Analyzing the Role of Ayatollah Khamenei as the Nodal Point of the Islamic Republic System

The present study aims to examine the position of the Supreme Leader in the structure of the Islamic Republic of Iran from the perspective of a nodal point. The research method is descriptive-analytical and is based on the hypothesis that leadership, as the main factor preserving the identity and unity of the nation, plays the role of the nodal point in the existing political structure. Ayatollah Khamenei, as the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has a significant role in guiding the nation, regulating the relationships among the branches of government, and managing crises. In his capacity as a leader, with legal and supra-institutional authority, he has performed vital functions during the Islamic system's passage through crises over the past three decades. Considering the importance of the nodal point in creating a sense of integration that is identity-forming and identity-preserving, it appears that the leadership acts as a kind of junction, organizing a vast number of floating signifiers, that is, a multitude of ideological elements within a unified domain. Additionally, the Supreme Leader, in fulfilling the role of the nodal point and executing specific functions, has played a unique role in the political system of the Islamic Republic, creating synergy and unity of action among the branches of government and officials, and thereby contributing to stability, security, and progress.