Iran considers abolition of presidency

The head and spiritual leader of Iran, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, has
initiated a discussion on the abolition of the presidential office in Iran,
ITAR-TASS reports.

The Iranian leader said that at the moment he is debating whether a
parliamentary system would be more suitable for the formation of executive
power.

According to the Iranian Constitution, supreme power is in the hands of the
spiritual leader. After his death in 1989, the founder of the IRI, Ali
Khamenei, took over the responsibilities of Ayatollah Khomeini, to which he is
entitled until his death. The president heads the executive branch and forms
the cabinet. The Islamic revolution of 1979 also established the office of
prime minister, which was abolished in the late 1980's.