.<ref name="h" /> The Islamic Republic has had three Supreme Leaders: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who held the position from Iranian revolution in 1979 until his death in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who held the position from Khomeini's death until his assassination in 2026, and Mojtaba Khamenei, who has held the position since his father's assassination.
====Assembly of Experts==== {{main|Assembly of Experts for Leadership}}
The Assembly of Experts, or Assembly of Experts of the Leadership, is a deliberative body of eighty-eight (88) Mujtahids. Members are elected by direct public vote for eight-year terms.<ref name="bbc2">{{cite web |date=26 February 2016 |title=Iran election: Counting starts after high turnout |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35666107 |access-date=3 July 2016 |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=26 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226180116/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35666107 |url-status=live }}</ref>
According to Articles 107, 109, and 111 of the Constitution, the duties of the assembly include electing and removing the Supreme Leader of Iran.<ref name="h" /><ref name="sahar1">{{cite web |title=Assembly of Experts within Iran Political Structure |url=http://www.ivansahar.com/assembly-of-experts.htm |access-date=3 July 2016 |publisher=Ivan Sahar |archive-date=3 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205800/http://www.ivansahar.com/assembly-of-experts.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
The most recent election was held on 1 March 2024, resulting in the formation of the Sixth Assembly of Experts. It convened for the first time on 21 May 2024 and elected Mohammad-Ali Movahedi Kermani as chairman.<ref>{{cite news |title=Iran's Assembly of Experts elects new chairman |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/494872/Iran-s-Assembly-of-Experts-elects-new-chairman |work=Tehran Times |date=21 May 2024 |access-date=15 July 2025}}</ref>
===Legislature=== {{main|Legislature of Iran}}
The Legislature of the Islamic Republic of Iran has two parts: the Islamic Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council. The Articles 62-99 are about the Legislature of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
====Consultative Assembly==== {{main|Islamic Consultative Assembly}}
Articles 62-90 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran are about the Islamic Consultative Assembly. In Article 71, it is mentioned that the Islamic Consultative Assembly can establish laws on all matters, within the limits of its competence as laid down in the Constitution. According to Article 62, the Islamic consultative Assembly is constituted by the representatives of the people elected directly and by secret ballot. Article 64 notes that there are to be two hundred seventy members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly which, keeping in view the human, political, geographic and other similar factors, may increase by not more than twenty for each ten-year period from the date of the national referendum of the year 1368 of the solar Islamic calendar.<ref name="h" /> The Parliament currently has 290 representatives, changed from the previous 272 seats since the 18 February 2000 election. The most recent election took place on 26 February 2016 and the new parliament was opened on 28 May 2016.<ref>[http://www.irna.ir/News/Politic/Large-scale-turn-out-at-polls-in-IRI-March-Majlis-Elections,-Polls/30789409 Large scale turn out at polls in IRI March Majlis Elections] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202084336/http://www.irna.ir/News/Politic/Large-scale-turn-out-at-polls-in-IRI-March-Majlis-Elections,-Polls/30789409 |date=2012-02-02 }} IRNA</ref>
====Guardian Council==== {{main|Guardian Council}}
The Guardian Council is a part of the legislature that acts in many ways as an upper house to the Consultative Assembly. This council reviews the legislation by the Consultative Assembly to examine its compatibility with Islam and the Constitution.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web| url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Council-of-Guardians| title=Council of Guardians| access-date=3 July 2016| archive-date=18 February 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218191957/https://www.britannica.com/topic/Council-of-Guardians| url-status=live}}</ref>
Articles 91-99 are about the Guardian Council. According to article 91, it has 12 members, half its members are faqihs that are chosen by the Supreme Leader and the other six members are jurists who are elected by the Islamic Consultative Assembly from among the Muslim jurists nominated-by the Chief Justice of Iran.<ref name="h" />
===Executive=== {{see also|Presidential Administration of Iran}}
====President==== {{main|President of Iran}}
