Madrasa religious education up to Ijtihad, Qom; PhD in Law, Glasgow, UK. Iranian religious scholar and politician with experience in senior positions in post-revolution Iran. Formerly: 20 years as Member of Majlis; eight years as Deputy Speaker; Chairman, Foreign Relations and Defence Committees, eight years each; six years as Commander, Iran's Air Defence; until 2005, Secretary, Iran's Supreme National Security Council. Member: Supreme National Security Council; Expert Assembly; Expediency Council. Author of books on Islamic law, legislature, revolution, history.