Iran

velayat e-faqih translation

guardianship of the jurist

who began velayat e-faqih

Ayatollah Khomeini

how is president chosen

majority two ballot runoff, elected to a four year term

president’s powers

head of government, day-to-day legislation, economic policy, cabinet oversight

how many members in the Majles

290

method of Majles selection

SMD/MMD popular vote, with 207 districts

how are Majles elections overseen?

the Guardian Council vets candidates

how are Majles powers limited?

clerics limit functioning power

Majles formal powers

pass legislation (subject to SL approval), approve cabinet and GC nominees, investigate executive, implement laws

how many members in Assembly of Experts

88

special requirements for AoE

masters of Islamic law, pass written and oral exams in addition to GC vetting

AoE selection process

elected by popular vote every 8 years from a short list

AoE task/powers

select the SL and monitor his performance

how is the AoE limited in functional power?

they cannot challenge the SL based on policy decisions, only remove him if truly incapacitated

Supreme Leader requirements

senior Shiite religious figure (Ayatollah)

how is the SL chosen?

appointed for life by the AoE

over what does the SL have control?

military, judiciary, key state policies, legislative and executive branches, legal and spiritual guide

about how many people are in the Expediency Council

50

how is the Expediency Council chosen?

the SL appoints all members

role/powers of EC

advisory body to SL, resolves disputes between Majles and GC, rewrite legislation

how many members in Guardian Council?

12

How are GC members chosen?

6 appointed by SL, 6 appointed by judiciary with SL approval

GC powers

government watchdogs, pass or reject every parliamentary law, review any candidate for elected positions (including local councils)

IRGC requirements

members must adhere to strict ideological, physical, and political standards

from where is the IRGD most commonly recruited?

urban lower and middle classes

IRGC powers

morality police (Basij), economic power, support proxy militant groups, protect the regime

Which institution is formally labeled “terrorist” by the US?

IRGC

rentier state

a country that derives all or a substantial portion of its national revenue from renting indigenous natural resources to external clients

Ideological factions

reformists, moderates, conservatives

Which major US-Iran relations event most dramatically increased ultra-conservative sentiment?

Axis of Evil speech

event that sparked Green Movement

disputed 2009 election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

government response to Green Movement

crackdown, arrests, violent suppression, detention of leaders

major sources of division in Iran

ethnicity, religion, and gender

What is the most popular religion in Iran?

Shia Islam

What is the dominant ethnic group in Iran?

61% Persian

type of government (like what type of authoritarian)

theocracy with democratic elements/institutions

federal or unitary system?

unitary

Iran’s capital

Tehran

current president

Masoud Pezeshkian

current (ish) Supreme Leader

Mojtaba Khamenei

When was the curren constitution ratified?

1979

What is the significance of 40-45% of the population being under 30?

youth most often leads the way to change

Who is currently ruling Iran, amid Khamenei’s apparent absence?

the IRGC and an interim council

Why was the GC so significant during President Khatami’s Reformist Movement?

their veto power ensured that reformist legislation could not pass

How have reformist leaders been restricted since circa 2004?

Khatami was not allowed to run for president again, and he was restricted from speaking in public

Reformists’ goal 1997-2004

democratic institutions gain power, not regime change

Even though a majority of the country is not fiercely loyal to the regime, they haven’t overthrown the government. Why?

the people who are loyal are fiercely loyal, but those who disagree are not willing to continue to die for the cause (understandably)

common human rights abuses in Iran

persecution of Baha’i minority, critics of regime labeled as terrorists, unlawful detention, spyware, online intimidation, denial of fair judiciary proceedings

Women are allowed to go to universities, and they actually have a higher enrollment rate than men. How are they still restricted within education?

they are barred from certain “difficult” majors, such as biology and engineering

what is the Basij?

a voluntary paramilitary force that serves as morality police

what do Shiite Muslims believe about religious authority heritage?

major authorities must be descendants of Imam Ali, the Prophet’s son-in-law

How is the Baha’i minority persecuted?

forced leave from homes, vandalism, confiscation of land, bulldozing graves of ancestors, detentions

What is a major reason that Iran and the Taliban are enemies?

disagree on versions of Islam

What waterway near Iran is very strategic for trade?

Persian Gulf

What ideological difference exists between the youth and older generations (broadly, though not always applicable)?

the youth do not feel connected to the 1979 Islamic Revolution

How are the youth in China and Iran similar?

they are well educated and hold high expectations

What are sanctions?

economic blockades (ususally in retaliation) that freeze assets and control imports/exports

Why does the Iranian economy struggle tremendously, especially recently?

sanctions

What is the concept of “brain drain” in connection to demographics?

well educated people leave the country

How has the birth rate changed since the revolution?

birth rates were especially high during revolutionary times but since have dropped

How do fertility/birth rates affect older populations?

fewer people are paying for welfare

In the 1953 coup by the CIA and MI6, which leader was overthrown?

Prime Minister Mossadegh

Why did the overthrow of the PM in 1953 lead to mistrust and feelings of betrayal?

the PM was a democratic leader and legitimacy had been decreased

In what ways did the US corruptly bring the Shah into power of the overthrow in 1953?

paid people to protest Mossadegh, planted fake news, bribed people in favor of the Shah

The US claimed that their overthrow of the PM was partially because of his communist control of the oil industry. How is this ironic and hypocritical?

the US also had a nationalized oil industry

Who did the US support in the Iran Iraq War (1980-88)?

Iraq

JCPOA un-acronymed

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

terms of JCPOA

Iran agreed to reduce 90% of nuclear centrifuges and uranium enrichment in return for the US lifting sanctions gradually

Why did the US pull out of the JCPOA in 2018?

it didn’t feel fair to merely delay nuclear weapon development