# List of heads of state of Iran

Part of a series on the :
History of Iran :
The Gate of All Nations in Fars :
Prehistoric periodBCE / BC
Baradostian culture c. 36,000–18,000 Zarzian culture c. 20,000–10,000 Shulaveri–Shomu culture c. 6000–5000 Zayandeh River Culture c. 6th millennium Dalma culture c. 5th millennium :
Ancient period Kura–Araxes culture 3400–2000 Helmand culture/Jiroft culture c. 3300–2200 Proto-Elamite 3200–2700 Lullubi Kingdom/Zamua c. 3100-675 Elam 2700–539 Marhaši c. 2550-2020 Oxus Civilization c. 2400–1700 Akkadian Empire 2400–2150 Kassites c. 1500–1155 Avestan period c. 1500–500 Neo-Assyrian Empire 911–609 Urartu 860–590 Mannaea 850–616 Zikirti 750-521 Saparda 720-670 :
Imperial period Median Empire 678–550 BC Scythian Kingdom 652–625 BC Anshanite Kingdom 635 BC–550 BC Neo-Babylonian Empire 626 BC–539 BC Sogdia c. 6th century BC–11th century AD Achaemenid Empire 550 BC–330 BC Kingdom of Armenia 331 BC–428 AD Atropatene c. 323 BC–226 AD Kingdom of Cappadocia 320s BC–17 AD Seleucid Empire 312 BC–63 BC Kingdom of Pontus 281 BC–62 BC Fratarakas 3rd-century BC–132 BC Parthian Empire 247 BC–224 AD Elymais 147 BC–224 AD Characene 141 BC–222 AD Kings of Persis 132 BC–224 AD Indo-Parthian Kingdom 19 AD–224/5 Paratarajas 125–300 Sasanian Empire 224–651 Zarmihrids 6th century–785 Qarinvandids 550s–11th century :
Medieval periodCE / AD
Rashidun Caliphate 632-661 Umayyad Caliphate 661–750 Abbasid Caliphate 750–1258 Dabuyids 642–760 Bavandids 651–1349 Masmughans of Damavand 651–760 Baduspanids 665–1598 Justanids 791 – 11th century Alid dynasties 864 – 14th century Tahirid dynasty 821–873 Samanid Empire 819–999 Saffarid dynasty 861–1003 Ghurid dynasty pre-879 – 1215 Sajid dynasty 889–929 Sallarid dynasty 919–1062 Ziyarid dynasty 930–1090 Ilyasids 932–968 Buyid dynasty 934–1062 Rawadid dynasty 955–1070 Hasanwayhids 959–1095 Ghaznavid dynasty 977–1186 Annazids 990/1–1117 Kakuyids 1008–1141 Nasrid dynasty 1029–1236 Shabankara 1030–1355 Seljuk Empire 1037–1194 Khwarazmian dynasty 1077–1231 Eldiguzids 1135–1225 Atabegs of Yazd 1141–1319 Salghurids 1148–1282 Hazaraspids 1155–1424 Pishkinid dynasty 1155–1231 Khorshidi dynasty 1184-1597 Qutlugh-Khanids 1223-1306 Mihrabanids 1236–1537 Kurt dynasty 1244–1396 Ilkhanate Empire 1256–1335 Chobanid dynasty 1335–1357 Muzaffarid dynasty 1335–1393 Jalayirid Sultanate 1337–1376 Sarbadars 1337–1376 Injuids 1335–1357 Afrasiyab dynasty 1349–1504 Mar'ashis 1359–1596 Timurid Empire 1370–1507 Kar-Kiya dynasty 1370s–1592 Qara Qoyunlu 1406–1468 Aq Qoyunlu 1468–1508 :
Early modern period Safavid Iran 1501–1736 (Hotak dynasty) 1722–1729 Afsharid Iran 1736–1796 Zand dynasty 1751–1794 :
Modern period Qajar Iran 1789–1925 Pahlavi Iran 1925–1979 :
Contemporary period Iranian Revolution 1979 Interim Government 1979 Islamic Republic 1979–present :
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This article lists the heads of state of Iran since the establishment of the modern Iranian nation-state in 1501 AD.

