Iran often feels like two stories running at once: one of a president shaking hands with foreign leaders, the other of a supreme leader holding every decisive card. That split shapes daily life, politics, and even what citizens can wear. In this article, we go beyond the titles to explain how power actually works in Tehran — and why the president’s role is more complicated than it seems. Masoud Pezeshkian won the 2024 presidential runoff and took office in July 2024, but the real authority still rests with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, according to the Encyclopaedia Britannica (historical reference).
Current president: Masoud Pezeshkian · In office since: July 2024 · Supreme leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei · Government type: Unitary theocratic republic · Capital: Tehran · Official religion: Islam (Shia)
Quick snapshot
- President: Masoud Pezeshkian (Britannica)
- Supreme Leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (CFR)
- Presidential term: 4 years, renewable once (Wikipedia)
- Who will succeed Khamenei as Supreme Leader remains unknown (DW)
- Exact economic impact of sanctions on daily life (Al Jazeera)
- Future of the nuclear deal (JCPOA) uncertain (PBS FRONTLINE)
- 1979: Islamic Revolution establishes theocratic republic (Britannica)
- 2024: Raisi dies in helicopter crash, Pezeshkian elected (Anadolu Agency)
- Pezeshkian’s regional diplomacy (e.g., Pakistan visit) (Al Jazeera)
- Succession of Supreme Leader remains open (New Lines Magazine)
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Official name | Islamic Republic of Iran |
| President | Masoud Pezeshkian |
| Supreme Leader | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei |
| Capital | Tehran |
| Official language | Persian (Farsi) |
| Currency | Iranian rial (IRR) |
| Population | ~88 million |
| Government type | Unitary theocratic republic |
Who is the current Iranian president?
Masoud Pezeshkian: Background and Political Career
- Born in 1954 in Mahabad, Iran (Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference))
- Former Minister of Health under President Khatami (Britannica)
- Won the July 2024 runoff election after Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash in May 2024 (Anadolu Agency (Turkish state news))
Pezeshkian is a reformist candidate who campaigned on easing social restrictions and reopening dialogue with the West. His election was described by Al Jazeera (Qatari news network) as creating an “accidental” president — a figurehead for diplomacy while real power stays with the Supreme Leader.
Age and Personal Life
Pezeshkian is a cardiac surgeon by training. Following the death of his wife and one of his children in a car accident in the 1990s, he raised his remaining three children alone. At 71 years old (as of 2025), he is the oldest president to take office since the 1979 revolution, according to Britannica.
Who is higher, supreme leader or president of Iran?
One office is elected, the other is not — but that’s only the start of the contrast. Below are the core differences in a side-by-side view.
| Dimension | Supreme Leader | President |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Head of state | Head of government |
| Current officeholder | Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Masoud Pezeshkian |
| Selection | Appointed by the Assembly of Experts | Elected by popular vote (vetoed by Guardian Council) |
| Authority over military | Direct command (Article 110) | None |
| Authority over war/peace | Final decision | Cannot declare |
| Appoints judiciary head | Yes | No |
| Appoints state media chief | Yes | No |
| Can be removed? | Only by Assembly of Experts (never used) | Impeachment by parliament (possible) |
Two tables, one pattern: the president handles administration and diplomacy, but every lever of real force — military, judiciary, media — stays in the Supreme Leader’s hands. PBS FRONTLINE (U.S. documentary unit) notes that the Supreme Leader alone can declare war or peace. The president “signs treaties and receives foreign ambassadors,” per Wikipedia, but those powers do not override the Leader’s veto.
The implication: Iran’s dual leadership is a constitutional shell game. The president offers a democratic veneer, but the Supreme Leader’s office, as DW (German international broadcaster) reported in June 2025, remains the center of all final decisions — no president can counter it on critical issues.
What is Iran’s main religion?
Official religion: Shia Islam
Iran enshrines Shia Islam (Twelver Ja’fari school) as the state religion in its constitution. Britannica reports that roughly 90% of Iranians are Shia Muslims, making it one of the most religiously homogeneous large countries in the Middle East.
Religious minorities in Iran
- Sunni Islam (9-10% of population) – mostly Kurds and Baloch
- Christianity (small recognized communities: Armenian, Assyrian)
- Judaism (tiny but constitutionally recognized)
- Zoroastrianism (ancient faith, a few thousand adherents)
Is Christianity allowed?
Christianity is allowed for recognized minority denominations, but evangelism is illegal and conversion from Islam (apostasy) can carry the death penalty, according to United Against Nuclear Iran (policy research group). House churches are frequently raided by the state.
Religious freedom in Iran is real for Shia Muslims, but severely limited for everyone else. For Christians and converts, practicing openly risks legal harassment.
Is Iran a dictatorship or democracy?
Iran’s political system: Theocracy and Republic
Iran calls itself a “theocratic republic.” Voters elect the president and parliament, but the Guardian Council — half appointed by the Supreme Leader — vets all candidates, effectively blocking reformists. Council on Foreign Relations (CFR, U.S. think tank) describes this as a system where “elected institutions coexist with unelected ones that hold ultimate authority.”
