| Cabinet Name: | First Cabinet of Mousavi |
| Cabinet Number: | 3rd |
| Jurisdiction: | the Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Flag: | Flag_of_Iran.svg |
| Flag Border: | true |
| Date Formed: | 2 November 1981 |
| Date Dissolved: | 28 October 1985 |
| Government Head: | Mir-Hossein Mousavi |
| State Head: | Ruhollah Khomeini |
| Current Number: | --> |
| Political Parties: | |
| Legislature Status: | Majority |
| Advice And Consent5: | --> |
| Predecessor: | Mahdavi-Kani |
| Successor: | Mousavi II |
See also: Confirmations of Mir-Hossein Mousavi's Cabinet.
Before 1989, the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran provided that head of government was the Prime Minister, nominated by the President and approved by the Parliament. The Islamic Republican Party (IRP) which together with its Khomeinist allies had seized power and ousted all opponents, held an uncontested and single-party presidential election in October 1981 and got its candidate Ali Khamenei elected. The party also held the majority in the parliament.
President Ali Khamenei who belonged to the right-wing faction of the IRP, was willing to nominate his like-minded as the head of government.
In Summer 1983 two pro-market ministers, Asgaroladi and Tavakoli, left the cabinet following months of disagreements behind the scenes.On 5 August 1984, Mousavi got a vote of confidence again and proposes a list of ministers to the parliament. Ten days later they were vetted, resulting to rejection of five.