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.