Traditionally, graduates from Imam Sadiq University, commonly referred to as Imam Sadiqis, have secured influential positions through their involvement with state-run radio and television channels, which are managed by the
Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Initially, these graduates would establish a presence within the broadcasting corporation's news department, eventually progressing to higher roles involved in executive cultural policy-making. Notably, Peyman Jebelli, an alumnus of the university, was appointed as the head of IRIB by the supreme leader
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Ahmadinejad's administration (2005-2013) Following
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory in the
2005 presidential election, Imam Sadiq University alumni, known as Imam Sadiqis, significantly expanded their presence within the Iranian government. This broader integration is largely attributed to the extensive and coordinated campaign efforts by Imam Sadiq students nationwide. It was the only university that postponed its end-of-term exams for more than a week. This allowed students to travel voluntarily and at their own expense to the farthest parts of the country for campaign efforts on behalf of Ahmadinejad. Consequently, the incoming administration welcomed these university graduates into prominent positions across different sectors. Statement of Salehabadi, the head of the Securities and Exchange Organization, alongside Individuals like Zahedi Vafa, the senior deputy of the Minister of Economy, Mojtaba Kabari, the CEO of
Pasargad Bank, Khodam, his deputy, Ghasemi, the CEO of Kerman Cement Investment, Ameri, the CEO of Industrial Investment Insurance Company, Abdulrahimian, the Investment Manager of
Saipa Investment, and several managers from the Securities and Exchange Organization and regional stock exchange managers are other examples. The most notable among them was
Saeed Jalili, an alumnus, who was named the secretary of the
Supreme National Security Council and served as Ahmadinejad's principal negotiator on
nuclear issues.
Rouhani's administration (2013-2021) Upon
Hassan Rouhani's ascension to the presidency in
2013, his government prioritized the recruitment of alumni from international universities and technocrats without explicit ideological affiliations. However, this approach did not entirely exclude graduates from Imam Sadiq University. For example, Rouhani appointed
Hesamoddin Ashna, a communications professor at Imam Sadiq, as his advisor. Nonetheless, Ashna was later compelled to resign following controversial disclosures from an interview leak involving
Mohammad Javad Zarif, the then-
foreign minister, who critiqued Ashna for his involvement in military political interventions.
Raisi's administration (2021-2024) Raisi's victory in the
2021 presidential election, attributed to his uncontested candidacy due to the clerical establishment's sidelining of significant rivals, has led him to emphasize the selection of "revolutionary" personnel for his administration. This approach has effectively allowed Imam Sadiq University to play a significant role in verifying such revolutionary credentials for cabinet positions. Within Raisi's team, two young ministers,
Ehsan Khandouzi of finance and economic affairs, and
Hojjatollah Abdolmaleki of cooperatives, labor, and social welfare, hail from Imam Sadiq University. Both ministers, who graduated before the ideological shifts of the 2000s, with Abdolmaleki embracing more dogmatic stances. Additionally,
Meysam Latifi, a faculty member known for his scholarly yet stringent views from the same university, was appointed to lead the Administrative and Recruitment Affairs Organization, poised to further recruit Imam Sadiq alumni. Raisi also appointed
Gholam Hossein Esmaili, an ally and Imam Sadiq alumnus, as his chief of staff, alongside
Mohammad Hosseini, a former culture minister under
Ahmadinejad and now vice president for parliamentary affairs.
Ali Bagheri, another Imam Sadiq graduate with a history in
nuclear negotiations and known for his staunch positions, now serves as a deputy foreign minister and a senior nuclear negotiator. While the influence of Imam Sadiq graduates in Raisi's administration is undeniable, the outcomes of nuclear negotiations and the fulfillment of Raisi's electoral promises will also be shaped by other significant factors and decision-making bodies. While Imam Sadiq alumni enjoy a special rapport with the
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the
Supreme Leader's office, some of the younger graduates in the current administration are viewed not just as conservatives based on their academic achievements but as radical revolutionaries, unyielding in their convictions. == Notable alumni ==