Shobeiri Zanjani: The quiet ayatollah who bridged Iran’s political divide

Grand Ayatollah Mousa Shobeiri Zanjani, a revered and influential religious figure across Iran's political spectrum, passed away at the age of 98 on 20 September 2026. Known for his distance from political power, Shobeiri's students included former reformist President Mohammad Khatami and, according to a source, Mojtaba Khamenei, the current supreme leader.

Despite his political neutrality, Shobeiri's authority rested outside of politics, making him an important figure during moments of conflict between Iran's political and religious establishments. Belonging to a conservative strand of the Iranian clergy, Shobeiri believed clerics should focus on preserving the independence of seminaries, maintaining the institution of marjaʿiyyah, and addressing religious and social affairs, rather than directly participating in political power.

He argued that excessive political involvement could undermine the clergy's religious standing and weaken religious faith. Shobeiri's expertise in fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence, was highly respected, and students across Iran's political spectrum attended his classes.