It is expected that Mohammad Mokhber, who is currently Iran’s vice president, will take up the position of the interim president of Iran after President Ebrahim Raisi passed away unexpectedly. Mokhber’s appointment comes at a critical time when Iran has to hold a presidential election within 50 days according to its constitution.
Mokhber was born on September 1, 1955, and is closely connected with the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who is the ultimate arbiter in Iranian affairs. Mokhber became the first vice president in 2021 after Raisi was elected. His administration has been characterized by strong foreign diplomacy with a major trip to Moscow in October where he and other top Iranian officials decided to provide Russia with surface-to-surface missiles and drones.
Mokhber previously served as the head of Setad, a powerful investment fund affiliated with the supreme leader. Setad was founded by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of the Islamic Republic, to oversee unused properties left behind after the 1979 revolution and channel the revenue to pious deeds. Mokhber had been sanctioned by the European Union in 2010 for his alleged role in nuclear and ballistic missile activities but was delisted in 2012.
Article 131 of the Islamic Republic’s constitution indicates that the first vice president becomes the acting president upon the death of the president with the approval of the supreme leader. Mokhber, together with the speaker of parliament and the head of the judiciary, has to organize a new presidential election within 50 days. Given his considerable experience and especially his strong relations with Khamenei, Mokhber is a major figure in Iranian politics during this time of change. His role will be crucial in ensuring stability and also in preparing for the next election which according to the constitution must be held by the early part of July.
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During this critical period in Iran’s history, Mokhber’s influence will be crucial in determining the political trajectory of the country