Ahmad Jannati

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2nd Chairman of the Guardian Council
Ahmad Jannati
Incumbent
Assumed office 1988
Deputy	Abbasali Kadkhodai
Preceded by	Yousef Sanei

Born	1926 Esfahān
Political party	None
Spouse	Married
Residence	Tehran, Iran
Profession	Politician, Islamic cleric
Religion	Shia Islam

Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Massah (Persian: احمد جنتی, born 1926 in Esfahan) is an Iranian ayatollah and political figure. He is the chairman of the Guardian Council, the body in charge of checking legislation approved by Majlis with the Constitution and sharia, and approving the candidates in various elections. He is also a temporary Friday prayer imam of Tehran.

1 Views
2 Influence
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
- 5.1 Video clips

[edit] Views

Jannati is considered close to the Iranian Islamic conservatives, and is heavily criticized by the reformists for his active role in not approving reformist candidates to run in various elections and blocking their legislation.

During a Friday Prayer on 4 August 2006 Ayatollah Jannati asserted, "[S]upport for Hizbollah [is] a duty."^[1]

On Iraq he has said: “Fortunately, after years of effort and expectations in Iraq, an Islamic state has come to power and the constitution has been established on the basis of Islamic precepts”.^[2]

Jannati is very anti-American in his rhetoric. In April 2008, he pontificated, "You cried: "Death to the Shah," and indeed, he died. You cried: "Death to Israel," and it is now on its deathbed. You cry: "Death to America," and before long, Allah willing, the prayer for the dead will be recited over it."^[3]

[edit] Influence

He has been a member of the Guardian Council since 1980 and has been its chair since 1988.^[4] Ahmad Jannati wields considerable influence because he simultaneously holds seats in the Guardian Council, Expediency Discernment Council, and Assembly of Experts.

Ayatollah Jannati was one of the founders of Haghani School, one of the most influential religious school in Iran, and has had an influence on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.