The Islamic Republic of Iran

Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran

Descriptive Background• Geography

Area: 1.6 million sq. km. (636,294 sq. mi.); slightly larger than Alaska.

Cities: Capital--Tehran. Others: Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz.

Terrain: Desert and mountains.Climate: Semiarid; subtropical -

Caspian

• Resources: oil, natural gas, coal, copper

• Arable land: 9%

Iranian People• Nationality: Iranian(s).

Population (2007 est.): 69 million.Population growth rate (2007): 1.07%.

• Ethnic groups: Persians 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%.Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%; Sunni Muslim 10%; Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%.

• Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%.

•Education: Literacy (total population age 15 and over who can read and write, 2007) 79.4%.

• Health (2003 est.): Infant mortality rate—44.17 deaths/1,000 live births. Life expectancy at birth (2007)--total population: 69.35.Work force (2001): Agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% est. There is a shortage of skilled labor. (State Department Background Notes http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5314.htm )

Economy• GDP (2004 est.): $477.8 billion. (1994 est. $90 billion)

GNP real growth rate (2007 est.): 7.6%. GDP composition by sector (2004): Agriculture 19%, industry 26%, services 55%.

• Per capita income (est.2007): $8,700. (2004 7,000 est) (1994 est 1,500).

• Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, and some mineral deposits.

• Agriculture: Principal products--wheat, rice, other grains, sugarbeets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food.Industry: Types--petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabricating (steel and copper), armaments.

• Trade (2002): Exports--$24.8 billion: petroleum 85%, carpets, fruits, nuts. Imports--$21.8 billion: food, machinery, and semifinished goods. Major markets/suppliers--Germany, Japan, Italy, South Korea.

Shiite and Sunni Islam• Muhammad dies in 632 without designating a

successor

• Followers split into two groups:1) Sunni – believed that the most prominent

members of the community should select the new leader (caliph) on the basis of personal attributes (piety, wisdom, morality, leadership)

2) Shiia – believed leadership should stay in the prophet’s family; believed Muhammad wanted his son-in-law Ali – “Shi’at Ali” – the partisans of Ali

Religious and political origins

• 2,500 years of existence as a state (Persia) • Characterized by struggle between

monotheistic religion and monarchical secular government.

• Persia is never colonized – but is impacted by the west (Romans, Russia, Great Britain)

• The monarchy: Shahinshah – king of kings (The Shah)

Persian Kings

• 400 years of expanding authoritarianism under the monarchy– Safavid dynasty

– Qajar dynasty– Authoritarianism reinforced by Shiism

(respect for learned scholars)

• Islam’s expansion related to regional politics: – Rejects the Sunni branch (Ottoman Empire)

– Turn to Shiia Islam

19th Century transition

• Persia torn by own traditions and growing western pressure – Qajar dynasty weak – pushing secularization

• Domestic response:– Shiites reject secularization– Bazaaris (small businessmen) want to make

more money; reducing outside competition– Secular middle class wants political reform to

“rule of law” if not total democracy

Constitutional Revolution1905-1911

• Promised all things to all people– Firming the legal status of Islam– Strengthening the state– Codifying the legal system

• 1906 King dismissed his Prime Minister creates the Majlis – conflict ensues– Revolution is defeated; a shah comes to power

but controls only part of the country.

• Increases the influence of external powers (Great Britain)

The Final Dynasty• Russian occupation (North); British

occupation (South)

• Rise of Reza Khan – Cossack leader occupies Tehran; supported by British against Russians

• 1925 crowns self Shah; chooses name Pahlavi– Takes power in name of Shiism and

nationalism– Era of modernization

The Revolution• Last Shah (Muhammad Reza Shah):

– alienated Shiite clerics– Tradition of shunning politics ended when Shah

instituted the white revolution and created SAVAK to enforce his rule

• White Revolution (1963)– Effort to modernize country and consolidate Shah

power– Targeted clergy (land redistribution, reduction of

power)– Extended women’s rights

The Revolution• SAVAK (1957)

– Farsi acronym for Intelligence and Security Organization of the Country

– Arrested and tortured dissidents at home and abroad

• Religious community radicalized– Ayatollah Khomeini (ayatollah in 1960)– Argues religion/politics not separable– Obligation to uphold principles in Iran– Arrested by Shah in 1963

The Revolution• Khomeini released in 1964

– “All of Islam is politics”; exiled to Iraq (15 yrs)– Teaching: galvanizes opposition to the Shah

• Unintended consequences of Shah’s reforms:– Land redistribution fails– Unemployed; slums of Tehran– Continues to concentrate power– Alliance with U.S. unpopular; U.S. resident

behavior culturally unacceptable

Khomeini

• 1979 – Revolution – Diverse coalition of revolutionaries too divided to

govern– Political purges followed (executions); rival

movements eliminated– Khomeini’s power solidified:

• 444 day occupation of US embassy by Iranian students

• Iran/Iraq war (1980-1988)– 500,000 killed; stalemate

• Domestic repression increases

Political System

• Theocracy – “rule of the clergy”

• Cleric with title “Supreme Leader”– Ayatollah Ali Hoseini Khamenei

• Clergy rule by divine right

• Centralized administration with 28 provinces– Unitary state – governors appointed by the

interior minister

Executive:Leader of the Islamic Revolution

andCouncil of Guardians

• Ayatollah – leader of the Islamic Revolution• Council -12 members - religious leaders.

– 6 religious members appointed by Ayatollah.– 6 lay members appointed by Majles.

• Ultimate authority in Iranian political system.• Ayatollah appoints highest judicial authorities.• Council certifies competence of candidates for

President and National assembly.

ExecutivePresident

• President and cabinet (Council of Ministers).

• Candidates for both approved by Council of Guardians.

• President popularly elected – 4 year cycle

• President appoints cabinet with approval of Majles (parliament)

Legislature

• Majles 290 seats, 4 year election cycle• Multimember districts, most votes

– Direct, secret ballot

• Legislation must be approved by Council of Guardians – lawyer members review legislation for limited

questions of constitutionality– religious leaders consider legislation for

conformity to Islamic principles.

Judiciary

• Authority vested in the Supreme Court and four member High Council of the Judiciary

• 2 separate groups with overlapping responsibilities and one head.

• Supervise enforcement of all laws and for establishing judicial and legal policies.

The Accidental President: 2005 Election

• Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani– 1997 served two terms as president– Was head of Expediency Council and Assembly

of Experts (currently in this position)

• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (60% in second round)

• Rafsanjani’s defeat seen as repudiation of the generation that came to power with Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1903-1989)

Ahmadinejad

• First non-cleric to win the presidency of the Islamic Republic

• Former mayor of Tehran• Possibly more conservative than the clerics• Appealed to youth/poor view selves as left

behind by the theocracy– ¼ population is under age 15– Median age is 26