What powers does the supreme leader hold in Iran's government?

The supreme leader of Iran, known as the rahbar, serves as the head of state and wields extensive authority that allows for significant intervention in the country's political affairs. Under the concept of velayat-e faqih, the leader is responsible for determining the nation's political direction and overseeing the implementation of general government policies.1234

His formal powers, as delineated in the constitution, include:

• Military Command: Serving as commander in chief of the armed forces, with the authority to declare war, peace, and mobilization.34
• Key Appointments: Appointing the head of the judiciary, the chief of the general staff, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians.34
• Executive Oversight: Approving the president-elect and possessing the power to dismiss the president following a judicial conviction or legislative vote of no confidence.35
• Governance: Resolving governance issues that cannot be settled through ordinary means and calling referenda.3

While the Assembly of Experts is tasked with selecting and overseeing the leader, its influence is limited by the leader's indirect control over the candidate vetting process.63