In the Islamic Republic of Iran, the president is the second person of government and the head of government. He is the highest nominally popularly elected official in Iran, although he answers to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state. Chapter 9 (Articles 133–142) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran sets forth the qualifications for presidential candidates and procedures for election, as well as the powers and responsibilities as "functions of the executive". These include signing treaties and other agreements with foreign countries and international organizations, administering national planning, budget and state employment affairs and appointing ministers subject to the approval of Parliament.<ref name="h" />
According to article 114 the President of Iran is elected for a four-year term by the direct vote of the people and may not serve for more than two consecutive terms nor more than eight years.<ref name="h" />
==== Vice president ==== {{Main|Vice President of Iran}}
==== Cabinet ==== {{Main|Cabinet of Iran}}
===Judicial system=== {{main|Judicial system of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
{{see also|Islamic Revolutionary Court|Supreme Court of Iran|Special Clerical Court}} The judiciary of the Islamic Republic of Iran is an independent power, the protector of the rights of the individual and society, responsible for the implementation of justice, and entrusted with the following duties:
# investigating and passing judgement on grievances, violations of rights, and complaints; the resolving of litigation; the settling of disputes; and the taking of all necessary decisions and measures in probate matters as the law may determine; # restoring public rights and promoting justice and legitimate freedoms; # supervising the proper enforcement of laws; # uncovering crimes; prosecuting, punishing, and chastising criminals; and enacting the penalties and provisions of the Islamic penal code; # taking suitable measures to prevent the occurrence of crime and to reform criminals. (Article 156 of Constitution).<ref name="h" />
===Other institutions=== {{see also|Supreme National Security Council|Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution}}
====Expediency Discernment Council==== {{main|Expediency Discernment Council}}
The Expediency Discernment Council is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/middle_east/03/iran_power/html/expediency_council.stm Expediency Council] ''BBC News''</ref> and was created upon the revision to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 6 February 1988.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.farhang.gov.ir/iran-media/psir.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070821193912/http://farhang.gov.ir/iran-media/psir.htm|url-status=dead|title=Foreign press and media department<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=August 21, 2007}}</ref> According to article 112 of Constitution<ref name="h" /> it was originally set up to resolve differences or conflicts between the Consultative Assembly and the Guardian Council, but "its true power lies more in its advisory role to the Supreme Leader".
Members of the council are chosen by the Supreme Leader every five years.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/government/Expediency.html |title=Islamic Republic of Iran Expediency Discernment Council of the System |access-date=2016-07-03 |archive-date=2013-05-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522094534/http://www.iranonline.com/iran/iran-info/Government/Expediency.html }}</ref>
Sadiq Amoli Larijani is the chairman of this council.
====Local councils==== {{main|Local councils of Iran}}
According to Article 7, city and village councils form one of the decision-making and administrative organs of the country. Chapter seven (article 100–106) of Iran's constitution is about these local councils. According to article 100: In order to expedite social, economic, development, public health, cultural, and educational programmes and facilitate other affairs relating to public welfare with the cooperation of the people according to local needs, the administration of each village, division, city, municipality, and province will be supervised by a council to be named the Village, Division, City, Municipality, or Provincial Council. Members of each of these councils will be elected by the people of the locality in question. Qualifications for the eligibility of electors and candidates for these councils, as well as their functions and powers, the mode of election, the jurisdiction of these councils, the hierarchy of their authority, will be determined by law, in such a way as to preserve national unity, territorial integrity, the system of the Islamic Republic, and the sovereignty of the central government.<ref name="h" />
====Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting==== {{main|Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting}}
The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) according to Constitution is the only radio and television services in Iran.<ref name="tv">{{cite web | url=http://fas.org/irp/dni/osc/iran-tv.pdf | title=Structure of Iran's State-Run TV IRIB | publisher=Open Source Center | date=16 December 2009 | access-date=4 July 2016}}</ref> According to article 175 of Constitution the appointment and dismissal of the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting rests with the Leader. A council consisting of two representatives each of the President, the head of the judiciary branch and the Islamic Consultative Assembly shall supervise the functioning of this organization.<ref name="h" />
