Mohammad Mokhber assumed the role of acting president of Iran on 19 May 2024 following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. A veteran of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps during the Iran-Iraq war, Mokhber has occupied high-level positions in the Iranian state and its economic conglomerates for several decades.
Early Career and Revolutionary Activity
Born in Dezful in 1955, Mokhber joined the Mansurun Group as a teenager, a guerrilla organization opposing the Pahlavi regime. During the Iran-Iraq war, he served as a medical officer with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In the 1990s, he transitioned to administrative roles, serving as CEO of Dezful Telecommunications and deputy governor of Khuzestan Province.
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Mokhber expanded his reach in the 2000s as vice president of the Mostazafan Foundation, one of the largest holding companies in the Middle East. He also served on the boards of Sina Bank and MTN Irancell. In 2007, Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appointed him head of the Execution of Imam Khomeini's Order, or EIKO, a powerful conglomerate overseeing extensive assets.
The First Vice Presidency
In August 2021, President Ebrahim Raisi appointed Mokhber as the first vice president of Iran. In this role, he managed strategic industrial planning and domestic production. By 2022, he became a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, later chairing a commission tasked with selling government properties valued at approximately $275 million.
Sanctions and Allegations
Mokhber has faced international scrutiny regarding the privatization of public assets, insider trading, and affiliations with Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. These activities led to various international sanctions against him and entities under his leadership, including Sina Bank and EIKO. Additional criticism emerged regarding the Barakat Foundation's failure to meet COVID-19 vaccine production targets.
Fast facts
- Born: 1955, Dezful, Iran
- Education: Doctorate in international law; Doctorate in management and economic development; MA in management; Bachelor in electrical engineering
- Role: Acting President of Iran (2024)
- Role: First Vice President of Iran (2021-2024)
- Role: Head of EIKO (2007-2021)
- Role: Advisor to the Supreme Leader (since 2024)
- Religion: Shia Islam
Questions readers ask
What official role did Mohammad Mokhber hold in 2024?
He served as the acting president of Iran from May 2024 to July 2024 following the death of Ebrahim Raisi.
What professional background does Mokhber have?
He is an electrical engineer by training who held positions as a telecommunications CEO, deputy governor, and administrator of major state-linked economic foundations.
Achievements
- director general
- Deputy Governor
- chairperson (2007–2021)
- vice president
