Mohammad Reza Farzin

Mohammad Reza Farzin is an Iranian banker and economist who has served as Governor of the Central Bank of Iran since January 2023. He was appointed by President Ebrahim Raisi and retained in the role by President Masoud Pezeshkian after Raisi's death in May 2024.

Farzin's career spans three decades in Iran's banking sector, including senior positions at Bank Melli Iran and the Bank of Industry and Mine. Notably, he previously served as chairman of the board of Ayandeh Bank.

As Central Bank governor, Farzin has pursued a programme of banking sector consolidation, targeting insolvent and unlicensed financial institutions. His most significant action was the October 2025 dissolution of Ayandeh Bank, whose operating licence he revoked after finding $5.1 billion in accumulated losses, $2.9 billion in overdrafts, and a capital adequacy ratio of negative 600 percent. The bank's assets and deposits were merged into Bank Melli Iran.