10 Key Facts About Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi

The recent tragic helicopter crash that claimed the life of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, alongside eight others, has prompted a reflection on his influential yet controversial tenure.

Born in 1960 and rising through the ranks of Iran’s judicial system to the highest office in the land, Raisi’s career was marked by significant shifts in Iran’s political and judicial landscape.

Here are ten important things to know about Ebrahim Raisi’s life and political career.

1. Formative Years

Ebrahim Raisi was educated at the seminary in Qom, going on to earn a Ph.D. in law from Shahid Motahari University, which set the foundation for his judicial and political career.

2. Judicial Beginnings

Starting in the early 1980s as a prosecutor, Raisi ascended to significant positions within Iran’s judiciary, including being the prosecutor general of Tehran in 1994.

3. Chief Justice

Appointed as chief justice in 2019, Raisi’s tenure was noted for increased repression of dissent and notable human rights abuses, as reported by the Center for Human Rights in Iran.

4. 2021 Presidential Election

Raisi became president after a notably uncompetitive election with a historically low voter turnout of 48.8%, the lowest since the 1979 establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

5. International Sanctions

The U.S. sanctioned Raisi in 2019, highlighting his involvement in the 1988 “death commission” and actions during his judiciary tenure, including the approval of juvenile executions.

6. Unprecedented Sanctioned President

He was the first elected leader of Iran to assume office while under U.S. sanctions, marking a unique aspect of his presidency.

7. Election Details

In the 2021 election, Ebrahim Raisi won 18 million of the nearly 29 million votes cast, indicating support for a new, more stringent political era.

8. Political Stance

Ebrahim Raisi was known for his firm opposition to engaging with Western countries, aligning with a harder-line approach in Iran’s international relations.

9. Alliance with the Supreme Leader

As a close ally of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Raisi’s policies and leadership style were deeply influenced by the Supreme Leader’s vision.

10. Sudden Departure

The helicopter crash that ended Ebrahim Raisi’s life marks a poignant and abrupt conclusion to a profoundly impactful presidency, which will likely influence Iranian politics for years to come.