Following the tragic death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Mohammad Mokhber, the first vice president, is set to assume the presidency as the country prepares for early elections.
According to the Iranian constitution, the first vice president is mandated to take over in the event of the president’s death, dismissal, resignation, or prolonged illness.
Raisi, who perished on Sunday along with Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other senior officials, was nearing the end of his first four-year term.
Mokhber’s interim presidency requires the approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in Iran.
A new presidential election to select Raisi’s permanent successor must be held within 50 days.
A council comprising the parliament speaker, the head of the judiciary, and the vice president will be responsible for organizing the national vote.
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Mokhber, 68, has been the vice president since Raisi took office in August 2021.
Born in Dezful, Khuzestan province, he has held various official roles in the region. From 2007, Mokhber led the Execution of Imam Khomeini’s Order, a governmental body managing properties seized after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
This organization has evolved into a significant state economic conglomerate with interests in multiple sectors.
Iran conducts presidential elections every four years, with a two-term limit for presidents.
The country’s political system does not include the position of prime minister, making the president, supported by several vice presidents, responsible for appointing and overseeing the cabinet.
Mokhber’s temporary leadership marks a critical juncture for Iran as it navigates this period of uncertainty and prepares for a new election amid the backdrop of recent political and social upheavals.
