Presidency

Article 113 places the president below the Leadership and assigns executive authority except in matters directly belonging to that office. Presidents are directly elected for four years and may serve only one immediately consecutive additional term. Election requires an absolute majority, with a runoff if necessary. The Guardian Council supervises presidential elections, while Article 110 assigns it confirmation of candidates’ constitutional qualifications. s1

The president heads the Council of Ministers and is responsible for national planning, budgeting and state employment affairs. The constitution also assigns duties involving legislation, diplomatic appointments and international agreements, subject to specified procedures and parliamentary approval where required. s1

Presiding over the Supreme National Security Council does not confer unrestricted security authority: its policies operate within the Leader’s general policies, and its decisions require the Leader’s confirmation. s1

For presidential incapacity or vacancy covered by Article 131, the first vice-president assumes presidential functions with the Leader’s approval. A council comprising that official, the parliamentary speaker and judiciary head must arrange an election within fifty days. s1

Government formation in 2024 illustrates the political negotiation surrounding the office. Associated Press reporting described parliament’s approval of Masoud Pezeshkian’s cabinet as an early success achieved through choices acceptable to different centers of power. The report also described disagreement within his own political camp over those choices. Its interpretation was that the resulting team emphasized consensus. s2

This example helps explain why a presidential election result cannot by itself establish how much of a political program will become policy. Choosing a minister, securing legislative support and implementing a decision are different stages. A report of agreement at one stage does not prove durable cooperation or a completed policy outcome. s1s2

The office is therefore best understood by asking two questions together: what responsibilities does the constitutional text allocate, and what evidence shows how a particular administration exercised them? This page establishes the principal formal responsibilities and offers a dated example of political bargaining. It does not verify the incumbent’s full record or the distribution of practical influence at the editorial cutoff. s1s2