Iran’s next president

As the curtain comes down on the Raisi era, the focus will be on the impending presidential elections. In the event of the death of an incumbent president, Iran’s constitution mandates the first vice-president — in this case, Mohammad Mokhber — to run the government subject to approval from the Supreme Leader, also known as the Velayat-e Faqih in Shia Islamic theology. 

Then the interim president would jointly with the heads of parliament and the judiciary oversee an election for a new president within the next 50 days.  

Mokhber, 68, has the right credentials to throw the hat into the election ring. Serving as first vice-president since 2021, he is very close to the Supreme Leader, who had earlier served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Mokhber has been head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the Supreme Leader. 

Given Iran’s complex political structure, it would be difficult to hazard a half-guess now on who would succeed Raisi after the next election. When Raisi was running in 2021, the turn-out in the polls was at a historic low, and many heavyweight conservative and moderate rivals were disqualified from contesting.  

This time, it remains to be seen which way the wind will blow. Interestingly, there will also be questions on who would succeed the current Supreme Leader as Raisi was seen as a possible and worthy successor. Khamenei’s son Mojtaba is also seen as a top contender, though it must be seen how it would play out. This is because the leaders of the 1979 Islamic Revolution were vehemently opposed to successors being from within the same family.  

(Jayanth Jacob, a foreign policy commentator, has covered the Ministry of External Affairs for over two decades. X: @jayanthjacob.)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.