==Armed forces== {{main|Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
===General Staff of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran=== {{main|General Staff of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
The Supreme Leader appoints the General staff of Armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran which is the highest military body in Iran, with an aim to implement policy, monitor and coordinate activities within Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref name="a">{{Citation|last1=Forozan|first1=Hesam |year=2015|title=The Military in Post-Revolutionary Iran: The Evolution and Roles of the Revolutionary Guards|publisher=Routledge|pages=51–53|isbn=978-1-317-43074-2}}</ref>
===Islamic Republic of Iran Army=== {{main|Islamic Republic of Iran Army}}
The Islamic Republic of Iran Army (Artesh) is the "conventional military of Iran"<ref name="Handbook" /> and part of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The army is tasked to protect the territorial integrity of Iranian state from external and internal threats and to project power.<ref name="Handbook" /> According to article 143 of Constitution the Army of the Islamic Republic of Iran is responsible for guarding the independence and territorial integrity of the country, as well as the order of the Islamic Republic.<ref name="h" /> Artesh has its own Joint Staff<ref name="MEI">{{citation|url=http://www.mei.edu/content/artesh-iran%E2%80%99s-marginalized-and-under-armed-conventional-military|title=The Artesh: Iran's Marginalized and Under-Armed Conventional Military|access-date=July 3, 2016|publisher=Middle East Institute|date=November 15, 2011|author=Hossein Aryan|archive-date=January 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190107164436/https://www.mei.edu/publications/artesh-irans-marginalized-and-under-armed-conventional-military|url-status=live}}</ref> which coordinates its four separate service branches: Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy and Air Defense Base.<ref name="Handbook">{{Citation|last1=Simon|first1=Rita J.|last2=Abdel-Moneim|first2=Mohamed Alaa|year=2011|title=A Handbook of Military Conscription and Composition the World Over|publisher=Lexington Books|pages=152–153|isbn=978-0-7391-6752-6}}</ref> The current chief of Army is MG Amir Hatami.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://en.irna.ir/news/85862208/General-Hatami-appointed-new-Army-Chief |access-date=17 July 2025 |work=en.irna.ir |title=Archived copy |archive-date=26 June 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250626184200/https://en.irna.ir/news/85862208/General-Hatami-appointed-new-Army-Chief |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Islamic Revolution Guard Corps=== {{main|Islamic Revolution Guard Corps}}
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah) is a branch of Iran's Armed Forces, established after the Islamic revolution on 5 May 1979.<ref name=IISS>''IISS Military Balance 2006'', Routledge for the IISS, London, 2006, p. 187</ref> Article 150 says about Sepah that The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, organized in the early days of the triumph of the Revolution, is to be maintained so that it may continue in its role of guarding the Revolution and its achievements.<ref name="h" />
===Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran=== {{main|Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran}}
Law Enforcement Force of the Islamic Republic of Iran is the uniformed police force in Iran. It was established in 1992 by merging the Shahrbani, Gendarmerie and Committee of Iran into a single force, it has more than 60,000 police personnel served under the Ministry of Interior, including border patrol personnel.<ref name="CSIS">{{Cite web |url=http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/060728_gulf_iran.pdf |title=The Gulf Military Forces in an Era of Asymmetric War - Iran |first1=Anthony H. |last1=Cordesman |first2=Khalid R. |last2=Al-Rodhan |publisher=Center for Strategic and International Studies |date=June 28, 2006 |access-date=2016-07-04 |archive-date=2009-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612094725/http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/060728_gulf_iran.pdf }}</ref>
== See also == {{Portal|Iran|Politics|History}} * Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini * Human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran * Politics of Iran (links to ministries and government agencies)
== Notes == {{notelist}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commonscatinline}} *{{Official website|http://www.dolat.ir/|Official website of the Executive branch}} {{s-start}} {{s-other|State of Iran}} {{s-bef|before=Interim Government of Iran}} {{s-ttl|title=Islamic Republic|years=1979–present}} {{s-inc}} {{s-end}}
{{Subject bar|q=y}} Category:Government of Iran * Category:Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran Category:Political terminology of Iran