Who is Nasser Naghavian? A reformist cleric, religious speaker, and former secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting of the country.

Who is Nasser Naghavian?

Sheikh Nasser Naghavian is a Shiite cleric, a prominent religious speaker, a university professor, a social-religious theorist, and a prominent figure of the reformist and moderate clerical movement. Born in 1964 in the city of Babol, Mazandaran province, he is one of the most well-known and, at the same time, controversial figures in contemporary Iranian religious preaching. Naghavian, with his unique style of speech based on the poetry of Rumi and Hafez—a combination of Persian mystical-literary poetry with religious interpretation—became one of the most popular preachers of the new generation of Iran's clergy. Throughout his multidimensional career, he has held prominent positions such as cultural advisor to the head of the Supreme Leader's Representation in Universities, a faculty member of Shahid Beheshti University, cultural advisor to the head of the National Olympic Committee, and finally, the secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting of the country (appointed by Hassan Rouhani on December 18, 2018, until his widely discussed resignation on November 8, 2019).

The importance of Hojjat al-Islam Nasser Naghavian in Iran's religious-social sphere can be examined from several angles. First, his unique style of religious preaching—in which religious teachings are integrated with the treasury of Persian classical literature—which has placed him in a distinct position among the preachers of the new generation of clergy. Second, his distinguished seminary educational background—studying under figures such as Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad, Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Ayatollah Martyr Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, and Mohammadi—which has formed his scientific-jurisprudential foundation. Third, his clear connection with the reform discourse in Iran—in which he stated in one of his notable positions that "the only way for the country to overcome some of its problems is to create polyphony and change in attitudes and remove obstacles; the country needs reform"—which places him among the critical voices of the clergy. Fourth, his high-profile case as secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting—in which his critical positions toward the vetting structure and his widely discussed challenge with Hojjat al-Islam Jafar Montazeri over the issue of dual citizenship led to his resignation in November 2019. Fifth, the judicial cost of his controversial positions—including being summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy and being taken to court twice during Ahmadinejad's administration—which is a sign of his persistence in expressing his positions despite pressures.

Life and Background

Nasser Naghavian was born in 1964 in the city of Babol—one of the most important cities of Mazandaran province and among the oldest cultural-historical regions of northern Iran. Babol, which has introduced prominent figures in the fields of clergy, science, politics, and culture to Iranian society over the decades after the revolution, is considered one of the centers of religious culture in northern Iran.

Born in 1964, Naghavian belongs to a generation that came of age during the events of the 1979 Islamic Revolution and then the Iran-Iraq war. His adolescence and youth experience in the post-revolutionary atmosphere shaped the foundation of his intellectual-religious experience.

Seminary Education

Naghavian's educational path took shape in Iran's seminaries and ultimately reached its peak with specialization in advanced levels of jurisprudence.

Beginning at the Babol Seminary

Naghavian began his seminary education at the Babol Seminary—one of the prominent centers of religious education in northern Iran. This stage formed the foundation of his introductory education in religious sciences.

The Qom Seminary (1986-1993)

In 1986, at the age of 22, Naghavian went to the Qom Seminary—the most important center of Shia religious education in Iran—for advanced studies. Until 1993, for seven years, he studied at the Qom Seminary and during this period pursued his studies up to the level of "Kharej Fiqh"—the highest level of traditional seminary education in which a jurist approaches the position of ijtihad.

Prominent Teachers

Among Naghavian's prominent teachers at the Qom Seminary are:

• Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad: a prominent jurist, philosopher, and legal scholar, member of the Academy of Sciences of Iran.

• Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi: former head of the judiciary (1999-2009), member of the Guardian Council, and head of the Expediency Discernment Council.

• Ayatollah Martyr Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti: former head of the judiciary and Secretary-General of the Islamic Republic Party.

• Professor Mohammadi: one of the seminary teachers.

This educational background, which benefits from a wide range of prominent jurisprudential-legal-philosophical figures, formed Naghavian's scientific foundation.

Academic Activity: Shahid Beheshti University

In addition to his seminary studies and activities, Naghavian has been consistently active as a faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University—one of Iran's most prestigious universities. This connection with the academic structure forms the foundation of his relationship with scientific-student circles and is one of the notable aspects of his character.

Cultural Advisor to the Supreme Leader's Representation in Universities

One of Naghavian's prominent positions was cultural advisor to the head of the Supreme Leader's Representation in Universities. This institution, which is among the prominent cultural-religious institutions of the Islamic Republic and has offices in all universities across the country, has played a strategic role in shaping the cultural-religious atmosphere of universities over the past decades.

