Iran AP Comp Reivew

Overview of the Revolution
- Occurred in 1979; demonstrators overthrew pro-western Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.
- Resulted in the establishment of an Islamic fundamentalist government under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.
Post-Revolution Events
- Shah Pahlavi granted asylum in the U.S. by President Carter due to terminal cancer.
- Iranian revolutionaries seized the U.S. embassy, taking 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.
- Hostages released in January 1981, shortly after President Reagan's inauguration.
- Resulted in political and economic sanctions against Iran due to the hostage crisis and terrorism.

Government Structure
- Unit of theocracy and democracy within a unitary state.
- Theocratic Institutions:
  - Supreme Leader
  - Guardian Council
  - Expediency Council
- Democratic Institutions:
  - Assembly of Religious Experts
  - Majles (Parliament)
  - President
Authoritarian Regime Characteristics
- Requires Shia Islam adherence for both Supreme Leader and President.
- Supreme Leader holds immense control despite national elections.

Supreme Leader
- Appointed for life by the Assembly of Religious Experts.
- Sets political agenda, acts as commander-in-chief, appoints key government officials.
- Ali Khamenei is the current Supreme Leader.
President
- Directly elected every 4 years; can serve two terms.
- Requires majority vote or runoff between top candidates.
- Current President: Hassan Rouhani.
- President oversees civil service and foreign policy and can be removed by legislature and Supreme Leader.

Parliament Structure
- Unicameral with two parts: Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles) and Guardian Council.
Majles Responsibilities
- Approve legislation, oversee budget, confirm presidential nominees.
- Acts under the supervision of the Guardian Council for compliance with Islam.
Guardian Council's Role
- Vets candidates for political office and ensures compliance with Sharia law.
- Comprised of 12 members, with half appointed by the Supreme Leader and the other half by the Chief Judge.
Expediency Council
- Created to mediate disputes between the Majles and Guardian Council, consisting of 32 influential members.

Assembly of Religious Experts
- Composed of Islamic jurists responsible for supervising the Supreme Leader; considered powerful and meets biannually.
- Candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council.
Judicial System
- The judiciary is constitutionally independent but often used politically.
- Judges trained in Sharia Law, with Revolutionary Courts handling serious crimes, while civil courts address lesser matters.
- Chief Judge, appointed by the Supreme Leader, oversees the judiciary.

Party Landscape
- No formal political parties due to the authoritarian system.
- Divided mainly between Conservatives and Reformers:
  - Reformers: Push for secularization, democratic freedoms, and better relations with the West.
  - Conservatives: Uphold Sharia law and traditional government practices.
- Guardian Council banned many reformist candidates after 2000 elections, leading to conservative control until 2016.

Media Restrictions
- Laws against government criticism; private media exists but heavily monitored and restricted.
- Use of social media platforms banned; government controls major radio and television broadcasting.
Protests
- Banned since 1979; however, protests still occur, often centered on economic issues.
- 2009’s Green Movement sought democratization and was highly suppressed.

Religious Divisions
- Predominantly Muslim (99%), with minority religions facing a threatening atmosphere.
- Within Islam: Shia (90%) vs. Sunni (10%); differing beliefs about leadership.

Ethnic Composition
- Majority: Persians; minorities include Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and others.
- Languages: Persian most spoken, followed by Kurdish and Turkish among Azerbaijanis.

Population and Literacy
- Approximately 82.8 million; literacy at 90%.
- Urban population exceeds 75%; dramatic growth post-revolution but a decline in birth rates recently.

Economic Structure
- Mixed economy reliant on petroleum; oil dominates export earnings.
- Large-scale industries are state-owned as per the constitution.
- Current issues: high unemployment (~25%) and inflation (22%).
- GNP is the highest in the Middle East but low per capita due to population size.

Domestic and Bureaucratic Structure
- Bureaucracy expanded post-revolution; often dominated by religious elites.
- Key organizations include Culture and Islamic Guidance, Intelligence, and Heavy Industry.
- Bonyads: Para-governmental charities that significantly contribute to the economy.

Iran Nuclear Agreement
- JCPOA (2015) aimed to limit nuclear development in exchange for sanctions relief.
- Withdrawal by the U.S. in 2018 under President Trump; Iran began non-compliance thereafter.
- Future negotiations under President Biden remain uncertain.

OPEC Membership
- Iran is part of OPEC, influencing oil production decisions regionally and globally.
UN and IMF Membership
- Member of the UN and IMF, but not WTO or World Bank.

Green Movement
- Arisen post-2009 elections for political reform; faced severe suppression from the government.
Gender Inequality
- Ranked 118th in gender inequality; women faced increased restrictions post-revolution, including mandatory hijab and restrictions on public attendance at events.