## Heads of State of Iran

The Expansive Realm of Iran (1501–1736)
Safavid dynasty :
| No. | No. | Name | Name | Birth–Death | Reign start | Reign end | Dynasty |
| Shah of Persia ||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Shah Ismail I | | 1487–1524 | July 1501 | 23 May 1524 | Safavid |
| 2 | 2 | Shah Tahmasp I | | 1514–1576 | 23 May 1524 | 14 May 1576 | Safavid |
| Regency: Div Sultan Rumlu: 23 May 1524 – 5 July 1527. Chuha Soltan Takkalu: July 1527 – 1530/31. Husayn Khan Shamlu: 1530/31 – 1533. |||
| 3 | 3 | Shah Ismail II | | 1537–1577 | 23 May 1576 | 24 November 1577 | Safavid |
| 4 | 4 | Shah Mohammad Khodabanda | | 1532–1595/96 | 11 February 1578 | 1 October 1588 | Safavid |
| 5 | 5 | Shah Abbas I | | 1571–1629 | 1 October 1588 | 19 January 1629 | Safavid |
| 6 | 6 | Shah Safi | | 1611–1642 | 28 January 1629 | 12 May 1642 | Safavid |
| 7 | 7 | Shah Abbas II | | 1632–1666 | 12 May 1642 | 25 September 1666 | Safavid |
| 8 | 8 | Shah Suleiman I | | 1648–1694 | 1 November 1666 | 29 July 1694 | Safavid |
| 9 | 9 | Shah Sultan Husayn | | 1668–1726 | 6 August 1694 | 23 October 1722 | Safavid |
| Ghilji rebellion ||||||||
| 10 | 10 | Mahmud Shah | | 1699–1725 | 23 October 1722 | 25 April 1725 | Hotak |
| 11 | 11 | Ashraf Shah | | 1700–1730 | 26 April 1725 | 13 November 1729 | Hotak |
| Safavid restoration ||||||||
| 12 | 12 | Shah Tahmasp II | | 1704–1740 | 10 November 1722 | 2 September 1732 | Safavid |
| He was crowned on 9 December 1729 after liberation of the Safavid Capital. Reigned at exile: 10 November 1722 – 8 November 1726. July 1728 – 9 December 1729. |||
| 13 | 13 | Shah Abbas III | | 1732–1740 | 2 September 1732 | 8 March 1736 | Safavid |
| Regency: Nader Khan Afshar: 2 September 1732 – 8 March 1736. |||
| Realm of Iran (1736–1796) Afsharid dynasty ||||||||
| 14 | 14 | Nader Shah | | 1688–1747 | 8 March 1736 | 20 June 1747 | Afsharid |
| 15 | 15 | Adil Shah | | 1719–1749 | 6 July 1747 | 29 September 1748 | Afsharid |
| 16 | 16 | Ebrahim Shah | | 1724–1749 | 29 September 1748 | May 1749 | Afsharid |
| 17 | 17 | Shahrokh Shah | | 1734–1796 | May 1749 | 30 December 1749 | Afsharid |
| Proclaimed as Shah at 30 September 1748 and one day later crowned at Mashhad. |||
| Second Safavid restoration ||||||||
| 18 | 18 | Suleiman II | | 1714–1763 | 13 January 1750 | 20 March 1750 | Safavid |
| Proclaimed after deposing and blinding of Shahrokh Shah and crowned at 14 January 1750. |||
| 19 | 19 | Ismail III | | 1733–1773 | 29 June 1750 | 1773 | Safavid |
| He was a Puppet ruler who raised to the throne by Ali Mardan Khan Bakhtiari and Karim Khan Zand as a front to legitimize their rule. Regency: Karim Khan Zand: early 1751 – 1773 |||
| Afsharid restoration ||||||||
| (17) | (17) | Shahrokh Shah | | 1734–1796 | 9 May 1755 | 14 May 1796 | Afsharid |
| Zand dynasty ||||||||
| Wakil-al Raʿāyā ||||||||
| 20 | 20 | Karim Khan | | 1705–1779 | 1773 | 1 March 1779 | Zand |
| 21 | 21 | Abol-Fath Khan | | 1755–1787 | 6 March 1779 | May/June 1779 | Zand |
| He and his younger brother Mohammad Ali Khan were Co-rulers. |||
| 22 | 22 | Mohammad Ali Khan | | 1760–1779 | 6 March 1779 | 19 June 1779 | Zand |
| He and his elder brother Abol-Fath Khan were Co-rulers until May/June 1779. |||
