Iran Vocab

  • Supreme Leader: The highest-ranking political and religious authority in Iran, responsible for overseeing the government and guiding its policies according to Islamic principles.

  • Guardian Council: A body that ensures legislation passed by the Majles is compatible with Islam and the constitution, consisting of appointed clerics and jurists.

  • Expediency Council: A council that resolves conflicts between the Guardian Council and the Majles, serving as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader.

  • Majles: The Islamic Consultative Assembly, which is the national legislative body of Iran, responsible for making laws and representing the public.

  • Assembly of Religious Experts: An elected body that is charged with selecting the Supreme Leader and overseeing his activities.

  • Bonyads: Parastatal foundations in Iran that control significant sectors of the economy, often exempt from taxation and operating with considerable autonomy.

  • Basij: A paramilitary organization in Iran that is part of the Revolutionary Guard, focused on mobilizing the public and promoting Islamic values.

  • Theocracy: A system of government in which priests or religious leaders hold political power, and laws are based on religious principles.

  • Shi'a: A branch of Islam that constitutes the majority in Iran, characterized by its distinct beliefs and practices, including the importance of the imamate.

  • Sunni: The largest branch of Islam, which differs from Shi'a in beliefs about leadership and the rightful successors to the Prophet Muhammad.

  • Sharia Law: Islamic legal framework derived from the Quran and Hadith, covering all aspects of a Muslim's life, including moral and legal issues.

  • Revolutionary Guard: An elite military force in Iran that protects the Islamic Republic's political system and values, playing a significant role in both foreign and domestic policies.

  • Iran Nuclear Deal: An agreement (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) reached in 2015 aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

  • Clerics: Islamic scholars and leaders who are responsible for interpreting religious texts and leading religious ceremonies in the Shi'a tradition.

  • Reform vs. Conservatives: A political divide in Iran, where reformists advocate for change and modernization, while conservatives seek to uphold traditional values and resist significant changes.

  • Rentier State: A term used to describe a state that derives a substantial portion of its revenue from rent, typically from natural resources such as oil, without fostering broad economic development.

  • OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries): An intergovernmental organization of oil-producing countries that coordinates and unifies petroleum policies among member countries to ensure stable prices and oil supply.

  • 1979 Revolution: The Iranian Revolution that resulted in the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of the Islamic Republic under the leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini.

  • Green Movement: A political movement that emerged after the 2009 presidential elections in Iran, advocating for electoral reform and government accountability.

  • “Equality with a difference.”: A phrase used to describe the Iranian regime's approach to gender equality, promoting the notion that women have equal rights but with distinct roles defined by Islamic principles.

  • Jurist's Guardianship (Wilayat al-Faqih): A doctrine in Shi'a Islam that asserts the political authority of the Islamic jurist as a representative of the infallible imam during the absence of the imam, forming the basis for the governance structure in Iran.