Iran Vocab

Theocracy

A system of government in which priests rule in the name of God.

Supreme Leader

The highest-ranking political and religious authority in Iran.

Guardian Council

A body that oversees elections and ensures laws conform to Islamic law.

Expediency Council

An advisory body that mediates disputes between the Guardian Council and the Majles.

Majles

The Iranian parliament responsible for making laws.

Assembly of Religious Experts

A body of clerics tasked with selecting and overseeing the Supreme Leader.

Basij

A paramilitary force in Iran that is part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard.

Shia Islam

The branch of Islam that recognizes Ali as the rightful successor to Muhammad.

Zoroastrian

An ancient pre-Islamic religion of Iran that worships Ahura Mazda.

Ba'hai

A religion that emphasizes the spiritual unity of all humankind.

Farsi

The Persian language spoken in Iran.

Kurds

An ethnic group in the Middle East, primarily inhabiting parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

Azeri

An ethnic group primarily found in Azerbaijan and northwest Iran.

White Revolution (1953)

A series of reforms launched by the Shah to modernize Iran.

Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979)

The overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and establishment of an Islamic Republic.

Velyat-e Faqih

A concept in Shia Islam that allows a jurist to govern on behalf of the infallible Imam.

Marja

A high-ranking cleric in Shia Islam whose opinions are followed by the faithful.

Bonyads

Religious foundations in Iran that control significant economic resources.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard

A branch of the Iranian armed forces that is independent of Iran's regular army, established to safeguard the Islamic republic, has since become Iran's dominant military force.

"Dual Rule"

A political system in Iran where power is shared between elected officials and religious leaders.

Ayatollah Khamenei

The current Supreme Leader of Iran.

OPEC

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, which coordinates oil production policies.

Revolutionary Guard

A branch of the Iranian armed forces that is independent of Iran's regular army, established to safeguard the Islamic republic, has since become Iran's dominant military force.

Rentier state

A state that derives a significant portion of its revenue from the rent of its natural resources.

Multimember district

An electoral district that elects multiple representatives.

Shah

The title of the monarch of Iran before the 1979 revolution.

Unitary

A system of governance where power is centralized in a single national government.

Separation of Power

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches.

Checks and Balance

A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful.

Brain drain

The emigration of highly trained or qualified people from a particular country.

Welfare state

A government that provides for the social and economic well-being of its citizens.