compgov iran

Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

was a pivotal Iranian pragmatic conservative politician and cleric who served as the fourth President of Iran from 1989 to 1997. He is best known in the curriculum for guiding Iran through post-war reconstruction, championing free-market economic reforms, and attempting to re-integrate Iran into the international community following the 1979 revolution.

Ali Khamenei

is the second and current Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–present), serving as the highest political and religious authority in Iran’s theocratic-republican hybrid system. He holds ultimate power, commanding the armed forces, directing key policies, and appointing top officials.

Ashura

is defined as a major religious and political day of mourning observed by Shia Muslims on the 10th day of Muharram (the first month of the Islamic lunar calendar).

Assembly of Experts

is the deliberative body of Iran empowered to appoint, supervise, and discharge the Supreme Leader of Iran. The assembly consists of 88 members who are directly elected by the public to serve eight-year terms, and all candidates must be vetted by the Guardian Council.

Ayatollah Khomeini

was the charismatic religious leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution who overthrew the Shah, establishing Iran as an Islamic Republic. As the first Supreme Leader, he solidified theocratic rule through the concept of Velayat-e Faqih (Jurist’s Guardianship), blending Shia clerical authority with modern state institutions.

Ayatollahs

a high-ranking Shiite cleric in Iran regarded as an authority on Islamic law and its interpretation. They wield immense political and religious authority within Iran’s theocratic system, with senior figures holding power as Supreme Leader or in the Assembly of Experts.

chief justice

The highest-ranking judicial official in the country and is responsible for overseeing and managing the entire judiciary system. They are appointed by the Supreme Leader and serve a fixed term.

Constitutional Revolutions

a pivotal movement that introduced democracy, a written constitution, and the first parliament (Majles) to the nation, restricting the shah's authority. It was a constitutional shift driven by intellectuals, merchants, and clergy against authoritarianism, setting the foundation for Iran's modern political development.

Expediency Council

an 88-member, popularly elected deliberative body of top-ranking Islamic theologians in Iran responsible for appointing, supervising, and potentially removing the Supreme Leader.

Farsi

The national and official language of Iran, serving as a pillar of Persian cultural identity and a key aspect of Iranian nationality in a country that is mostly Shia Muslim but ethnically diverse.

Guardian council

This is the most powerful theological body in Iran. It consists of 12 members 6 clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader and 6 judges appointed by the Majlis. The importance of them is they have to approve all candidates and all legislation.

Hassan Rouhani

(president 2013–2021) was a moderate/pragmatic conservative president of Iran, representing a shift toward reformist policies, diplomatic engagement with the West, and economic liberalization. As head of government, he was best known for negotiating the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal, aimed at easing international sanctions.

Imams

refer to religious leaders who lead prayers, provide spiritual guidance, and in the Iranian theocracy, represent key figures of religious and political authority appointed by the Supreme Leader

Iran-Iraq War

a brutal eight-year conflict, initiated by Iraq's invasion, largely aimed at stopping the spread of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution and securing territorial gains

Islamic Republic of Iran

a unique hybrid, authoritarian, and unitary theocracy established in 1979 that combines elements of popular sovereignty (elected president/parliament) with strict oversight by unelected Shiite religious authorities. The system is based on velayat-e faqih (jurist's guardianship), giving supreme authority to a religious leader.

Islamism

is a political ideology that seeks to implement Islamic principles and laws in government and society. It often emphasizes the belief that Islam should guide all aspects of life, including politics, law, and education, aiming to create a state governed by Islamic law or Sharia. 

Koran: (Quran)

is defined as the central holy book of Islam and a primary source of law and legitimacy for the Islamic Republic of Iran. As a foundational document for Iran’s theocratic structure, it justifies the concept of velayat-e faqih (jurist’s guardianship), placing ultimate political authority in the hands of Shiite clerics.

Mahdi: (the "Guided One")

is a messianic figure in Shia Islam, believing to be the final imam who will return to restore justice and peace, serving as a key element of ideological legitimacy in Iran's theocratic system, particularly within the doctrine of the Islamic Republic as guided by the Supreme Leader

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

was a conservative, populist Iranian politician who shifted Iran toward a more authoritarian, hardline stance. He restricted civil liberties, intensifying the nuclear program, and sparking massive protests following his disputed 2009 reelection, highlighting the limits of political participation.

