Editing Iran (section)

=== Supreme Leader ===
{{multiple image
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| image1            = Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the Great Conference of Basij members at Azadi stadium October 2018 012.jpg
| caption1          = [[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]]<br />[[Ali Khamenei]]
| image2            = Masoud Pezeshkian in 2025 (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[President of Iran|President]]<br />[[Masoud Pezeshkian]]
| align             = right
}}

[[Supreme Leader of Iran|Supreme Leader]] ({{langx|fa|رهبر معظم|Rahbar-e Moazam}}), the ''Rahbar'', the Leader of the Revolution or Supreme Leadership Authority, is the [[head of state]] and responsible for the supervision of policy. The president has limited power compared to the ''Rahbar''. Key ministers are selected with the ''Rahbar''<nowiki/>'s agreement, who has the ultimate say on foreign policy.<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news |date=8 January 2018 |title=In jab at rivals, Rouhani says Iran protests about more than economy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rallies-rouhani/in-jab-at-hardliners-rouhani-says-iran-protests-were-not-only-economic-idUSKBN1EX0S9 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113092651/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-rallies-rouhani/in-jab-at-hardliners-rouhani-says-iran-protests-were-not-only-economic-idUSKBN1EX0S9 |archive-date=13 January 2018 |access-date=1 February 2018 |newspaper=Reuters}}</ref> The ''Rahbar'' is directly involved in ministerial appointments for Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Affairs, as well as other top ministries after submission of candidates from the president.

The ''Rahbar'' directly controls regional policy, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tasks limited to protocol and ceremonial occasions. Ambassadors to Arab countries, for example, are chosen by the [[Quds Force]], which directly reports to the Rahbar.<ref name="english.aawsat.com">{{cite web |last=Al-awsat |first=Asharq |date=25 September 2017 |title=Khamenei Orders New Supervisory Body to Curtail Government – ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive |url=https://english.aawsat.com/amir-taheri/features/khamenei-orders-new-supervisory-body-curtail-government |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010083335/https://english.aawsat.com/amir-taheri/features/khamenei-orders-new-supervisory-body-curtail-government |archive-date=10 October 2017 |access-date=23 October 2017}}</ref> The ''Rahbar'' can order laws to be amended.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/12/iran-retirement-law-reemployment-retirees-khamenei-order.html |title=Khamenei orders controversial retirement law amended |work=Al-Monitor |date=5 December 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-date=7 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207154816/https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/12/iran-retirement-law-reemployment-retirees-khamenei-order.html |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order|Setad]] was estimated at $95 billion in 2013 by Reuters, accounts of which are secret even to the [[Iranian parliament|parliament]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/iran/ |title=Reuters Investigates – Assets of the Ayatollah |website=Reuters |date=11 November 2013 |access-date=8 January 2018 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112231535/http://www.reuters.com/investigates/iran/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="SetadWins">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-setad-sanctions-exclusive/exclusive-khameneis-business-empire-gains-from-iran-sanctions-relief-idUSBREA0L1CO20140122 |title=Exclusive: Khamenei's business empire gains from Iran sanctions relief |work=Reuters |author=Steve Stecklow, Babak Dehghanpisheh |date=22 January 2014 |access-date=14 January 2018 |archive-date=15 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115124809/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-setad-sanctions-exclusive/exclusive-khameneis-business-empire-gains-from-iran-sanctions-relief-idUSBREA0L1CO20140122 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''Rahbar'' is the [[commander-in-chief]] of the [[Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran|Armed Forces]], controls military intelligence and security operations, and has the sole power to declare war or peace. The ''Rahbar'' also appoints the heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks, commanders of the police and military, and members of the [[Guardian Council]].

