In a tragic turn of events, Iran lost its president, Ebrahim Raïssi, in a helicopter crash on Sunday.
According to local media, this incident forced the first vice-president, Mohammad Mokhbér, to the forefront of Iranian politics as interim president, by the country’s constitutional provisions.
A Successor Designated by the Constitution
Article 131 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran sets the conditions under which the first vice-president can assume presidential responsibilities. In the event of the death, dismissal, resignation, absence, or prolonged disease of the president, the first vice-president is required to assume the functions of the latter. This role needs the approval of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who holds ultimate authority in the country.
Who is Mohammad Mokhber?
Aged 68, Mohammad Mokhbér is not a newcomer to the Iranian political scene. Originally from Dezfoul in the Khuzestan province, he has been engaged in both public administration and the private sector. He entered the inner circle of power as first vice-president in August 2021, following the presidential election which witnessed Raïssi take the reins of the country. Mokhber furthermore headed the Imam Order Foundation (Setad), a powerful organization created in the late 1980s to manage properties confiscated after the Islamic Revolution. Under his leadership, Setad became an influential state economic conglomerate, active in many sectors, including health.
A Delicate Transition Period
The future interim president inherits a complex role at a critical time. He must not only guarantee the continuity of the state but also prepare the country for a new presidential election, which, according to the law, must be held within fifty days. This election will be closely observed both nationally and internationally, particularly due to the internal political tensions and the challenges that Iran meets on the world stage.
Raisi’s tragic accident and the sudden transition to new leadership could observe a turning point in Iranian politics, with potential repercussions for its international relations and domestic policies. How Mokhber handles this interim period could well define Iran’s immediate political future.