Iranian leadership
Iran has a President and a Supreme Leader.
The current President is Hassan Rouhani while the supreme leader is The Grand Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei. President Hassan Rouhani has been in power since 2013 Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has been in power since 1989. President is the Head of Government while the Supreme Leader is the Head of State.
The two serve in different capacities. President of Iran is the chief executive who is elected by the people of Iran whereas the Supreme Leader is selected by an assembly of experts. A President term ends in 4 years while that of a supreme leader is lifetime or by resignation.
The President of Iran is responsible for signing if treaties, agreements with other countries, international organisations etc. He has the power to appoint ministers, ambassadors, governors once approved by the parliament. The Supreme Leader of Iran has the authority to appoint heads of powerful posts like commander of armed forces and the heads of major religious foundations.
The president is a subordinate of the Grand Ayatollah. The Supreme Leader position was fuelled by the Iranian Revolution that saw the fall of the Shah. One of the duties of the Islamic State led by the Supreme Leader is to protect and push their Shia ideologies in middle east.
