Today’s TalkToday’s Talk  What is the political significance of the Supreme Leader in Iran?  Where does his authority come from?  How does he influence politics?  How does the public view him?  What is his stand on the US, Israel, and Iran’s nuclear program?  Who might succeed him?

Ayatollah Khomeini ( )  The founder of the Islamic Republic  The First Supreme Leader  The Grand Ayatollah  Religious and Political Authority  A charismatic figure

Iran’s Political SystemIran’s Political System  Ayatollah Khomeini: “… Iran’s political system is an Islamic Republic not a word more, not a word less”  He rejected democracy in its Western concept  He also rejected theocracy  the sovereignty is rooted in divine force, however, this is contingent upon the people’s satisfaction

The Supreme Rule of the JuristThe Supreme Rule of the Jurist  A doctrine of divine sovereignty  Invented by Ayatollah Khomeini  Not representative of the people but their guardian  Turned into the “god of government”  The Supreme Leader’s political institution

Assembly of ExpertsAssembly of Experts  A powerful clerical body  84 seats  Election of the Supreme Leader  Checks and balances on the Supreme Leader

Ayatollah Khamenei ( present)  Source of Authority  Iran’s Constitution  The head of the state  The commander in chief  The top ideologue

Khamenei’s PowerKhamenei’s Power  “Clerical Commissars”  A Conservative Parliament  The Revolutionary Guards and Basij

In the Eye of the BeholderIn the Eye of the Beholder  Revolutionary culture  Mobilization through Basij  Routinizaiton of rituals  Emergence and evolution of “culture of defiance”  Reform movement – 1997  Green movement – 2009

Khamenei’s Foreign Policy (Tweets Jan 2014 – April 2015)

The Supreme Leader on IsraelThe Supreme Leader on Israel  Zionist Regime  A Terrorist and Genocidal Regime  Promotes Iran Phobia  Promotes Shia Phobia  On Jerusalem  Source of the West Problems  Discrimination of Muslims

The Supreme Leader on the USThe Supreme Leader on the US  The US discriminates its own citizens  Americans’ Awareness about their corrupt system  Hiroshima - Nagasaki  Iraq War 2003  The US Promotes Factional Politics

The Supreme Leader on Nuclear Deal  Sanctions and Resistance  Iran's Nuclear Program  An Excuse for sanctions  Negotiation  The US Fact Sheet  No Nuclear Weapon  Iran’s program is peaceful

Khamenei’s HeirKhamenei’s Heir  Potential candidates belong to the conservative block  The position might be replaced with a shura or consultative council  Main Criteria for his successor  No involvement in the Green Movement  A mojtahed

Summary  Ayatollah Khamenei is the second Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic  His enormous authority comes from the constitution; no political candidacy without his approval  End of factional politics, since Rouhani elected as the president  The main criteria for him in nuclear deal is lifting all the sanctions