# Commander-in-Chief of the Iranian Armed Forces

The position of Commander-in-Chief (Farmandehe Koll-e Qova (Persian: فرمانده کل قوا), formerly known as Bozorg Arteshtārān (Persian: بزرگ‌ارتشتاران), is the ultimate authority of all the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, and the highest possible military position within the Islamic Republic of Iran. The position was established during the Persian Constitutional Revolution. According to the Constitution of Iran, the position is vested in the Supreme Leader of Iran and is held since 1981.
After the 1979 Iranian Revolution and 15 days after the inauguration of the first president Abolhassan Banisadr in February 1980, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini delegated him as the Commander-in-Chief. According to Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, this was due to the illness of Ayatollah Khomeini and his concerns about the future of the revolution (in his absence). In the decree from Khomeini to Banisadr it is mentioned:
   At this critical stage where the need to concentrate forces is greater than any stage, you are appointed as my representative to the position of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in the manner determined by the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Following the impeachment of Banisadr in June 1981, the title of Commander-in-Chief was not transferred to the next president Mohammad-Ali Rajai, and is kept to this day by the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

## List of commanders-in-chief

| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Military rank | Military branch |
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Military rank | Military branch |
| • Sublime State of Persia (1906–1925) • ||||||||
| 1 | | Shah, MozaffarShah Mozaffar ad-Din Shah (1853–1907) | 6 August 1906 | 3 January 1907 † | 150 days | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | | Shah, MohammadShah Mohammad Ali Shah (1872–1925) | 3 January 1907 | 16 July 1909 | 2 years, 194 days | N/A | N/A |
| – | | Khan, Ali RezaRegent Ali Reza Khan (1847–1910) | 16 July 1909 | 22 September 1910 † | 1 year, 56 days | N/A | N/A |
| – | | Khan, AbolqasemRegent Abolqasem Khan (1856–1927) | 22 September 1910 | 21 July 1914 | 3 years, 314 days | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | | Shah, AhmadShah Ahmad Shah (1898–1930) | 21 July 1914 | 14 February 1925 | 11 years, 147 days | N/A | N/A |
| 4 | | Khan, RezaPrime Minister Reza Khan (1878–1944) | 14 February 1925 | 15 December 1925 | 304 days | Brigadier general | Persian Cossack Brigade (1894–1921) |
| • Imperial State of Iran (1925–1979) • ||||||||
| 1 | | Shah, RezaShah Reza Shah (1878–1944) | 15 December 1925 | 16 September 1941 | 15 years, 275 days | Brigadier general | Persian Cossack Brigade (1894–1921) |
| 2 | | Shah, MohammadShah Mohammad Reza Shah (1919–1980) | 16 September 1941 | 21 July 1952 | 10 years, 309 days | Captain | Imperial Iranian Army (1936–1941) |
| 3 | | Mosaddegh, MohammadPrime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh (1882–1967) | 21 July 1952 | 19 August 1953 | 1 year, 29 days | N/A | N/A |
| (2) | | Shah, MohammadShah Mohammad Reza Shah (1919–1980) | 19 August 1953 | 11 February 1979 | 25 years, 176 days | Captain | Imperial Iranian Army (1936–1941) |
| • Islamic Republic of Iran (1980–present) • ||||||||
| 1 | | Banisadr, AbolhassanPresident Abolhassan Banisadr (1933–2021) | 19 February 1980 | 10 June 1981 | 1 year, 111 days | N/A | N/A |
| 2 | | Khomeini, RuhollahSupreme Leader Ruhollah Khomeini (1902–1989) | 10 June 1981 | 3 June 1989 † | 7 years, 358 days | N/A | N/A |
| 3 | | Khamenei, AliSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei (born 1939) | 4 June 1989 | Incumbent | 35 years, 273 days | N/A | Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (24 November 1979–24 February 1980) |