The deputy supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, officially the Deputy Supreme Leadership Authority, was the deputy to the Supreme Leader, the highest authority in the Islamic Republic of Iran. The position was created by the Assembly of Experts in July 1985 due to the special circumstances of the Iran–Iraq War and the worsening physical condition of the supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini. The only officeholder is Hussein-Ali Montazeri as there have been no other officeholders since his resignation in 1989.
History
Tenure of Montazeri (1985–1989) The Assembly of Experts elected Hussein-Ali Montazeri, one of Khomeini's students, to this position on 15 July 1985. On March 26 1989, Khomeini dismissed him. Montazeri resigned on 29 April 1989 from his position, On 4 June 1989, the Assembly of Experts and its chairman Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani overwhelmingly approved his resignation and dismissal. One of the reasons of Montazeri's resignation were government policies that Montazeri claimed infringed on people's freedom and denied them their rights, especially after the 1988 mass execution of political prisoners.
Montazeri was dismissed by Khomeini in a letter dated to either March 26 or 29 April 1989, which was again approved by Khomeini one day later. This letter was not made public at the time and was published a few years later, so some have questioned the letter's validity. Three months after Montazeri was dismissed as the deputy leader, Khomeini died on June 3, 1989. The next day, the Assembly of Experts elected Ali Khamenei as the supreme leader of Iran. Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, who was one of the transmitters of Khomeini's letter to Montazeri's dismissal, was one of the opponents of Montazeri's dismissal at the time.
Potential reestablishment During the presidency of Hassan Rouhani and amid longstanding rumors of Khamenei's declining health, it was recommended to Khamenei to reestablish the office of Deputy Supreme Leader to better facilitate the transition to new leadership.
List PortraitNameTerm of officeParty/GroupingFactionElectionSupreme LeaderPresidentPrime MinisterNotesTook officeLeft officeTime in office1Hussein-Ali Montazeri15 July 198530 April 1989Islamic Republican Party (1985–1987)Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom (1987–1989)Reformists1985Ruhollah KhomeiniAli KhameneiMir-Hossein MousaviVacant Post abolished (4 June 1989 – present) See also Supreme Leader of Iran Iranian Revolution Assembly of Experts 1985 Iranian deputy supreme leader election
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