This position, which was a sign of his acceptance in the official structure of the system, at the same time created discursive tension with his more critical positions in later years.

Cultural Advisor to the National Olympic Committee

Another of Naghavian's executive positions was cultural advisor to the head of the National Olympic Committee. This position, which is connected to Iran's professional sports environment, is one of the distinctive aspects of his career—especially considering that he is also a prominent cleric and religious speaker.

Candidacy for the Tehran City Council (April 2017)

In April 2017, Naghavian ran for the fifth term of the Islamic City Council of Tehran with the slogan "Clean City, Clean People, and Clean Officials." This move was one of his few formal entries into the electoral arena. However, a month later, he decided to withdraw—a decision that was one of the notable controversies in the tense atmosphere of that period's city council elections.

This withdrawal was a sign of the fact that Naghavian "never had a desire to enter the electoral arena and preferred to be influential in society through his speeches."

Secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting (December 2018 - November 2019)

The most high-profile chapter of Naghavian's executive career was his appointment as the secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting.

Appointment on December 18, 2018

On December 18, 2018, Hojjat al-Islam Hassan Rouhani appointed Sheikh Nasser Naghavian as the "Secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting." This appointment, which took place during Rouhani's second administration, was a sign of Naghavian's connection with the moderation-reform current.

The Supreme Board of Vetting, which is among the key institutions of the Islamic Republic for vetting government employees and staff of official institutions, is one of the most sensitive administrative-ideological structures of the country, in which ideological, behavioral, and political criteria are applied for accepting individuals in official positions.

Naghavian's Critical Positions on Vetting

From the beginning of his tenure, Naghavian adopted notable critical positions toward the existing vetting structure. In one of his notable positions, he stated: "Vetting is one of the most infiltrated institutions of this system."

He also emphasized: "There should be no unnecessary strictness. If such strictness occurs, it will result in brain drain. The role of the vetting cores of various institutions in retaining the country's elite forces is significant."

This position, in which the priority of retaining elites is placed over taste-based vetting strictness, was one of the notable aspects of his reformist discourse within the vetting institution.

Challenge with Jafar Montazeri over Dual Citizenship

One of the most high-profile controversies during Naghavian's tenure was his widely discussed challenge with Hojjat al-Islam Jafar Montazeri over the issue of dual citizenship. Montazeri stated in one of his notable positions: "They have appointed a person as the head of the country's vetting who says, 'What's wrong with using dual, triple, and even quintuple citizens?' This is regrettable."

This challenge, which was raised in the tense atmosphere of the discourse on "foreign infiltration" and "dual citizenship" in 2018 and 2019, was one of the most important grounds for discursive tension during Naghavian's tenure.

Resignation on November 8, 2019

On November 8, 2019, Naghavian submitted his resignation from the secretaryship of the Supreme Board of Vetting in a letter addressed to Hassan Rouhani. In this letter, Naghavian wrote: "I am grateful that your trust has been bestowed upon me and you entrusted me with an important task."

This resignation, which occurred after about 11 months of activity, was one of the notable controversies of Rouhani's second administration in the tense discursive atmosphere surrounding the vetting institution. In Naghavian's later account of this period—which he presented in the "Cafe Khabar" program of Khabar Online—he cited structural problems in the vetting institution as the main reason for his resignation.

Unique Style of Speech

Naghavian's most central feature, which has placed him in a distinct position among the preachers of the new generation of Iran's clergy, is his unique style of speech.

Integration of Religious Teachings with Persian Poetry

A distinctive feature of Naghavian's speeches is his extensive use of Rumi and Hafez's poetry in explaining religious teachings. This approach, in which the treasury of Persian classical literature is used as a tool for spiritual-religious interpretation, is relatively rare among official preachers.

This style, which has made Naghavian one of Iran's most famous religious speakers, is connected to the discourse of Iranian religious intellectualism—a discourse in which religious teachings are integrated with Iran's cultural-literary heritage.

Summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy

One of the high-profile controversies of Naghavian's career was his being summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy due to some controversial remarks. In his own account, these summonses occurred twice during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration. In one of his positions, he stated: "The previous government summoned me to court twice."

However, in the end, the complaint against him did not lead anywhere—a sign that the charges were not documented or faced legal resistance.

The Special Court for the Clergy, which is among the special judicial institutions of the Islamic Republic for prosecuting clergy, has put several prominent clerical figures on trial over the past decades—including Seyyed Mohsen Kadivar, Yousef Sanei, Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari, and others. Naghavian's summons to this court was a sign that he was among the critical clergy.

