THE HARMONY OF RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR INSTITUTIONS IN IRAN’S POLITICAL SYSTEM

Аннотация

The article is dedicated to analyzing the unique institutional architecture of the IslamicRepublic of Iran, which embodies both theocratic and republican elements of governance. The main focus is on the synthesis of religious and secular institutions formed as a result of the Islamic Revolution of 1978-1979 and their role in ensuring the stability of Iran’s political system. It examines the constitutional interactions of key religious structures, such as the Supreme Leader institution, the Assembly of Experts, the Guardian Council, and the Expediency Council, within the framework of constitutional reforms. Special attention is given to the evolution of the Supreme Leader’s powers, which balance traditional Shia principles with democratic governance mechanisms. Based onhistorical and legal analysis, thestudy reveals theadaptability potential of Iran’s governancemodel in theface ofinternal and external threats. Key words:Iran, "Velayat-e Faqih," Supreme Leader, President, Assembly of Experts, Guardian Council, Expediency Council, political system, Parliament, constitutional reforms, political stability. Introduction. The uniqueness of the political model of the Islamic Republic of Iran increases the relevance of scientifically studying the harmonious interaction of religious and secular institutions within the country’s governance system. A scientific analysis of Iran's governance system is significant due to the innovative nature of the current development of theocratic states. Studying the institutional interaction between religious and secular structures provides an opportunity to understand the unique model of Iran’s state governance. Following the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the transformation of Iran’s political system resulted in the creation of a governance mechanism based on the synthesis of theocratic and secular elements. A theoretical understanding of Iran’s state-building experience requires an awareness of alternative models of political development. In particular, a comprehensive analysis of secular institutions allows for identifying the mechanisms that ensure stability in Iran. The study of institutional interactions, especially the relationships between secular authorities, also represents a certain scientific novelty. Examining the Iranian model reveals the ways in which the clergy influence the state governance system. Analyzing the institutional structure of Iran’s political system sheds light on the mechanisms that ensure thelegitimacy ofpower. Main part. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 fundamentally changed the structure of the state in Iran. The constitutional formalization of the new state system was completed in December 1979with theadoption of theConstitution ofthe IslamicRepublic ofIran. The central element of power legitimization was the "Velayat-e Faqih" concept, developed by R.Khomeini[10]. According to this concept, supreme authority in the state should belong to the most prominent faqih, as this ensures the harmonization of modern governance forms with Shia political traditions. page1062 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ISSN:2692-5206,ImpactFactor:12,23 AmericanAcademicpublishers,volume05,issue02,2025 Journal: https://www.academicpublishers.org/journals/index.php/ijai This model of state structure represents an institutional compromise between the modern principles of republican governance and traditional Shia political-legal concepts, defining Iran's uniquepathofdevelopment. The main institutional innovation introduced by the “Velayat-e Faqih” principle was the establishment of the position of Supreme Leader, who holds the highest authority within Iran’s state hierarchy. The Supreme Leader’s constitutionally enshrined powers are characterized by their broad scope. This role combines the functions of a religious leader with powers that influence all branches of government—legislative, executive, and judicial. To ensure the effective functioning of the theocratic system, a comprehensive institutional structure was established, including key bodies such as the Assembly of Experts, the Guardian Council (or Supervisory Council), and the Expediency Council. This system maintains the formal attributes ofamodern statewhileupholdingtheocratic governance principles. The Assembly of Experts holds a unique position within Iran’s governance system. It is the only state body authorized to elect, oversee, and dismiss the Supreme Leader. Organizationally, this body functions as a collegial structure responsible for supervising the activities oftheSupremeLeader. The Assembly of Experts is formed through general and direct elections held in single- and multi-member constituencies. After the historically established eight-year term was extended to ten years, this change was reflected in the election cycle: following theelections in 1982,1990, 1998,2006, and2014,themost recent election was heldonMarch 1,2024. In this election, held on March 1, 2024,with the participation of 24.5 m