Iranian Politics Vocabulary

Flashcards for reviewing key vocabulary terms related to Iranian politics.

Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud

Former president of Iran.

Assembly of Religious Experts

A body of clerics in Iran responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader.

"axis of evil"

Term used by George W. Bush to describe countries, including Iran, that he viewed as sponsors of terrorism.

Ayatollah

A high-ranking Shia cleric.

Baha'i

A religious minority group in Iran.

Basij/morality police

A volunteer paramilitary force in Iran, also functions as morality police.

Bazaaris

Traditional merchants in Iran.

Bonyads/religious endowments

Tax-exempt charities in Iran, many of which are controlled by the state and are major economic players.

Constitution of 1979

The current constitution of Iran, established after the Revolution of 1979.

Cultural Revolution

A period in Iran after the Revolution of 1979 focused on purging Western and non-Islamic influences from Iranian society.

Farsi

The Persian language spoken in Iran.

Faqih

Leading Islamic jurist to interpret the meaning of religious documents and sharia law.

Fundamentalism/Islamism

A movement emphasizing literal interpretation of Islamic texts and a desire to implement Islamic law and values in all aspects of life.

Guardian Council

An advisory council to the Supreme Leader, with the power to veto legislation passed by the Majles.

Head of state, head of government

The Supreme Leader is the head of state, while the President is the head of government.

Hezbollahis

Supporters of Hezbollah, a Shia Islamist political party and militant group based in Lebanon.

Imams

Religious leaders in Shia Islam.

Islamic Iran Participation Front

A reformist political party in Iran.

Jurist's guardianship (velayat-e-faqih)

Principle that senior clerics have the best capacity to rule in a Muslim society.

Khamenei, Ayatollah Ali

The current Supreme Leader of Iran.

Khatami, Muhammad

Former president of Iran known for his reformist policies.

Khomeini, Ayatollah Ruhollah

The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the Revolution of 1979.

Mahsa Amini

The death of this woman while in police custody sparked widespread protests in Iran in 2022.

Majles

The Iranian parliament.

Mosaddeq, Muhammad

Former Prime Minister of Iran who was overthrown in a 1953 coup.

Muhammad Reza Shah

The last Shah of Iran, overthrown in the Revolution of 1979.

National Front

A political organization in Iran.

OPEC

Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Qur'an

The holy book of Islam.

Raisi, Ebrahim

The current president of Iran.

Rentier state

A state that derives a significant portion of its revenue from the export of natural resources, such as oil.

Revolution of 1979

The revolution that overthrew the Shah of Iran and established the Islamic Republic.

Revolutionary Guards

A branch of the Iranian armed forces tasked with defending the Islamic Revolution.

Reza Shah

The founder of the Pahlavi dynasty and the Shah of Iran from 1925 to 1941.

Rouhani, Hassan

Former president of Iran.

Shah

Title of the former monarch of Iran.

Shari'ah Law

Islamic law.

Shiism

The branch of Islam primarily practiced in Iran.

Sunni Muslims

The majority branch of Islam.

Supreme Leader

The highest political and religious authority in Iran.

Theocracy

A system of government in which religious leaders rule in the name of God or a god.

Tudeh

Communist political party in Iran.