Iranian President vs Supreme Leader: Iranian President Ibrahim Raisi and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are being discussed a lot these days, because both these leaders are in the news after the Iran-Israel war. There is also a debate going on about who is the greatest among these two leaders and who has more authority. If we look at the structure of the Iranian government, the Supreme Leader has the most power. In Iran the Supreme Leader remains at the top. After him, the President, Judiciary, Parliament, Guardian Council and Armed Forces have been placed.
These are the rights of the Supreme Leader and the President
If we talk about the most powerful person in Iran, then he is the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, he is the supreme leader of the country since 1989 till now. He is the head of state and commander-in-chief. He has the authority to give orders to the National Police and Morality Police. The Supreme Leader controls the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps. They also choose the head of the judiciary.
The President is the top official of Iran and the second most powerful person after the Supreme Leader. Ibrahim Raisi is responsible for the day-to-day operations. The powers of the President are limited in security matters. The President’s Ministry of the Interior runs the national police force, but its commander is appointed by the Supreme Leader. The President has to accept the words of the Supreme Leader.
290 members are elected in Parliament
Every 4 years, 290 members of the Iranian Parliament are elected. Parliament prepares draft laws and approves the country’s budget. However, Parliament is controlled by the Guardian Council, which is an influential body. It examines all laws from the perspective of Sharia or Islamic law and can repeal the law. Half of the members of the council are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Supreme Leader appoints the head of the judiciary.
Police and Islamic Revolution Guard Corps
The Morality Police is part of the National Police. It was established in 2005. The IRGC is Iran’s main organization for maintaining internal security, it was established to protect the Islamic system. It has its own army, navy and air force. It takes care of Iran’s weapons. It also has a foreign branch, which is called Quds Force. It provides money, arms and technology training throughout the Middle East. The IRGC also controls the Basij Resistance Force. The Basij Resistance Force was formed in 1979 as a volunteer paramilitary organization. This force has been extensively involved in suppressing anti-government protests since the presidential elections in 2009.