Vocab: Iran

  • Theocracy – A government ruled by religious leaders.

  • Supreme Leader – The highest authority in Iran, holding ultimate political and religious power.

  • Guardian Council – A body that oversees elections and laws in Iran, ensuring they align with Islamic principles.

  • Expediency Council – A council that resolves disputes between Iran’s Majles and Guardian Council.

  • Majles – Iran’s parliament, responsible for making laws.

  • Assembly of Religious Experts – A body that selects and can remove the Supreme Leader.

  • Basij – A volunteer militia in Iran, part of the Revolutionary Guard.

  • Shia Islam – A major branch of Islam, dominant in Iran, that believes leadership should stay within the Prophet Muhammad’s family.

  • Zoroastrian – An ancient Persian religion based on the teachings of Zoroaster.

  • Baha’i – A religious faith that originated in Persia, emphasizing unity and peace.

  • Farsi – The Persian language spoken in Iran.

  • Kurds – An ethnic group in Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey.

  • Azeri – A Turkic ethnic group in Iran and Azerbaijan.

  • White Revolution (1953) – A series of reforms by the Shah of Iran to modernize the country.

  • Islamic Revolution of Iran (1979) – The overthrow of the Shah and establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini.

  • Velyat-e Faqih (Jurist’s Guardianship) – The principle that a senior Islamic cleric should rule in the absence of the Imam.

  • Marja – A high-ranking Shia religious leader with authority over legal and religious matters.

  • Bonyads – Charitable foundations in Iran, often linked to the government.

  • Islamic Revolutionary Guard – A military force that protects Iran’s Islamic system and has significant political and economic power.

  • “Dual Rule” [Iran specific] – The power-sharing system between religious and elected institutions in Iran.

  • Ayatollah Khamenei – The current Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989.

  • OPEC – The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, which regulates oil production and prices.

  • Revolutionary Guard [Iran] – Another name for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

  • Rentier State – A country that relies on revenue from natural resources, like oil, rather than taxes.

  • Multimember District – An electoral district that elects multiple representatives.

  • Shah – The Persian word for "king," used for Iran’s monarch before 1979.

  • Unitary – A government system where power is centralized in one national authority.

  • Separation of Power – The division of government responsibilities into separate branches to prevent abuse of power.

  • Checks and Balances – A system where different branches of government monitor and limit each other’s power.

  • Brain Drain – The emigration of highly educated and skilled individuals to other countries.

  • Welfare State – A government that provides social services like healthcare, education, and financial aid to its citizens.