As soon as the Iranian Revolution deposed the Shah and took control of the country, its leaders sought to establish a project of profound ideological and historical weight. And it was anchored in a distinct theological and political framework: the principle of Wilayat al-Faqih, or the Guardianship of the Jurist. It was not just a political arrangement, but a metaphysical imperative rooted in Twelver Shi'ism, the largest branch of Shiite Islam.
The doctrine is central to Iranian political philosophy, particularly the awaited return of the Hidden Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi—the 12th and final Imam. It was constructed to resolve a longstanding theological dilemma: how to reconcile spiritual leadership with corporal political authority until the return of "the mahdi".
Iran went on to develop a far-reaching political and ideological network of allies—both regionally and internationally— underpinned by loyalty to the mahdi, seen as the supreme jurist. This principle became the litmus test for allegiance among Tehran’s allies. As a position, it was publicly reinforced by figures such as Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s late secretary-general, in statements made over several decades.
The concept of “absolute guardianship” grants the jurist near-total authority over all aspects of public life, including the executive, judiciary, military, and foreign policy.
An existential imperative
Today, Iran worries that a powerful US strike on its nuclear infrastructure could potentially bring about the collapse of the regime, especially if domestic anti-government protests erupt over the country's deteriorating socio-economic conditions. Powerful voices within Iran continue to view the preservation of the regime as an existential imperative—one that trumps all other concerns.
