دور المرشد الأعلى في تحديد توجهات السياسة الإيرانية

Abstract EN

The Supreme Leader is the linchpin of the Islamic Republic of Iran; He guides its character,policies,and approach to the outside world.

To arrive at our conclusions, we conducted a historical analysis of both the institution of Supreme Leader and key aspects of Khomeini's and Khamenei's terms in the position.

After examining the justifications for the creation of the Supreme Leader position during the Islamic Revolution, we analyzed the position's constitutional and informal powers and how Khomeini and Khamenei have used these powers.

We also explored various debates and political and religious discourses in Iran about the nature of the Supreme Leader, including those surrounding the ١٩٨٩ succession.

On the basis of this research, we identified the selection of Khamenei for Supreme Leader over the heir Khomeini had originally chosen, Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri,during the ١٩٨٩ succession.Khamenei met Khomeini's and the Islamist Right's ideological and administrative qualifications for Supreme Leader and in many ways was Montazeri's opposite.

Iran's nezam derives its religious and political legitimacy from the concept of Velayat-e faghih,which underpins the Supreme Leader's authority.

Khomeini reinterpreted Velayat-e faghih to form the basis of an Islamic state led by the clergy.

Two broad schools of thought have since developed under Khomeini's reinterpretation; the ''absolutist'' and the ''democratic''.