Untitled Flashcards Set

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

President of Iran from 2005–2013; known for conservative views, nuclear ambitions, and crackdown on protests.

Assembly of Experts

A group of clerics that chooses and can remove the Supreme Leader.

Ayatollah

High-ranking Shiite religious leader with strong influence in Iran's politics and religion.

Bonyads

Charitable foundations that hold lots of wealth and power after the 1979 revolution.

Conservative

Supports strict Islamic rule and keeping clerics in charge of the government.

Cultural Revolution

Campaign after 1979 to remove Western and secular ideas from universities and culture.

Expediency Council

Appointed group that resolves disagreements between the Majlis and Guardian Council.

Farsi

The official language of Iran.

Green Movement

A protest movement in 2009 after claims of election fraud; wanted political reform.

Guardian Council

A powerful group that approves election candidates and reviews laws to match Islamic principles.

Hostage Crisis of 1979–1980

Iranian students took over the U.S. embassy and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Iran-Iraq War

Brutal war from 1980–1988; united Iran but caused major destruction.

Islamic Revolution of 1979

Overthrew the Shah and replaced the monarchy with a theocracy under Khomeini.

JCPOA

2015 deal where Iran limited its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Ali Khamenei

Current Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989; most powerful figure in the country.

Ruhollah Khomeini

Leader of the 1979 revolution and first Supreme Leader of Iran.

Koran

The holy book of Islam; the main source of Iran’s religious laws.

Majlis

Iran’s elected parliament; it passes laws but is limited by unelected powers.

Mohammad Mosaddeq

Prime minister removed in 1953 after nationalizing oil; overthrown in Operation Ajax.

National Front

Mosaddeq’s political party; wanted democracy and national control of resources.

Operation Ajax

1953 U.S.-backed coup that removed Mosaddeq and restored the Shah.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

The last Shah of Iran; overthrown during the 1979 revolution.

Persia

Iran’s name before 1935; still used to refer to Iranian culture and identity.

Reformist

Wants more democracy, freedom, and openness in Iran’s political system.

Rentier state

Country that relies mainly on selling oil for income, like Iran.

Resurgence Party

A pro-Shah political party before 1979; forced people to join, causing resentment.

Revolutionary Guard

A powerful military group created to protect the Islamic regime; it has a lot of control today.

Hassan Rouhani

President from 2013 to 2021; moderate leader who supported the nuclear deal.

Shah

Title for Iran’s monarch; ended after the 1979 revolution.

Sharia

Islamic religious law used in Iran’s courts and legal system.

Shia (Shiism)

Branch of Islam that believes leadership should stay in the Prophet’s family; dominant in Iran.

Supreme Leader

Highest authority in Iran; controls the military, courts, media, and major decisions.

Tehran

Capital city of Iran; center of government and protests.

Tehran Spring

Period of political openness during President Khatami’s time in office.

Theocracy

Government run by religious leaders; describes Iran’s system since 1979.

Tudeh Party

Communist party in Iran that supported Mosaddeq but was banned later.

Velayat-e faqih

The idea that Islamic clerics should lead the country; the basis of Iran’s current system.

White Revolution

The Shah’s modernization plan in the 1960s included land reform and women’s rights.