Iran President – Current Officeholder, Role, and History

President of Iran: Current Officeholder, Role, Election, and History

The presidency of Iran is the second-highest executive office in the country, but it operates under the authority of the supreme leader, who is the head of state. As of 2025, Masoud Pezeshkian holds the office, having won the 2024 election and taken office on 28 July 2024. The president chairs the cabinet and manages day-to-day administration, while the supreme leader controls the military, judiciary, and key policy decisions.

Who Is the Current President of Iran?

Current President
Masoud Pezeshkian (since July 2024)

Term Length
4 years, renewable once

Election Method
Popular vote, candidates approved by Guardian Council

Head of State vs Head of Government
President is head of government; Supreme Leader is head of state

Iran’s president is the highest elected official, but the Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over state and military affairs.
Masoud Pezeshkian won the 2024 presidential election as a relative moderate, succeeding Ebrahim Raisi.
The Guardian Council vets all candidates, limiting the field to those aligned with the regime’s ideology.
Iran has had 8 presidents since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with terms between 1 and 8 years.

Fact	Detail
Position established	1980 (after Islamic Revolution)
First president	Abolhassan Banisadr
Current president	Masoud Pezeshkian (8th president)
Term limit	Maximum 2 consecutive 4-year terms
Age requirement	Minimum 40 years old
Election frequency	Every 4 years
Supreme Leader relationship	President reports to Supreme Leader

What Is the Role of the President of Iran Compared to the Supreme Leader?

Iran’s political system is hybrid: the president is the head of government, while the supreme leader is the head of state. The supreme leader supervises all three branches, commands the armed forces, controls intelligence and security, and appoints key judicial and media officials. The president manages the cabinet and implements policy under the supreme leader’s guidance.

Is the president of Iran the head of state?

No. The constitution designates the supreme leader as head of state. The president serves as head of government, second in command after the supreme leader, and acts under his supervision and approval.

Does Iran have a prime minister?

The position of prime minister was abolished in 1989. Since then, the president has served as the head of the executive branch, with no separate prime minister.

Iran president and prime minister: why both existed

Before 1989, Iran had both a president and a prime minister. The prime minister held substantial executive authority. When Ali Khamenei became supreme leader, the constitution was amended to merge the prime minister’s roles into the presidency.

Key distinction

The president chairs the cabinet and handles administrative governance. The supreme leader defines broad policy, commands the Air Force One Plane, and controls the military, judiciary, and state media. This division means the president’s practical power depends heavily on the relationship with the supreme leader.

How Is the President of Iran Elected?

Presidential elections in Iran are held every four years. The process involves two key stages: candidate vetting by the Guardian Council, followed by a popular vote. The first presidential election took place in 1980.

Term length and term limits

The president serves a four-year term and can be reelected only once consecutively. A president may return after a break but cannot serve more than two terms in a row.

Who can become president of Iran?

Candidates must be at least 40 years old, of Iranian origin, and must meet ideological and loyalty criteria set by the Guardian Council. The council screens all candidates before the election, significantly narrowing the field.

The 2024 presidential election

The 2024 election resulted in the victory of Masoud Pezeshkian, who was then officially endorsed by the supreme leader and took office on 28 July 2024. He succeeded Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash in May 2024.

Electoral reality

While the president is elected by popular vote, the Guardian Council’s pre-approval ensures that only candidates aligned with the regime’s ideology can compete. This filtering mechanism has existed since the first election in 1980.

How Many Presidents Has Iran Had? A Complete List

Since the position was established in 1980, Iran has had nine presidents (counting those who served partial terms). The list includes figures from moderate reformers to hardliners.

Abolhassan Banisadr (1980–1981) – first president, impeached
Mohammad-Ali Rajai (1981) – served briefly, assassinated
Ali Khamenei (1981–1989) – later became supreme leader
Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (1989–1997) – two terms
Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005) – two terms, reformist
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013) – two terms, populist
Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021) – two terms, pragmatic
Ebrahim Raisi (2021–2024) – died in helicopter crash
Masoud Pezeshkian (2024–present) – current officeholder

Timeline of Presidents of Iran (1980–Present)

1980–1981 – Abolhassan Banisadr, first president, impeached
1981 – Mohammad-Ali Rajai, assassinated in office
1981–1985 – Ali Khamenei (first term)
1985–1989 – Ali Khamenei (second term)
1989–1997 – Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani (two terms)
1997–2005 – Mohammad Khatami (two terms)
2005–2013 – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (two terms)
2013–2021 – Hassan Rouhani (two terms)
2021–2024 – Ebrahim Raisi (died in helicopter crash May 2024)
2024–present – Masoud Pezeshkian (elected July 2024)

What Is Certain and What Remains Uncertain About the Presidency?

Established information	Information that remains unclear
Masoud Pezeshkian is the current president as of 2025.	The exact political influence of the president versus the Supreme Leader varies depending on the incumbent and context.
The president is the head of government; the Supreme Leader is head of state.	Future election dates and candidate lists are subject to Guardian Council decisions.
Presidents are elected for four-year terms with a two-term limit.	The possibility of a president resigning before term end is rare but has precedent (Banisadr).
All candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council.	The succession process for the presidency after an unexpected vacancy is not fully transparent.

Analysis and Context: The Dual Power Structure in Iran

The Iranian presidency sits within a unique political system where elected and unelected authorities coexist. The president manages the executive branch and domestic policy, but the supreme leader controls the military, judiciary, and key media. This tension defines Iran’s governance. Understanding the president’s role requires recognizing that the office is powerful but subordinate to the supreme leader. Recent presidencies have oscillated between pragmatists (Rouhani, Pezeshkian) and hardliners (Ahmadinejad, Raisi), reflecting internal power struggles.

The most important institutional fact is that Iran’s constitution gives the supreme leader, not the president, final authority over state direction and security matters. As PBS and Wikipedia note, the supreme leader supervises all branches and commands the armed forces.

What Do Official Sources Say About the Presidency?

“The president of Iran is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the second highest-ranking official, after the Supreme Leader.”

— Wikipedia — President of Iran

“Abolhasan Bani-Sadr was elected the first president in 1980.”

— Britannica — List of Presidents of Iran

“Iran president congratulates Kyrgyzstan on UN Security Council non-permanent seat.”

— President of Iran official website

What Is the Bottom Line on the President of Iran?

The president of Iran is a central figure in the country’s administration, but the office exists within a power structure that places ultimate authority with the supreme leader. As of 2025, Masoud Pezeshkian holds the presidency, managing the cabinet and day-to-day governance under the supreme leader’s supervision. The president is elected every four years through a vetted popular vote, with a two-term limit. For readers interested in related topics, see the article on Prince Harry Net Worth for a comparison of public figures in different systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the president of Iran's salary?

Exact salary is not publicly disclosed, but it is set by law and subject to the same restrictions as other high-ranking officials.

Can the president of Iran be impeached?

Yes. The president can be impeached by the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis) for violation of the constitution or incompetence.

Does the president of Iran have control over the military?

No. The Supreme Leader is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Who was the youngest president of Iran?

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was 49 when he took office in 2005, making him the youngest elected president.

Has any Iranian president been female?

No. Iran has never had a female president, though women can legally run for the office.

What is Masoud Pezeshkian's age?

Exact age is not confirmed in available sources, but he was born in 1954, making him around 71 in 2025.

Does the president of Iran have a Twitter account?

Presidents have used social media accounts in the past, but official verification and current active status are subject to change.

What is the president of Iran's role in foreign policy?

The president can negotiate treaties and represent Iran in international affairs, but all major foreign policy decisions require approval of the supreme leader.