Notable Controversies

In addition to judicial challenges, Naghavian has faced several other controversies:

Photo Without Clerical Attire with Abtahi

In one notable controversy, a photo of Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi and Nasser Naghavian without clerical attire was published. This photo received widespread coverage in Iranian media.

Family Relationship with Parviz Parastoui

One of Naghavian's informal controversies is that the daughter of Parviz Parastoui (a prominent Iranian cinema actor) is the daughter-in-law of one of Naghavian's family relatives—a family connection sometimes mentioned in Iranian media.

Views and Analytical Positions

Throughout his intellectual-analytical career, Hojjat al-Islam Nasser Naghavian has formulated a clear intellectual framework that can be traced in several axes.

The Necessity of Reform and Polyphony

Naghavian's most central theoretical position is the emphasis on the necessity of reform and polyphony in Iran. In one of his notable positions, he stated: "The only way for the country to overcome some of its problems is to create polyphony and change in attitudes and remove obstacles. The country needs reform."

This position, in which discursive diversity and structural reform are identified as prerequisites for Iran's progress, is a sign of his reformist view of Iran's power structure.

Full audio file of the conversation between Mehdi Motaharnia and Sheikh Nasser Naghavian on the Simorgh program.

 Hear without filter in the cassette box
 

Critique of the Vetting Structure

Naghavian is one of the serious critics of the vetting structure in Iran. In his view: "Vetting is one of the most infiltrated institutions of this system." He added: "There should be no unnecessary strictness. If such strictness occurs, it will result in brain drain."

This position, in which the role of the vetting cores of various institutions in retaining the country's elite forces is emphasized, is one of the notable aspects of his reformist discourse.

Connection to the System While Criticizing

Despite his critical positions, Naghavian has always revealed his connection to the Islamic Republic system and the leadership. In one of his notable positions, he stated that he "is on the line of the revolution and is willing to exchange twenty years of his life for one day of Ali Khamenei's life."

This dual position—in which structural criticism is linked to declaring loyalty to the general principles of the system—is one of the notable aspects of his discursive strategy.

View on Dual Citizenship

In his widely discussed challenge with Jafar Montazeri, Naghavian indirectly defended the position that using individuals with dual citizenship in the official structure is not necessarily problematic. This position, which stood in contrast to the official discourse on "foreign infiltration" in 2018 and 2019, was one of his tense positions.

Connections with Figures and Currents

Hojjat al-Islam Nasser Naghavian is situated within a network of intellectual-organizational connections with prominent figures of Iran's moderate and reformist clergy. At the educational level, his relationship with Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad, Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Ayatollah Martyr Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, and Mohammadi—as prominent teachers during his studies—are among his key connections.

At the political level, his relationship with Hassan Rouhani—is one of his official connections.

At the peer-media level, his relationship with Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi—as seen in the published photo without clerical attire—is a sign of his intellectual-media connections among reformist clergy.

Conclusion

Hojjat al-Islam Nasser Naghavian is one of the most well-known and, at the same time, controversial figures of Iran's contemporary clergy. With a unique combination of deep scientific-seminary background (studying under prominent figures such as Mohaghegh Damad, Hashemi Shahroudi, and Beheshti), a distinctive style of religious preaching (integrating religious teachings with the treasury of Persian classical literature, especially Rumi and Hafez), a sustained presence in the official structure of the system (as cultural advisor to the Supreme Leader's Representation in Universities, a faculty member of Shahid Beheshti University, cultural advisor to the National Olympic Committee, and secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting), and at the same time, structural critical positions in the public sphere, he occupies a unique position in the structure of Iran's contemporary clergy. His career—from his birth in 1964 in Babol, studying at the Babol and Qom seminaries, reaching the level of Kharej Fiqh, academic activity at Shahid Beheshti University, holding cultural advisory positions, candidacy for the Tehran City Council in 2017, appointment as secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting by Rouhani in December 2018, his widely discussed challenge with Jafar Montazeri over dual citizenship, resignation in November 2019, being summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy during Ahmadinejad's administration, and finally, his role as one of Iran's most popular religious speakers over the past two decades—presents a picture of a multidimensional "cleric-speaker-executive manager-structural critic."

Naghavian's distinguishing feature, on the first level, is his exceptional ability to connect religious teachings with the treasury of Persian classical literature—a characteristic in which a cleric with specialized seminary education, at the same time, uses the treasure of Persian poetry as a tool for spiritual-religious propagation. This connection, rooted in the discourse of Iranian religious intellectualism, is one of the notable aspects of his character. On the second level, his dual discursive strategy—in which structural critical positions are linked with declaring loyalty to the general principles of the system—is one of the notable aspects of his intellectual framework.

