Rajai’s relationship with President Banisadr was fraught with tension. Banisadr, who advocated for a more secular and democratic approach to governance, often clashed with Rajai and other members of the Islamic Republican Party. The power struggle between Banisadr and the clerical establishment eventually led to Banisadr’s impeachment on June 21, 1981. Following Banisadr’s removal from office, Rajai became a key figure in the Provisional Presidential Council, a temporary governing body headed by Mohammad Beheshti and later Abdolkarim Mousavi Ardebili.
Presidency and Assassination
After Banisadr’s impeachment, Rajai announced his candidacy for the presidency in the 1981 election. Running as a member of the Islamic Republican Party, Rajai secured an overwhelming victory, winning 91% of the vote. On August 2, 1981, he was officially sworn in as the second president of the Islamic Republic of Iran.