| (21) | (21) | Abol-Fath Khan | | 1755–1787 | 19 June 1779 | 22 August 1779 | Zand |
| 23 | 23 | Sadeq Khan | | ?–1781 | 22 August 1779 | 14 March 1781 | Zand |
| 24 | 24 | Ali-Morad Khan | | c. 1720–1785 | 15 March 1781 | 11 February 1785 | Zand |
| – | – | Bagher Shah | | ?–1786 | 12 February 1785 | 17 February 1785 | — |
| After the death of Ali-Morad Khan, Bagher Khan Khorasgani Governor of Isfahan proclaimed himself as Shah and mentioned himself in the Khutbah and on coins. He was defeated from the corps of Jafar Khan. |||
| 25 | 25 | Jafar Khan | | ?–1789 | 18 February 1785 | 23 January 1789 | Zand |
| 26 | 26 | Seyd Morad Khan | | ?–1789 | 23 January 1789 | 10 May 1789 | Zand |
| 27 | 27 | Lotf Ali Khan | | c. 1769–1794 | 10 May 1789 | 20 March 1794 | Zand |
| Shah of Iran ||||||||
| (27) | (27) | Lotf Ali Shah | | c. 1769–1794 | 21 March 1794 | 30 October 1794 | Zand |
| Sublime State of Persia (1796–1925) ||||||||
| 28 | 28 | Agha Mohammad Shah | | 1742–1797 | 14 May 1796 | 17 June 1797 | Qajar |
| Agha Mohammad decided to move his capital to the small town of Tehran on 1786. He was formally crowned as Shah during spring 1796 at the Mugan plain, on his return after the conquest of Tbilisi. |||
| 29 | 29 | Fath-Ali Shah | | 1772–1834 | 17 June 1797 | 23 October 1834 | Qajar |
| 30 | 30 | Mohammad Shah | | 1808–1848 | 9 November 1834 | 5 September 1848 | Qajar |
| 31 | 31 | Naser al-Din Shah | | 1831–1896 | 13 September 1848 | 1 May 1896 | Qajar |
| Queen-mother Mahd-e Olia: 5 September 1848 – 1 October 1848. |||
| 32 | 32 | Mozaffar ad-Din Shah | | 1853–1907 | 2 May 1896 | 8 January 1907 | Qajar |
| 33 | 33 | Mohammad Ali Shah | | 1872–1925 | 8 January 1907 | 16 July 1909 | Qajar |
| 34 | 34 | Ahmad Shah | | 1898–1930 | 16 July 1909 | 15 December 1925 | Qajar |
| Reigned in exile: from 2 December 1923 Regency: Ali Reza Azod al-Molk: 18 July 1909 – 23 September 1910. Abolqasem Naser ol-Molk: 24 September 1910 – 21 July 1914. Prince Mohammad Hassan Mirza: 24 March 1924 – 31 October 1925. |||
| Imperial State of Iran (1925–1979) ||||||||
| No. | No. | Name | Name | Birth–Death | Took office | Left office | Political Affiliation |
| Provisional Head of State ||||||||
| | 35 | Reza Khan | | 1878–1944 | 31 October 1925 | 15 December 1925 | Military |
| No. | No. | Name | Name | Birth–Death | Took office | Left office | Dynasty |
| Shah of Iran ||||||||
| (35) | (35) | Reza Shah | | 1878–1944 | 15 December 1925 | 16 September 1941 | Pahlavi |
| 36 | 36 | Mohammad Reza Shah | | 1919–1980 | 16 September 1941 | 11 February 1979 | Pahlavi |
| Reigned in exile: 16–22 August 1953 (Baghdad; from 18 August at Rome) from 16 January 1979 (Egypt; from 22 January at Morocco). |||
| No. | No. | Name | Name | Birth–Death | Took office | Left office | Political Affiliation |
| Islamic Republic of Iran (1979–present) ||||||||
| Leader of the Revolution ||||||||
| | 37 | Ruhollah Khomeini | | 1900-1989 | 5 February 1979 | 3 December 1979 | Independent |
| Supreme Leader of Iran ||||||||
| | (37) | Ruhollah Khomeini | | 1900-1989 | 3 December 1979 | 3 June 1989 | Independent |
| | 38 | Ali Khamenei | | 1939–present | 4 June 1989 | Incumbent | Independent |