Iran's Power Explained: Understanding the Supreme Leader's Authority Over the President and Islamic Foundations
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Iran's Power Puzzle: Why Supreme Leader Outranks President in Islamic Republic
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News18•06-03-2026, 18:02
Iran's Power Puzzle: Why Supreme Leader Outranks President in Islamic Republic
•Iran operates as an Islamic Republic with a unique dual power structure featuring both an elected President and an ultimate Supreme Leader.
•Established after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, this system replaced the monarchy, blending democratic elections with religious oversight based on Wilayat al-Faqih.
•The Supreme Leader wields extensive authority, commanding the armed forces, appointing judiciary heads, and making final decisions on defense and foreign policy, superseding the President.
•Not directly elected by the people, the Supreme Leader is accountable only to God, rendering the Assembly of Experts' oversight largely ineffective.
•This hybrid model was designed to prevent a return to monarchy and ensure governance adheres strictly to Islamic principles.