Prime Minister of Iran

former political post in Iran

The Prime Minister of Iran was a political job in Iran (Persia) that had existed many times between the Qajar era until the end of the Pahlavi dynasty. It also was active from 1979 to 1989 following the Iranian Revolution, but was abolished in 1989.

Prime Minister of Iran
نخست‌وزیر ایران
Official standard
(1979–1989)
TypeHead of Government
StatusOffice abolished
Member ofCabinet of Iran
Supreme National Security Council
ResidenceMarble Palace
AppointerThe Parliament
PrecursorGrand Vizier of Persia
Formation1 August 1906
First holderMirza Nasrullah Khan
Final holderMir-Hossein Mousavi
Abolished3 August 1989
SuccessionPresident of Iran
Vice President of Iran

List

Political party key
  •   Moderate Socialists
  •   Democrats
  •   Reformers' Party
  •   Revival Party
  •   Democrat Party
  •   National Front
  •   Nationalists’ Party
  •   People's Party
  •   New Iran Party
  •   Rastakhiz Party
  •   Freedom Movement
  •   Islamic Republican Party
  •   Combatant Clergy Association
  •   Military
No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officePolitical partyHead of State
(Reign / Term)
Took officeLeft officeTime in office
Sublime State of Persia (1907–1925) •
1 Nasrullah Moshir al-Dowleh
(1840–1907)
Grand Vizier
1 August 19067 March 1907218 daysIndependentMozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar

(1896–1907)
Moshir al-Dowleh held the office at the time of death of Mozaffar al-Din Shah and accession of Mohammad Ali Shah, on 3 January 1907.Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar

(1907–1909)
2 Soltan-Ali Vazir-e Afkham
(1862–1914)
Interior Minister and Head of Cabinet
17 March 190729 April 190743 daysIndependent
3 Ali-Asghar Khan Atabak
(1858–1907)
4 May 190731 August 1907
(assassinated)
119 daysIndependent
4 Ahmad Moshir al-Saltaneh
(1844–1918)
16 September 190727 October 190741 daysIndependent
5 Abolqasem Naser al-Molk
(1856–1927)
27 October 190721 December 190755 daysIndependent
6 Hossein-Qoli Nezam al-Saltaneh Mafi
(1832–1908)
21 December 190721 May 1908152 daysIndependent
(4) Ahmad Moshir al-Saltaneh
(1844–1918)
7 June 190829 April 1909326 daysIndependent
7 Kamran Mirza Nayeb al-Saltaneh
(1856–1929)
29 April 19092 May 19093 daysIndependent
8 Javad Sa'd al-Dowleh
(1856–1930)
8 May 190913 July 1909
(deposed)
66 daysIndependent
Interim Cabinet without Prime Minister
کابینه موقت بدون نخست وزیر
(Appointed by Supreme Council of Politicians and Clergymen)
17 July 190930 September 190975 daysAhmad Shah Qajar