From an analytical perspective, Naghavian's position exemplifies the phenomenon of the "in-system critical cleric" in contemporary Iran—a phenomenon in which a cleric with a distinguished educational background, while holding various positions in the official structure of the system, also takes structural critical positions in the public sphere. This pattern, which has other examples among Iran's moderate-reformist clergy, has found a special reflection in Naghavian through his focus on a distinctive style of religious preaching and his open challenges with part of the power structure.

What is clear from today's perspective is that the topics Naghavian has addressed in his speeches and positions—from the necessity of reform and polyphony, critique of the vetting structure, the importance of retaining elites, the integration of religion and classical literature, and challenges to the official discourse on dual citizenship—remain among the most enduring topics in contemporary Iranian religious-social discourse. In a situation where Iran is in one of the most tense periods of its contemporary clerical discourse—particularly with increasing challenges surrounding the role of the clergy in the power structure, the issue of hijab, and the reform discourse—Naghavian's voice, with a combination of a deep seminary background and a distinctive style of speech, is one of the enduring references of this discourse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Nasser Naghavian?

Sheikh Nasser Naghavian (born 1964 in the city of Babol) is a Shiite cleric, a prominent religious speaker, a university professor, and a prominent figure of the reformist and moderate clerical movement in contemporary Iran. He is one of Iran's most famous religious speakers, known for his distinctive style of speech that extensively uses the poetry of Rumi and Hafez in explaining religious teachings.

What is Nasser Naghavian's educational background?

Naghavian began his seminary education at the Babol Seminary. In 1986, at the age of 22, he went to the Qom Seminary and studied there until 1993—for seven years. His studies reached the level of Kharej Fiqh. Among his prominent teachers are Ayatollah Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad, Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, Ayatollah Martyr Seyyed Mohammad Hosseini Beheshti, and Mohammadi.

What executive positions has Nasser Naghavian held?

Among Naghavian's most important executive positions are: a faculty member of Shahid Beheshti University, cultural advisor to the head of the Supreme Leader's Representation in Universities, cultural advisor to the head of the National Olympic Committee, and secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting of the country (appointed by Hassan Rouhani on December 18, 2018, until his resignation on November 8, 2019).

Why did Nasser Naghavian resign from the Supreme Board of Vetting?

On November 8, 2019, Naghavian submitted his resignation from the secretaryship of the Supreme Board of Vetting in a letter addressed to Hassan Rouhani. The main reasons for his resignation included structural challenges in the vetting institution and his widely discussed challenge with Hojjat al-Islam Jafar Montazeri over the issue of dual citizenship. In his later account, Naghavian referred to the vetting institution as "one of the most infiltrated institutions of this system."

What was Naghavian's challenge with the Prosecutor General?

One of the most high-profile controversies during Naghavian's tenure as secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting was his challenge with Hojjat al-Islam Jafar Montazeri over dual citizenship. Montazeri stated: "They have appointed a person as the head of the country's vetting who says, 'What's wrong with using dual, triple, and even quintuple citizens?' This is regrettable."

What is Naghavian's view on vetting?

Naghavian is one of the serious critics of the vetting structure in Iran. In one of his notable positions, he has stated: "Vetting is one of the most infiltrated institutions of this system." He has also emphasized: "There should be no unnecessary strictness. If such strictness occurs, it will result in brain drain."

What is Naghavian's view on reform?

In one of his notable positions, he has stated: "The only way for the country to overcome some of its problems is to create polyphony and change in attitudes and remove obstacles. The country needs reform." This position is a sign of his reformist view of Iran's power structure.

Has Nasser Naghavian been summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy?

Yes, Naghavian has been summoned to the Special Court for the Clergy due to some controversial remarks. In his own account, he was summoned to court twice during Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's administration. However, the complaint against him did not lead anywhere.

What is Naghavian's family relationship with Parviz Parastoui?

According to published reports, the daughter of Parviz Parastoui is the daughter-in-law of one of Naghavian's family relatives—a family connection sometimes mentioned in Iranian media.

Is Nasser Naghavian still active?

Yes, Hojjat al-Islam Nasser Naghavian remains active as one of Iran's most famous religious speakers. His consistent presence on Khabar Online's "Cafe Khabar"—in which he discussed his tenure as secretary of the Supreme Board of Vetting—and other media programs is a sign of his enduring role in contemporary Iranian religious-social discourse. His numerous speeches in religious gatherings, with his distinctive style of integrating religion and Persian poetry, continue to receive widespread coverage in Persian-language media.