Inaugural holderHassan Habibi
September 1, 1989 SuccessionFirst
(in line of presidential succession)
The Vice President of Iran (Persian: معاون ریاست جمهوری اسلامی ایران) is defined by article 124 of the Constitution of Iran, as anyone appointed by the President of Iran to lead an organization related to Presidential affairs. As of July 2009, there are 12 Vice Presidents in Iran. The First Vice President (Persian: معاوناول) is the most important as he or she leads cabinet meetings in the absence of the president.
The role of First Vice President was created in the revision of the Constitution in 1989. It took over some of the responsibilities of Prime Minister. According to Article 124, First Vice President will be chairing the board of ministers and coordinate the other vice presidencies, if let by the President. According to Article 131, First Vice President takes over as acting President in cases where the President in incapacitated, but only if permitted by the Supreme Leader. According to the same Article, First Vice President (or anyone serving as acting President) must make sure that a new president is elected in fifty days.
According to Article 132, during the time an Acting President is serving (usually a First Vice President), the Majlis cannot impeach ministers and it can't disapprove newly introduced ministers. Also, referendums and revisions to the Constitution are forbidden.
Ex-officio Vice Presidents
Current officeholders are ex officio Vice Presidents:
Vice President and Head of Environmental Protection Organization
Vice President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization
Vice President and Head of Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization
Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization
Vice President and Head of Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs
Vice President and Head of National Elites Foundation
Vice President and Head of Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization
Formerly, heads of these two organization below were ex-officio Vice Presidents:
Vice President and Head of Physical Education Organization
Vice President and Head of National Youth Organization
Both organizations were merged into Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
Optional Vice Presidents
The President may or may not choose vice presidents for specific issues, but their existence is not obligatory. Some of the offices held by vice presidents are:
Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs
Vice President for Legal Affairs
Vice President for Executive Affairs
Vice President for Women and Family Affairs
Vice President for Management and Human Resources Development
Vice President for Supervision and Strategic Affairs
Current Vice Presidents
First Vice President: Eshaq Jahangiri
Vice President for Executive Affairs: Mohammad Shariatmadari
Vice President and Head of Environmental Protection Organization: Masoumeh Ebtekar
Vice President and Head of Atomic Energy Organization: Ali Akbar Salehi
Vice President and Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization Chief: Zahra Ahmadipour
Vice President and Head of Management and Planning Organization: Mohammad Bagher Nobakht
Vice President for Legal and Parliamentary Affairs: Hossein Ali Amiri
Vice President and Head of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs Foundation: Mohammad-Ali Shahidi
Vice President and Head of Center for Women and Family Participation Affairs: Shahindokht Molaverdi
Vice President and Head of National Elites Foundation: Sorena Sattari
Vice President and Head of Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization: Jamshid Ansari