Majlis

Iran's unicameral parliament, consisting of 290 directly elected members serving 4-year terms. "Represents the nation" enacts ordinary laws (not sharia) investigates and supervises affairs of state, approves or removes cabinet members, appoints half the members of the Guardian Council from a list presented by the chief judge, can approve budgets, foreign loans, treaties

Mohammad Khatami

(president 1997–2005) was Iran’s first reformist president, elected on a platform of rule of law, civil society, and "dialogue among civilizations" with the West. His tenure aimed to liberalize politics and reform the theocracy but was restricted by hardliners, particularly the Council of Guardians.

Mohammad Mosaddeq

Iranian politician who served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1951 until his overthrow in 1953. He is best known for nationalizing the Iranian oil industry, which had been controlled by foreign companies, particularly British interests, and his actions played a significant role in shaping Iran's modern political landscape and its relationship with oil production and international powers.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

(ruled 1941–1979) was the final Shah (monarch) of Iran's Pahlavi dynasty, known for his autocratic rule, rapid Westernization efforts (White Revolution), and strong alignment with the U.S.. His modernization policies and reliance on the SAVAK secret police led to significant opposition, culminating in the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Muhammad

The founder of Islam, born in Mecca around 570 CE/ Muhammad is considered the prophet through whom God (Allah) revealed the Quran. His leadership united Arabian tribes under Islam and established a religious and political community.

National Front

is Iran's oldest, secular-liberal opposition organization, founded in 1949 by Mohammad Mosaddegh to promote nationalism, democracy, and the nationalization of oil. It served as an umbrella coalition for anti-colonial forces and aimed to limit the Shah's powers in favor of a constitutional government.

Operation Ajax

was a covert operation conducted by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the British Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) in August 1953 to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh.

Persia

A historical region corresponding roughly to modern-day Iran. Persia was home to several influential empires, like the Achaemenid Empire, the Sassanid Empire and later Islamic dynasties. 

President

The head of government, responsible for implementing the constitution, managing the economy, and overseeing daily administration. While directly elected to four-year terms (max two), candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council. The president holds limited power over foreign policy or military matters, which are controlled by the Supreme Leader

Principalists

a conservative, right-wing political faction in post-revolutionary Iran that advocates strictly upholding the ideological, religious, and political principles of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. They support supreme leadership, prioritize Islamic social principles, and are often seen as "hardliners" favoring domestic preservation.

Quietist

a traditional Shi'a Islamic viewpoint that rejects theocracy and the direct involvement of religious leaders in state governance. Instead of seeking political power, quietist clerics focus on religious study, piety, and spiritual leadership, holding that religious authorities should remain separate from the daily administration of the state.

Revolutionary Guard

is a major branch of the Iranian Armed Forces established after the 1979 Revolution. Unlike the regular Iranian Army (Artesh), which protects Iran's borders, the IRGC's primary mandate is to protect the Islamic Republic's political system and ensure the integrity of the revolution.

Reza Shah Pahlavi

(ruled 1925–1941) was the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty in Iran, a military officer who seized power to establish an authoritarian, secular, and centralizing state. He modernised Iran by building infrastructure, reducing clerical power, and promoting Westernization before abdicating in favor of his son during WWII

SAVAK

was the secret police, domestic security, and intelligence service of the Imperial State of Iran from 1957 to 1979. It was established by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi with significant assistance from the United States (CIA) and Israel (Mossad) to protect the Pahlavi regime.

Second Khordad Front

Coalition of reformist political parties and groups in Iran that emerged in the late 1990s to support the agenda of President Mohammad Khatami. The coalition advocated for democratic change, improved feminine rights, increased civil liberties, the rule of law, and improved international relations.

Sharia

body of Islamic law that includes interpretation of the Quran and applies Islamic principles to everyday life. It acts as the supreme legal foundation of the Islamic Republic. 

Shiism

the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs. Is the official state religion and a foundational pillar of the Islamic Republic’s political legitimacy, culture, and legal system. Roughly 90–95% of Iranians are Shia, making it a critical source of political unity and control.

Supreme leader

Iran's highest-ranking political and religious authority, serving as head of state, holds ultimate authority over all branches of government and serves as both the highest political and religious figure in the country.

Theocracy

A government controlled by religious leaders.

Ummah

The community of believers or the "Islamic community”

Velayat-e faqih

"The Guardianship of the Jurist"; the foundational political doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran, established by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini after the 1979 Revolution. It argues that in the absence of the "Infallible Imam" (a Shi'a belief), the state should be governed by a leading Islamic jurist (faqih) who is an expert in Islamic law (Sharia).

White Revolution

in 1962, the Shah's attempt to quiet the people from rebelling for economic and political reform, created land reform, profit, sharing, literacy corp instead of army and women's right to vote