(1909–1925)
9 Mohammad-Vali Khan Tonekaboni
(1848–1926)
30 September 190925 July 1910298 daysModerate Socialists
10 Hassan Mostowfi al-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
25 July 191012 March 1911230 daysDemocrats
(9) Mohammad-Vali Khan Tonekaboni
(1848–1926)
12 March 191126 July 1911136 daysModerate Socialists
11 Najaf-Qoli Samsam al-Saltaneh
(1846–1930)
26 July 19111913c. 2 yearsModerate Socialists
12 Mohammad-Ali Ala al-Saltaneh
(1829–1918)
18 January 191316 August 1913210 daysIndependent
(10) Hassan Mostowfi al-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
17 August 191314 March 19151 year, 209 daysDemocrats
13 Hassan Pirnia
(1871–1935)
14 March 19151 May 191548 daysModerate Socialists
14 Abdol Majid Mirza
(1845–1927)
1 May 191518 August 1915109 daysIndependent
(10) Hassan Mostowfi al-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
18 August 191524 December 1915128 daysDemocrats
15 Abdol-Hossein Mirza Farmanfarma
(1857–1939)
24 December 191529 February 191667 daysModerate Socialists
(9) Mohammad-Vali Khan Tonekaboni
(1848–1926)
5 March 191629 August 1916177 daysModerate Socialists
16 Hassan Vosugh al-Dowleh
(1873–1950)
29 August 19165 June 1917280 daysDemocrats
(12) Mohammad-Ali Ala al-Saltaneh
(1829–1918)
5 June 191721 November 1917169 daysIndependent
(14) Abdol Majid Mirza
(1845–1927)
21 November 191716 January 191856 daysIndependent
(10) Hassan Mostowfi al-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
16 January 19181 May 1918105 daysDemocrats
(11) Najaf-Qoli Samsam al-Saltaneh
(1846–1930)
1 May 19188 August 191899 daysModerate Socialists
(16) Hassan Vosugh al-Dowleh
(1845–1927)
8 August 19183 July 19201 year, 330 daysDemocrats
(until 1919)
Independent
(13) Hassan Pirnia
(1871–1935)
3 July 192027 October 1920116 daysIndependent
17 Fathollah Khan Akbar
(1878–1967)
27 October 192022 February 1921
(deposed)
118 daysIndependent
18 Zia'eddin Tabatabaee
(1889–1969)
24 February 19214 June 1921100 daysIndependent
19 Qavām os-Saltaneh
(1873–1955)
4 June 192121 January 1922231 daysReformers' Party
(13) Hassan Pirnia
(1871–1935)
21 January 192222 June 1922152 daysIndependent
(19) Qavām os-Saltaneh
(1873–1955)
22 June 192215 February 1923238 daysReformers' Party
(10) Hassan Mostowfi al-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
15 February 192315 June 1923120 daysRevival Party
(13) Hassan Pirnia
(1871–1935)
15 June 192326 October 1923133 daysIndependent
20 Reza Khan Sardar Sepah
(1878–1944)
26 October 192312 December 1925
(became Shah)
2 years, 47 daysMilitary
Imperial State of Iran (1925–1979) •
Mohammad-Ali Foroughi
(1875–1942)
Acting Prime Minister
12 December 192513 June 1926183 daysRevival PartyReza Shah Pahlavi

(1925–1941)
(10) Mostowfi ol-Mamalek
(1875–1932)
13 June 19262 June 1927354 daysRevival Party
21 Mehdi Hedayat
(1864–1955)
2 June 192718 September 19336 years, 108 daysRevival Party
Independent
22 Mohammad-Ali Foroughi
(1875–1942)
18 September 19333 December 19352 years, 76 daysIndependent
23 Mahmoud Jam
(1880–1969)
3 December 193526 October 19393 years, 327 daysIndependent
24 Ahmad Matin-Daftari
(1897–1971)
26 October 193926 June 1940244 daysIndependent
25 Ali Mansur
(1886–1974)
26 June 194027 August 1941
(resigned)
1 year, 62 daysIndependent
(22) Mohammad-Ali Foroughi
(1875–1942)
27 August 19419 March 1942194 daysIndependentMohammad Reza Pahlavi

