How is the President elected and what are the constitutional constraints on presidential power?

• A. The President is elected by the people for six years with no term limits.
• B. The President is appointed by the Supreme Leader for four years.
• C. The President is elected by popular vote for a four-year term (two consecutive terms only) but operates under the Supreme Leader's authority and Guardian Council oversight.
• D. The President serves for life and cannot be removed.

Answer: (C)

The key idea is that Iran’s presidency blends popular elections with strong religious-legal checks that limit the president’s power. The President is chosen through a nationwide popular vote for a four-year term and may serve up to two consecutive terms. Before any candidate can run, the Guardian Council reviews and can disqualify candidates, shaping who can actually be on the ballot. After election, the President heads the executive branch and manages day-to-day governance, but his authority is limited by the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate control over major state matters such as national security and foreign policy. The Guardian Council and the Expediency Discernment Council also constrain legislation and oversight, and the President’s appointments (including ministers) must be approved by the Parliament. In short, electoral legitimacy comes from the people, but real power rests with the Supreme Leader and these supervising bodies, so the President cannot act independently of the religious-constitutional framework.