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Ayatollahs & A New President In Iran…
Iran’s Complex Leadership Structure & History of Shi’ism in Iran
IN THE NEWS:
Iran has a new president — Mr. Ebrahim Raisi. He is a Muslim cleric, as is Iran’s Supreme Leader — Mr. Ali Khamenei. Regardless of their power disparity, the latter being all-powerful, they both have the same religious title: ayatollah.
Mr. Raisi’s presidential election didn’t entail much of a race, because all of his potential challengers were disqualified from running against him. But what institution in Iran disqualified them? Was it a government institution or an institution external to Iran’s government? Could that institution have more power than Iran’s Supreme Leader? How can the Supreme Leader have a lifetime appointment, when Iran is supposedly a republic!?! Does Iran’s Shi’i religion have anything to do with its governance structure? And what is an ayatollah anyway? Who qualifies a cleric for that title?
To get answers to these questions and more, we spoke with Professor Vali Nasr of Johns Hopkins University. In addition to his many prestigious academic appointments and accomplishments, Professor Nasr has advised senior American policymakers, including the President and the Secretary of State.
