Abdulali Ali-Asgari

Before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ali-Asgari was a follower of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He was arrested for his political activities by the previous government's secret police and was in prison until the final days of the revolution. He held important posts within the Islamic Republic after the revolution, including adviser for the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and heading the IRIB college.

When Mohammad Sarafraz was appointed as head of IRIB in November 2014, Ali-Asgari was reportedly on the short list of potential candidates. Ali-Asgari immediately clashed with Sarafraz, and according to Iranian media, was either let go or resigned. The head of Iran's judiciary, Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, appointed Ali-Asgari as an adviser.

Ali-Asgari was appointed as IRIB head on 11 May 2016, after days of speculation. He will be taking over an institution that has faced numerous challenges and scandals. According to Donya-e-Eqtesad newspaper, some of the controversies include the removal and hiring of new managers who clashed with the old guard and the closure of provincial stations that led to a number of layoffs. The previous IRIB head, Ezatollah Zarghami, held the position from 2004 to 2014, leaving an indelible mark on the organization and the makeup of its staff. Some disagreements and fights became so severe, according to Donya-e-Eqtesad, that the security institutions of the country reportedly became involved.[4]