(1941–1979)
26 Ali Soheili
(1896–1958)
9 March 19429 August 1942153 daysIndependent
(19) Ahmad Qavam
(1873–1955)
9 August 194215 February 1943190 daysIndependent
(26) Ali Soheili
(1896–1958)
15 February 19436 April 19441 year, 51 daysIndependent
27 Mohammad Sa'ed
(1881–1973)
6 April 194425 November 1944233 daysIndependent
28 Morteza-Qoli Bayat
(1890–1958)
25 November 194413 May 1945169 daysIndependent
29 Ebrahim Hakimi
(1871–1959)
13 May 19456 June 194524 daysIndependent
30 Mohsen Sadr
(1871–1962)
6 June 194530 October 1945146 daysIndependent
(29) Ebrahim Hakimi
(1871–1959)
30 October 194528 January 194690 daysIndependent
(19) Ahmad Qavam
(1873–1955)
28 January 194618 December 19471 year, 324 daysIndependent
Democrat Party of Iran
(from 29 June 1946)
31 Mohammad-Reza Hekmat
(1891–1978)
18 December 194729 December 194711 daysDemocrat Party of Iran
(29) Ebrahim Hakimi
(1871–1959)
29 December 194713 June 1948167 daysIndependent
32 Abdolhossein Hazhir
(1902–1949)
13 June 19489 November 1948149 daysIndependent
(27) Mohammad Sa'ed
(1881–1973)
9 November 194823 March 19501 year, 134 daysIndependent
(25) Ali Mansur
(1886–1974)
23 March 195026 June 195095 daysIndependent
33 Ali Razmara
(1901–1951)
26 June 19507 March 1951
(assassinated)
254 daysMilitary
Khalil Fahimi
(1876–1953)
Acting Prime Minister
7 March 195112 March 19515 daysIndependent
34 Hossein Ala'
(1882–1964)
12 March 195127 April 195146 daysIndependent
35 Mohammad Mosaddegh
(1882–1967)
28 April 195117 July 19521 year, 80 daysNational Front
(19) Ahmad Qavam
(1873–1955)
17 July 195222 July 19525 daysIndependent
(35) Mohammad Mosaddegh
(1882–1967)
22 July 195219 August 1953
(deposed)
1 year, 28 daysNational Front
36 Fazlollah Zahedi
(1897–1963)
19 August 19537 April 19551 year, 231 daysMilitary
(34) Hossein Ala'
(1882–1964)
7 April 19553 April 19571 year, 361 daysIndependent
37 Manouchehr Eghbal
(1909–1977)
3 April 195731 August 19603 years, 150 daysNationalists’ Party
38 Jafar Sharif-Emami
(1910–1998)
31 August 19605 May 1961247 daysNationalists’ Party
39 Ali Amini
(1905–1992)
5 May 196119 July 19621 year, 75 daysIndependent
40 Asadollah Alam
(1919–1978)
19 July 19627 March 19641 year, 232 daysPeople's Party
41 Hassan-Ali Mansur
(1923–1965)
7 March 196426 January 1965
(assassinated)
325 daysNew Iran Party
42 Amir-Abbas Hoveyda
(1919–1979)
26 January 19657 August 197712 years, 193 daysNew Iran Party
(until 1975)
Rastakhiz Party
43 Jamshid Amouzegar
(1923–2016)
7 August 197727 August 19781 year, 20 daysRastakhiz Party
(38) Jafar Sharif-Emami
(1910–1998)
27 August 19786 November 197871 daysRastakhiz Party
(until 1 November)
Independent
44 Gholam Reza Azhari
(1912–2001)
6 November 19784 January 197959 daysMilitary
45 Shapour Bakhtiar
(1914–1991)
4 January 197911 February 1979
(deposed)
38 daysIndependent
Islamic Republic of Iran (1979–present) •
46 Mehdi Bazargan
مهدی بازرگان
(1907–1995)
4 February 19796 November 1979
(resigned)
275 daysFreedom Movement of IranRuhollah Khomeini

(1979–1989)
Council of the Islamic Revolution
شورای انقلاب اسلامی
(Leader: Abolhassan Banisadr)
6 November 197912 August 1980280 days
47 Mohammad-Ali Rajai
محمدعلی رجائی
(1933–1981)
12 August 19804 August 1981357 daysIslamic Republican Party
48 Mohammad-Javad Bahonar
محمدجواد باهنر
(1933–1981)
4 August 198130 August 1981
(assassinated)
26 daysIslamic Republican Party
Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi Kani
محمدرضا مهدوی کنی
(1931–2014)
Acting Prime Minister
2 September 198131 October 198159 daysCombatant Clergy Association
49 Mir-Hossein Mousavi
میرحسین موسوی خامنه
(born 1942)
31 October 198114 August 19897 years, 287 daysIslamic Republican Party
(until 1987)
IndependentAli Khamenei

(1989–present)
Post abolished (14 August 1989 – present)

Living former prime ministers

NamePictureTermDate of birth
Mir-Hossein Mousavi 1981–1989 (1942-03-02) 2 March 1942 (age 82)

More readings

  • For a full list of Viziers of Iran in the last 2000 years, see: "Iranian Viziers: From Bozorgmehr to Amir Kabir" (وزیران ایرانی از بزرگمهر تا امیر کبیر) by Abdolrafi' Haqiqat (عبدالرفیع حقیقت). Perry–Castañeda Library collection DS 271 F34 1995
  • Mohammad Taghi Bahar, Taarikh-e Mokhtasar-e Ahzaab-e Siaasi-e Iraan (A Short History of Political Parties of Iran), Amirkabir, 1978.
  • Encyclopædia Iranica's entries on "Ala-al-Saltana, Mohammad-Ali" and "Akbar Sepahdar-e Azam, Fathallah"
  • various articles in The Persian Encyclopedia
  • 'Alí Rizā Awsatí (عليرضا اوسطى), Iran in the Past Three Centuries (Irān dar Se Qarn-e Goz̲ashteh - ايران در سه قرن گذشته), Volumes 1 and 2 (Paktāb Publishing - انتشارات پاکتاب, Tehran, Iran, 2003). ISBN 964-93406-6-1 (Vol. 1), ISBN 964-93406-5-3 (Vol. 2).