The [[Assembly of Experts]] is responsible for electing the ''Rahbar'' and has the power to dismiss him on the basis of qualifications and popular esteem.<ref name="loc">{{cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/iran/81.htm |title=Iran – The Constitution |first=Library of Congress |last=Federal Research Division |access-date=14 April 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923063550/http://countrystudies.us/iran/81.htm |archive-date=23 September 2006}}</ref> To date, the Assembly of Experts has not challenged any of the ''Rahbar''<nowiki/>'s decisions nor attempted to dismiss him. The previous head of the judicial system, [[Sadeq Larijani]], appointed by the ''Rahbar'', said that it is illegal for the Assembly of Experts to supervise the ''Rahbar''.<ref name="Al-awsat">{{cite web |url=http://english.aawsat.com/2015/12/article55345842/55345842 |title=Controversy in Iran Surrounding the Supervision of the Supreme Leader's Performance – ASHARQ AL-AWSAT |first=Asharq |last=Al-awsat |date=15 December 2015 |access-date=1 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625141325/http://english.aawsat.com/2015/12/article55345842/55345842 |archive-date=25 June 2016}}</ref> Many believe the Assembly of Experts has become a ceremonial body without any real power.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/iran-parliamentary-elections-assembly-of-experts/470580/ |title=Myths and Realities of Iran's Parliamentary Elections |magazine=The Atlantic |date=23 February 2016 |access-date=26 February 2017 |archive-date=16 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216170320/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2016/02/iran-parliamentary-elections-assembly-of-experts/470580/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/anomalies-and-results-from-irans-assembly-of-experts-election |title=Anomalies in Iran's Assembly of Experts Election – The Washington Institute for Near East Policy |website=Washingtoninstitute.org |date=22 March 2016 |access-date=26 February 2017 |archive-date=17 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817025352/http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/anomalies-and-results-from-irans-assembly-of-experts-election |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Majid Rafizadeh |title=Why Khamenei wants the next Supreme Leader to be 'revolutionary' |website=AlArabiya News |date=24 June 2016 |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/06/24/Why-Khamenei-wants-the-next-Supreme-Leader-to-be-revolutionary-.html |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204170310/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/views/news/middle-east/2016/06/24/Why-Khamenei-wants-the-next-Supreme-Leader-to-be-revolutionary-.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2025, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that according to [[Karim Sadjadpour]], an expert on Iran at the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]], there exist in the Islamic Republic of Iran two parallel regimes.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last1=Sanger |first1=David E. |last2=Barnes |first2=Julian E. |date=2025-02-03 |title=Iran Is Developing Plans for Faster, Cruder Weapon, U.S. Concludes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/iran-nuclear-weapon.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> One which is ruled by the military and intelligence forces, who report to the ''Rahbar'', and "who oversee the nuclear programme and regional proxies and are tasked with repression, hostage taking and assassinations”.<ref name=":3" /> The other ruled by diplomats and politicians "who are authorized to speak to Western media and officials" and have minimal knowledge of Iran's nuclear programme.<ref name=":3" />

The political system is based on the [[Constitution of Iran|country's constitution]].<ref name="servcons">{{cite web |url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html |title=Constitution of Iran |publisher=[[University of Berne|University of Bern]] |location=Switzerland |access-date=2 April 2016 |archive-date=21 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821093931/http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Iran ranked 154th in the 2022 ''[[The Economist Democracy Index]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Democracy Index 2022: Frontline democracy and the battle for Ukraine |url=https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/DI-final-version-report.pdf |website=[[Economist Intelligence Unit]] |page= |language=en-GB |access-date=25 May 2023 |archive-date=30 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330123307/https://pages.eiu.com/rs/753-RIQ-438/images/DI-final-version-report.pdf |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Juan José Linz]] wrote in 2000 that "the Iranian regime combines the ideological bent of [[totalitarianism]] with the limited pluralism of [[authoritarianism]]".<ref>Juan José Linz, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=8cYk_ABfMJIC&pg=PA36 Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200726124833/https://books.google.com/books?id=8cYk_ABfMJIC&pg=PA36|date=2020-07-26}}'' (Lynne Rienner, 2000), p. 36.</ref>