Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has absolute power over Iran | Abbas Amanat and Lex Fridman | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

The Supreme Leader in Iran holds ultimate power over all institutions of the state, including the military, media, and economy, and is not limited by constitutional checks and balances.

Key Insights

• 🥹 The Supreme Leader in Iran holds absolute power over all institutions of the state, including the military, media, and economy.
• ⚖️ The authority of the Supreme Leader is considered above the state and is not limited by constitutional checks and balances.
• 🙎 The president in Iran is the public-facing person to the world, while the Supreme Leader tries to keep himself out of everyday politics.
• 🍂 Past presidents of Iran have eventually fallen out with the regime, except for President Rouhani who is currently in office but falling out of favor.
• 🎮 The process of candidacy for presidency in Iran is controlled by a council under the control of the Supreme Leader, making elections potentially "phony."

Transcript

how many held power for 10 years and then took power the next Supreme leader who is still the leader today for over 30 years who is he well he was one of the this is one day perhaps no well they they hesitated to use the term Imam for him but in any other respect he was given all of that adulation yes that they did to how many he is the guardian ju... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is the current Supreme Leader of Iran?

The current Supreme Leader of Iran is not mentioned in the provided content, but he has been in power for over 30 years.

Q: Is the Supreme Leader elected by the people?

No, the Supreme Leader is not elected, but is designated by a group of determined mullahs. His position is considered a Divine Authority.

Q: Are there any limits to the Supreme Leader's power?

Theoretically, there is a council of experts that can remove the Supreme Leader from power, but the restrictions make it highly unlikely. The Supreme Leader has full power over all institutions of the state.

Q: What is the role of the president in Iran?

The president in Iran is the executive power under the Islamic Republic. There are three heads of powers: the president, the head of the judiciary, and the speaker of the parliament. The Supreme Leader is above them all.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Leader in Iran has been in power for over 30 years, and is considered a Guardian Jurist, an authority above the state.

• The Constitution of the Islamic Republic initially did not include the authority of the Guardian Jurist, but it was added by Khomeini and his supporters.

• While there is a council of experts theoretically able to remove the Supreme Leader from power, the restrictions make it unlikely to happen in reality.