Post-1988 Judicial Career
Far from facing consequences, Nayyari’s career flourished after 1988. Following Ayatollah Khomeini’s death in 1989 and the ascension of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader, Nayyari’s influence in the judiciary deepened.
He was appointed by Mohammad Yazdi, then Chief Justice of Iran, as the Deputy of the Supreme Court, a position he held for more than two decades. During this period, Nayyari oversaw significant judicial decisions, playing a pivotal role in interpreting and implementing Islamic law across the country.
In 2013 (1392 SH), he was elevated to the position of Chief of the Supreme Judicial Court, a role he maintained until 2022 (1401 SH). This court is Iran’s highest body for reviewing judicial errors and supervising lower court decisions. Nayyari’s tenure was marked by a strict and uncompromising interpretation of Islamic penal codes, earning him both praise from hardliners and condemnation from reformists and international observers.
Role in Confiscation of Assets Post-Revolution
In addition to his role in the executions, Nayyari was entrusted by the Islamic leadership to handle judicial cases related to the confiscation of properties and wealth associated with the Pahlavi regime and its affiliates. In May 1989, Mehdi Karroubi and Hassan Sanei appealed to Khomeini, requesting that Nayyari be tasked with issuing verdicts against those accused of looting the national treasury under the Shah.
They argued that normal court procedures were too slow and risked losing resources that could serve the “deprived and oppressed.” They described Nayyari as “pious and decisive,” someone the leadership could rely on to mete out justice swiftly. Khomeini agreed, once again bypassing regular judicial structures and granting Nayyari extraordinary powers.
This role further cemented his position as a trusted executor of revolutionary justice, even if his methods drew criticism for circumventing legal norms.