Elections and the Guardian Council
- Presidential elections are held every four years
- Turnaround is high, but choice is limited: Guardian Council disqualifies most candidates
- Parliament (Majlis) also elected but subordinate to Supreme Leader
Supreme Leader’s veto power
Article 110 of the constitution gives the Supreme Leader the power to determine “general policies” and supervise their implementation. PBS FRONTLINE adds that the Guardian Council (influenced by the Leader) can veto any legislation it deems un-Islamic or unconstitutional. Freedom House (international democracy watchdog) rates Iran as “Not Free,” with a score of 12/100 in its 2024 report.
What this means: Iran is not a dictatorship in the North Korean sense — it holds real elections — but it is not a democracy either. The system is designed so that theocratic control always overrides popular will. As New Lines Magazine (analysis publication) put it, the president’s office is “increasingly constrained by networks around the Supreme Leader.”
Iran’s leaders want the legitimacy of democracy without the risk of losing control. Voters get a voice but not a choice.
Can girls wear jeans in Iran?
Dress code for women in Iran
Yes, women can wear jeans — but only if the outfit is modest and covers the body shape. The mandatory hijab (headscarf) and loose outer garments, like a manteau, are required in public. Al Jazeera noted in 2026 that enforcement of dress codes has fluctuated under reformist President Pezeshkian, though the morality police remain active.
Enforcement and changing norms
- “Moral police” (Gasht-e Ershad) patrol streets and can issue fines or arrest women deemed improperly dressed
- Since the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests, many women have pushed back, but the law remains strict
- Younger Iranians wear tight jeans, long coats, and colorful headscarves as acts of silent defiance
Cost of living: How much is a bottle of coke?
Due to severe currency devaluation, basic goods are cheap in dollar terms. A 330ml bottle of Coca-Cola costs around 200,000 Iranian rials (about $0.80 USD) at the unofficial exchange rate. According to DW, this low visible price masks a brutal reality: the rial has lost over 90% of its value since 2018, making imports like medicine and raw materials far more expensive.
For Iranians, cheap cola is not a sign of prosperity — it is a symptom of a currency in free fall.
Timeline: Key events in Iran’s leadership
- 1979 – Islamic Revolution: theocratic republic established; Ayatollah Khomeini becomes Supreme Leader (Britannica)
- 1989 – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei becomes Supreme Leader after Khomeini’s death (CFR)
- 2024 May – President Ebrahim Raisi dies in a helicopter crash in northwest Iran (Anadolu Agency)
- 2024 July – Masoud Pezeshkian is elected in a runoff and takes office (Al Jazeera)
- 2026 June – Pezeshkian scheduled for Pakistan diplomatic visit, positioning as regional emissary (Al Jazeera)
Clarity check: What we know and what remains uncertain
Confirmed facts
- Masoud Pezeshkian is the current president of Iran (Wikipedia)
- Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader, holding ultimate authority over war, peace, and nuclear policy (PBS FRONTLINE)
- Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024 (Anadolu Agency)
- Iran is a theocratic republic with both elected and unelected institutions (CFR)
What’s unclear
- Who will succeed Khamenei as Supreme Leader — no public heir has been named (DW)
- Exact economic impact of renewed or lifted sanctions on inflation and unemployment (Al Jazeera)
- Whether the nuclear deal (JCPOA) will be revived under Pezeshkian (New Lines Magazine)
Voices from the ground
Iran’s president is the diplomatic face of the regime, but the Supreme Leader’s office controls every major policy lever — war, peace, military, judiciary, and media.
— Encyclopaedia Britannica
Pezeshkian said Iran seeks a path beyond ‘no war, no peace’ amid regional tensions, and that Iran will not be forced into submission through military pressure or threats.
— Anadolu Agency, June 2025
The president answers to the Supreme Leader and executes his decrees.
— Wikipedia (encyclopedic reference)
Summary
Iran’s president is a real office with real duties — but it sits inside a system designed to keep final authority out of the ballot box. For anyone trying to understand Iranian politics, the mistake is to focus on the president’s statements alone. The decisive office is the one appointed, not elected. For a reader in the West trying to gauge Iran’s next moves, the question to watch is not what Pezeshkian says, but what Khamenei allows.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the president of Iran’s term?
Four years, renewable once for a maximum of eight consecutive years.
Can a woman become president of Iran?
The constitution does not explicitly bar women, but the Guardian Council (which vets candidates) has never approved a female presidential candidate.
What is the Guardian Council?
A 12-member body that reviews legislation for Islamic and constitutional compliance, and vets candidates for elected office. Half its members are appointed by the Supreme Leader, half by parliament. PBS FRONTLINE
Who was the first president of Iran?
Abolhassan Banisadr, elected in 1980 after the Islamic Revolution. He was impeached in 1981.
What is the salary of the president of Iran?
Official figures are not regularly published, but reported estimates place it around 20-30 million Iranian tomans per month (roughly $200-300 at unofficial exchange rates).
Does Iran have a prime minister?
No. The prime minister position was abolished in a 1989 constitutional amendment. The president serves as head of government.
What happened to Ebrahim Raisi?
Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19, 2024, in northwest Iran. The accident prompted a snap presidential election won by Masoud Pezeshkian. Anadolu Agency