What is it?
The Office of the Supreme Leader (Persian pronunciation Rahbari) is the highest office of state in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The principle on which it rests is Velayat-e Faqih (Persian pronunciation Velâyat-e Faqih). The phrase means "guardianship of the jurist," that is, the authority of an Islamic jurist to govern and act as guardian over society. In English-language news, the officeholder is called the "Supreme Leader," the "Leader of the Islamic Revolution" or the "supreme religious leader."
Under Article 5 of the constitution, during the occultation of the Twelfth Imam, whom Shia believers hold to be in hiding, the governance and leadership of the community belong to a just and pious jurist who is aware of the circumstances of the age.
How does it work?
Under Article 107 of the constitution, the Supreme Leader is chosen by the popularly elected Assembly of Experts (Majles-e Khobregân). The assembly reviews qualified jurists and selects one of them. Under Article 111, the same assembly has the power to dismiss a Supreme Leader who becomes unable to perform his duties or loses the required qualifications.
Article 110 lists the Supreme Leader's powers. They include setting the country's general policies and overseeing their implementation, serving as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, declaring war and peace, appointing the head of the judiciary and the head of state radio and television, and appointing the jurist members of the Guardian Council. The Revolutionary Guards also answer to the Supreme Leader in the chain of command.
Why does it matter?
In Iran, the Supreme Leader has the final say on fundamental decisions such as war, the nuclear program and foreign policy. That is why his statements, fatwas and appointments are considered more decisive than government statements. In the Persian press, the phrase "the Supreme Leader's line" is used to describe the outlets thought to reflect this office's views most closely.
Since 1979, three people have held the office: Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1979–1989), Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1989–2026) and Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei. According to a Fortune report based on the Associated Press, Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike on February 28, 2026, in the opening phase of the war. The Assembly of Experts chose his son, 56-year-old Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader, and the choice was announced on March 9, 2026. According to AP, Mojtaba Khamenei is a cleric with close ties to the Revolutionary Guards.
Debates
Velayat-e Faqih is a contested principle even among Shia clerics. Some clerics oppose direct clerical involvement in political rule. According to the Fortune/AP report, some Iranian political figures criticized the office passing from father to son, comparing it to the rule of the shah overthrown in the revolution. According to his Wikipedia entry, Mojtaba Khamenei has rarely appeared in public since taking office, and speculation about his health continues.
