Mohammad Mokhber Assumes Interim Presidency of Iran

Following the unexpected demise of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter accident on May 19, Mohammad Mokhber, Iran’s First Vice President, has stepped into the role of interim president.

Mokhber, a seasoned political figure known for his close ties to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, is set to lead Iran during this transitional period.

Let’s delve into Mokhber’s political background and his involvement in both Iranian and global affairs.

Who is Mohammad Mokhber? Iran’s Acting President

1. Interim Presidency:

As the interim president, Mokhber assumes a crucial role within a three-person council, alongside the parliament speaker and the judiciary head.

• This council is tasked with organizing a new presidential election within 50 days of the previous president’s death.

2. Close Ties to Khamenei:

Born on September 1, 1955, Mokhber shares a close relationship with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the ultimate authority in Iranian state matters.

• He was appointed as the first vice president in 2021, coinciding with Raisi’s presidency.

3. Global Engagements:

• Mokhber’s diplomatic engagements include a notable visit to Moscow in October, during which Iranian officials, including Mokhber, struck agreements with Russia, involving the supply of surface-to-surface missiles and additional drones to Russia’s military.

4. Previous Leadership Role:

Mokhber previously served as the head of Setad, an investment fund linked to the supreme leader, highlighting his experience in leadership positions within the Iranian government.

5. Sanctions History:

Mokhber has faced international scrutiny, particularly from the European Union and the US Treasury Department.

• In 2010, he was placed on the EU’s sanctions list for alleged involvement in nuclear or ballistic missile activities, though he was later removed. Additionally, Setad, under Mokhber’s leadership, was sanctioned by the US Treasury Department in 2013.

6. Setad’s Origin:

Setad, formerly known as Setad Ejraiye Farmane Hazrate Emam (the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam), was established by an order from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic and predecessor of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

The organization was tasked with selling and managing properties that were purportedly abandoned during the chaotic years following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with the primary objective of directing most of the proceeds to charitable causes.

Iranian constitution

As for the Iranian constitution, Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran outlines the protocol in case of the President’s death, dismissal, resignation, absence, or extended illness.

In such circumstances, if a new president has not been elected due to impediments or other reasons, the President’s first deputy assumes the powers and functions of the President with the approval of the Supreme Leader.

Also, read:

Who Was Ebrahim Raisi?