Iran's Political Structure
Supreme Leader and the Islamic Republic
Iran's governance system, established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, is a unique hybrid of theocratic and republican elements. The Supreme Leader (Rahbar) is the highest authority, exercising control over the armed forces (including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — IRGC), judiciary, state media, and overall foreign policy. Below the Supreme Leader is the President, who heads the executive branch and is elected by popular vote. The Council of Guardians (12 members — 6 Islamic jurists appointed by the Supreme Leader and 6 legal experts nominated by the judiciary) vets all legislation and candidates for elections. The IRGC is a parallel military structure to the regular armed forces (Artesh) and controls significant economic and strategic assets.
- Article 110 of Iran's Constitution defines the Supreme Leader's powers, including command of armed forces and declaration of war.
- After Khomeini's death (1989), Ali Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts.
- The Assembly of Experts (88 clerics, elected every 8 years) has the constitutional authority to appoint or remove the Supreme Leader.
- The IRGC's Quds Force is the external operations arm, supporting proxy groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis.
- The "Axis of Resistance" — Iran's network of regional proxies — is central to its deterrence strategy against Israel and the U.S.
● Tracked since February 28, 2026 · last seen May 21, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes