Iran

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Iran

Constitution Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad First Vice President Parviz Davoodi Assembly of Experts Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Majlis of Iran (Parliament) Ali Larijani Guardian Council Ahmad Jannati Expediency Council Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani Judicial system of Iran Mahmoud Shahroudi Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili City and Village Councils Military of Iran Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar Ministry of Intelligence and Security Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejehei Ministry of Petroleum of Iran Gholam Hossein Nozari National Iranian Oil Company Agriculture of Iran Mohammad Reza Eskandari Central Bank of Iran Tahmasb Mazaheri Elections Recent: Experts (2006), Local (2006) Legislative (2008) Provinces (ostānhā) Counties (shahrestānhā) Political parties Foreign relations

Other countries · Atlas  Politics Portal view • talk • edit

The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a republic with Islamist ideology. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit (fa علی حسینی خامنه‌ای born 17 July 1939 also known as Ali Khamenei, is an Iranian Azeri politician and cleric The President of Iran is the highest elected official in the Islamic Republic of Iran, second only to the Supreme Leader. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (محمود احمدی‌نژاد; born October 28, 1956) is the sixth and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Vice President of Iran is defined by article 124 of the Iranian constitution, as anyone appointed by the President to lead an organization related to the Presidential Parviz Davoodi (پرويز داوودي Parviz Dâvudi) (born 1952 in Tehran) is the current First Vice President of Iran (since September 11 The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian:اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī) Hashemi Bahramani The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit Ali Ardashir Larijani (علی اردشیر لاریجانی born 1958 is an Iranian philosopher politician and the chairman/speaker of the Iranian parliament. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Massah ( born 1926 in Esfahan) is an Iranian Ayatollah and political figure. The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Constitution Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian:اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī) Hashemi Bahramani A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Ali Akbar Davar and some of his contemporaries such as Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi (آیت‌الله سید محمود هاشمی شاهرودی (Born 1948 in Najaf, Iraq) is an Iranian Supreme National Security Council (شورای عالی امنیت ملی is the National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the current secretary of Saeed Jalili, also spelled as Said Jalilee, Said Jalili and Saiid Jalili ( born 1965 in Mashhad) is an Iranian politician and the City and Village Councils (full title is Provincial City District and Village Councils are local councils which are elected by public vote in all cities and villages throughout The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی Mostafa Mohammad Najjar ( is the defense minister of Iran. At 49 he is a veteran of the Revolutionary Guards since the establishment of the body in 1980 where he The Ministry of Intelligence and National Security ( Persian: وزارت اطلاعات و امنیت کشور Vezarat-e Ettela'at va Amniat-e Keshvar) is the Hojjatol-Islam Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie (born in the Isfahan province circa 1956) is the current head of the Ministry of Intelligence in Iran The Iranian constitution prohibits the granting of petroleum rights on a concessionary basis or direct equity stake Gholam Hossein Nozari is the present Minister of Petroleum (or Oil Minister) of Iran. The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC under the direction of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, is an Oil and Natural gas producer and distributor headquartered Roughly one-third of Iran 's total surface area is suited for farmland but because of poor soil and lack of adequate water distribution in many areas most of it is not under cultivation Mohammad Reza Eskandari is the Minister of Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran) is the Central bank Iran elects on national level a Head of government (the president) a Legislature (the Majlis) and an " Assembly of Experts " (which The Iranian Assembly of Experts election of 2006 was held on December 15, 2006. The Iranian City and Village Councils election of 2006 took place on December 15, 2006. Legislative elections for Majlis of Iran were held on 14 March 2008, with a second round held on 25 April 2008. Iran is subdivided into thirty provinces ( Persian: استان ostān, plural استان‌ها ostānhā) each governed from a local center The provinces of Iran further subdivided into counties called shahrestan ( Persian: شهرستان shahrestān) an area inside an ostan List of political parties in Iran Political parties in Iran gives information on the political parties in Iran. Foreign relations of Iran refers to inter-governmental connections between Iran and other countries Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent A republic is a State or Country that is not led by a hereditary Monarch, but in which the people (or at least a part of its people have impact on its Islamism ( Islam + ism; Arabic: al-'islāmiyya) a set of ideologies holding that Islam is not only The December 1979 constitution, and its 1989 amendment, define the political, economic, and social order of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. It declares that Shi'a Islam of the Jaafari (Usuli) school of thought is Iran's official religion. See also Shi'a Islam Twelver Shi'ism ( ar اثنا عشرية Ithnāˤashariyyah) is the largest branch of Shi'a branch of Islam Usulis ( are the majority Twelver Shi'a Muslim group They differ from their now much smaller rival Akhbari group in favoring the use of

Political conditions

As in almost all revolutions, the early days of the regime were characterized by political turmoil. In November 1979 the American embassy was seized and its occupants taken hostage and kept captive for 444 days. The Iran hostage crisis ( Persian: تصرف سفارت آمریکا was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States where 52 The eight year Iran-Iraq War killed hundreds of thousands and cost many billions. By mid-1982, a succession of power struggles eliminated first the center of the political spectrum and then the leftists^[1][2][3] leaving the Ayatollah Khomeini and his supporters in power. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar)

Iran's post-revolution challenges have included the imposition of economic sanctions and suspension of diplomatic relations with Iran by the United States because of the hostage crisis and other acts of terrorism that the U. This article outlines economic trade scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U The United States of America —commonly referred to as the S. government and some others have accused Iran of sponsoring. Emigration has cost Iran "two to four million entrepreneurs, professionals, technicians, and skilled craftspeople (and their capital). " ^{[4] [5]} For this and other reasons Iran's economy has not prospered. Poverty rose in absolute terms by nearly 45% during the first 6 years of the Islamic revolution ^[6] and per capita income has yet to reach pre-revolutionary levels. ^[7][8]

The Islamic Republic Party was Iran's ruling political party and for some year its only political party until its dissolution in 1987. The Islamic Republican Party (حزب جمهوری اسلامی or IRP was a Political party in Iran, formed in mid- 1979 to assist the Iranian Revolution Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Iran had no functioning political parties until the Executives of Construction Party formed in 1994 to run for the fifth parliamentary elections, mainly out of executive body of the government close to the then-president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani. The Executives of Construction Party ( Hezb-e Kaargozaaraan-e Saazandegi, حزب کارگزاران سازندگی is a Political party in Iran, founded Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian:اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī) Hashemi Bahramani After the election of Mohammad Khatami in 1997, more parties started to work, mostly of the reformist movement and opposed by hard-liners. Seyyed Mohammad Khātamī ( سید محمد خاتمی, pronounced xɑːtæmiː}} (born September 29, 1943, in Ardakan, Yazd Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Socialist Reformism is the belief that gradual democratic changes in a Society can ultimately change a society's fundamental economic relations and political structures This led to incorporation and official activity of many other groups, including hard-liners. The Iranian Government is opposed by a few armed political groups, including the Mojahedin-e-Khalq, the People's Fedayeen, and the Kurdish Democratic Party. The People's Mujahedin of Iran ( PMOI, also MEK, MKO) ( Persian: سازمان مجاهدين خلق ايران sāzmān-e mojāhedin-e khalq-e The Iranian People's Fedai Guerrillas (in Persian: چريکهای فدايي خلق ايران translit The Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran (Hîzbî Dêmokiratî Kurdistanî Êran is a Kurdish opposition group in Iranian Kurdistan which seeks the attainment of Kurdish

For other political parties see List of political parties in Iran. Political parties in Iran for more information List of political parties in Iran lists the main political parties in Iran.

The Supreme Leader

Main article: Supreme Leader of Iran

The Supreme Leader of Iran is responsible for the delineation and supervision of "the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran". The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit Islamic leadership|Ja'fari jurisprudence Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists ( Arabic: ولاية الفقيه, Persian: ولایت فقیه The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has the only power to declare war. The heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks, the commanders of the police and military forces and six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and The Assembly of Experts elects and dismisses the Supreme Leader on the basis of qualifications and popular esteem--none have ever been dismissed. The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or ^[9] The Assembly of Experts is responsible for supervising the Supreme Leader in the performance of legal duties.

Executive branch

Main article: President of Iran

The Constitution defines the President as the highest state authority after the Supreme Leader. The President of Iran is the highest elected official in the Islamic Republic of Iran, second only to the Supreme Leader. The President of Iran is the highest elected official in the Islamic Republic of Iran, second only to the Supreme Leader. The President is elected by universal suffrage, by those 15 years old and older[1], for a term of four years. Universal suffrage (also universal adult suffrage, general suffrage or common suffrage) consists of the extension of the right to vote to Presidential candidates must be approved by the Council of Guardians prior to running. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and The President is responsible for the implementation of the Constitution and for the exercise of executive powers, except for matters directly related to the Supreme Leader. The President appoints and supervises the Council of Ministers, coordinates government decisions, and selects government policies to be placed before the legislature. This is a list of Iranian officials with their titles last checked and updated on June 3, 2008. Currently, 10 Vice-Presidents serve under the President, as well as a cabinet of 21 ministers, who must all be approved by the legislature. Vice President of Iran is defined by article 124 of the Iranian constitution, as anyone appointed by the President to lead an organization related to the Presidential Unlike many other states, the executive branch in Iran does not control the armed forces. Although the President appoints the Ministers of Intelligence and Defense, it is customary for the President to obtain explicit approval from the Supreme Leader for these two ministers before presenting them to the legislature for a vote of confidence.

Legislative branch

The current legislature of Iran is unicameral. Unicameralism is the practice of having only one legislative or Parliamentary chamber Before the Islamic Revolution, the legislature was bicameral, with the senate (upper house) half elected, half appointed by the Shah. The Iranian Revolution' (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution, Persian: انقلاب اسلامی Enghelābe Eslāmi was the Revolution that transformed In Government, bicameralism (bi + Latin la ''camera'' chamber is the practice of having two legislative or Parliamentary chambers Thus a bicameral The Senate House of Iran (Kakh-e Majles-e Sena was the Upper house legislative chamber during the Pahlavi dynasty and was disbanded after the Islamic Revolution The senate was removed in the new constitution.

Majles (Parliament)

Main article: Majlis of Iran

The Majles-e Shura-ye Eslami (Islamic Consultative Assembly), comprises 290 members elected for four-year terms. The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit The Majlis drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the national budget. Legislation (or " Statutory law " is law which has been promulgated (or " Enacted quot by a Legislature or other Governing A Treaty is an agreement under International law entered into by actors in international law namely States and International organizations. All Majlis candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Council of Guardians. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and

Guardian Council

Main article: Guardian Council

The Guardian Council is composed of 12 jurists, including six clerics appointed by the Supreme Leader, and six jurists elected by the Majlis from among the Muslim jurists nominated by the Head of the Judicial System. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and Majlis (also spelled Majalis or Mejlis, Arabic مجلس is an Arabic term meaning "a place of sitting" used to describe various types of formal A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Ali Akbar Davar and some of his contemporaries such as Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza The Council interprets the constitution and may reject bills from parliament deemed incompatible with the constitution or Sharia (Islamic law). Sharia ( Arabic: ar شريعة) is the body of Islamic Religious law. These are referred back to parliament for revision. In a controversial exercise of its authority, the Council has drawn upon a narrow interpretation of Iran's constitution to veto parliamentary candidates.

As of the early 1990s, the Guardian Council vets (approves) candidates for national election in Iran.

Expediency Council

Main article: Expediency Discernment Council

The Expediency Council has the authority to mediate disputes between Majles and the Council of Guardians, and serves as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader, making it one of the most powerful governing bodies in the country. The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Constitution The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Constitution

Judicial branch

Main article: Judicial system of Iran

The Supreme Leader appoints the head of the Judiciary, who in turn appoints the head of the supreme court and the chief public prosecutor. A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Ali Akbar Davar and some of his contemporaries such as Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza There are several types of courts including public courts that deal with civil and criminal cases, and "revolutionary courts" which deal with certain categories of offenses, including crimes against national security. National security is the entire scope of measures undertaken by the Governments of Nation-states in providing assurance of national Sovereignty The decisions of the revolutionary courts are final and cannot be appealed. The Special Clerical Court handles crimes allegedly committed by clerics, although it has also taken on cases involving lay people. A cleric ( Ancient Greek κληρικός - klērikos clergyman (pl In religious organizations the laity comprises all persons who are not Clergy. The Special Clerical Court functions independently of the regular judicial framework and is accountable only to the Supreme Leader. The Court’s rulings are final and cannot be appealed.

Assembly of Experts

Assembly of Experts

Main article: Assembly of Experts

The Assembly of Experts, which meets for at least two days, twice annually,^[10] comprises 86 "virtuous and learned" clerics elected by adult suffrage for eight-year terms. The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or Based on the laws approved by the first Assembly, the Council of Guardians has to determine candidates' ijtihad eligibility using a written examination. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and Ijtihad (Arabic اجتهاد is a technical term of Islamic law that describes the process of making a legal decision by independent interpretation of the legal sources The Assembly elects the Supreme Leader and has the constitutional authority to remove the Supreme Leader from power at any time. As all of their meetings and notes are strictly confidential, the Assembly has never been known to challenge any of the Supreme Leader's decisions.

Political parties and elections

More info: Iranian presidential election, 2005

For the parliamentary elections of February 20, 2004, the Ministry of Interior Affairs announced a 50% turnout, the lowest in any general election since 1979. The Iranian presidential election of 2005, the ninth presidential election in Iranian history took place in two rounds first on June 17, 2005, the Events 1472 - Orkney and Shetland are left by Norway to Scotland, due to a Dowry payment "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " It was disputed by the Guardian Council, which claimed the result was closer to 60%. Conservative forces received 54% (156 seats), reformists received 14% of the vote (40 seats), and independents (34 seats); 60 seats were up for runoff election in May 2004. In the run-up to the election many reformist candidates, including about 80 members of the outgoing parliament, were disqualified by the Guardian Council; more than a 100 MPs protested by staging a sit-in in the parliament that lasted for about 3 weeks and ended to no avail. About 120 MPs then resigned and major reformist parties and groups stated they will not take part in the election but did not boycott it. The crisis resulted in a crack in the reformist front, when the Militant Clerics League, of which President Khatami is a member, announced they will participate in the election. The Association of Combatant Clerics ( Persian: مجمع روحانیون مبارز majma'-e rowhāniyūn-e mobārez) also translated as the Assembly of Combatant Seyyed Mohammad Khātamī ( سید محمد خاتمی, pronounced xɑːtæmiː}} (born September 29, 1943, in Ardakan, Yazd

More info: Iranian Majlis election, 2004

Political pressure groups and leaders

Active student groups include the pro-reform "Office for Strengthening Unity" and "the Union of Islamic Student Societies';

• Groups that generally support the Islamic Republic include Ansar-e Hizballah, The Iranian Islamic Students Association, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam, Islam's Students, and the Islamic Coalition Association. The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit The first round of the 2004 elections to the Majlis of Iran were held on February 20, 2004. The Iranian reform movement (Persianاصلاح طلبان or the Reforms Front (Persian جبههٔ اصلاحات also known as 2nd of Khordad Front (Persian In Politics, an independent is a Politician who is not Affiliated with any Political party. Armenian Iranians (Armenian "Իրանահայ" translit There are several major religious minorities in Iran, while the majority and State religion is Shi'a Islam. The once thriving '''Assyrian''' community in Iran was diminished from around 200000 at the close of the 20th century to a mere 15000 to 20000 (total population of Iran is There are several major religious minorities in Iran, while the majority and State religion is Shi'a Islam. |||} Persian Jews or Iranian Jews are Jews historically associated with the Persian Empire or Iran. There are several major religious minorities in Iran, while the majority and State religion is Shi'a Islam. Zoroastrians in Iran have had a long history being the oldest religious community of that nation to survive to the present-day There are several major religious minorities in Iran, while the majority and State religion is Shi'a Islam. The first round of the 2004 elections to the Majlis of Iran were held on February 20, 2004. The Office for Strengthening Unity ( Persian: دفتر تحکیم وحدت, Daftar-e Tahkim-e Vahdat) is an Iranian student organization created in The conservative power base is said to be made up of a "web of Basiji militia members, families of war martyrs, some members of the Revolutionary Guard, some government employees, some members of the urban and rural poor, and conservative-linked foundations. "^[11]
• opposition groups include the Liberation Movement of Iran and the Nation of Iran party;
• armed political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's Fedayeen, Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan; the Society for the Defense of Freedom.

Iranian opposition groups have been severely repressed by the regime, an example being the Freedom party of Iran that is now "forbidden". Repression of opposition groups is becoming more harsh as of mid 2007. ^[12] Exile parties however, are not controlled by the regime and are becoming stronger and more well recognised.

Hooshang Amirahmadi, (president of the American Iranian Council ran for President in the Ninth Presidential Election in Iran in June 2005, but the conservative and religious Guardian Council disqualified him for his American citizenship and democratic platform. [2]

Military

Main article: Military of Iran

The military is charged with defending Iran's borders, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (a. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution ( Sepáh e Pásdárán e Enqeláb e Eslámi) is an ideologically motivated branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran's k. a. Sepah) is charged mainly with maintaining internal security.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Provinces of Iran

Iran consists of 30 provinces (ostaan-haa, singular: ostan): Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, North Khorasan, Khorasan, South Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qom, Qazvin, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan. Iran is subdivided into thirty provinces ( Persian: استان ostān, plural استان‌ها ostānhā) each governed from a local center The provinces are each headed by a governor general. Iran is subdivided into thirty provinces ( Persian: استان ostān, plural استان‌ها ostānhā) each governed from a local center The provinces are further divided into counties, districts, and villages.

Local government

Main article: City and Village Councils of Iran

Local councils are elected by public vote to 4-year terms in all cities and villages of Iran. City and Village Councils (full title is Provincial City District and Village Councils are local councils which are elected by public vote in all cities and villages throughout According to article 7 Iran's Constitution, these local councils together with the Parliament are "decision-making and administrative organs of the State". This section of the constitution was not implemented until 1999 when the first local council elections were held across the country. Councils have many different responsibilities including electing mayors, supervising the activities of municipalities; studying the social, cultural, educational, health, economic, and welfare requirements of their constituencies; planning and coordinating national participation in the implementation of social, economic, constructive, cultural, educational and other welfare affairs.

Complexity of the System

Iran's complex and unusual political system combines elements of a modern Islamic theocracy with democracy. A network of elected and unelected institutions influence each other in the government's power structure.

According to current election laws, the Guardian Council oversees and approves electoral candidates for most national elections in Iran. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and The Guardian Council has 12 members, six clerics, appointed by the Supreme Leader and six jurists, elected by the Majlis from among the Muslim jurists nominated by the Head of the Judicial System, who is appointed by the Supreme Leader. The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit Majlis (also spelled Majalis or Mejlis, Arabic مجلس is an Arabic term meaning "a place of sitting" used to describe various types of formal A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Ali Akbar Davar and some of his contemporaries such as Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza According to the current law, the Guardian Council approves the Assembly of Experts candidates, which in turn supervise and elect the Supreme Leader. The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or

The reformists say this system creates a closed circle of power. The Iranian reform movement (Persianاصلاح طلبان or the Reforms Front (Persian جبههٔ اصلاحات also known as 2nd of Khordad Front (Persian ^[13] Iranian reformists, such as Mohammad-Ali Abtahi have considered this to be the core legal obstacle for the reform movement in Iran. Hojjat ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammad Ali Abtahi (محمدعلی ابطحی (born January 27, 1958 in Mashhad) is an Iranian (Persian The Iranian reform movement (Persianاصلاح طلبان or the Reforms Front (Persian جبههٔ اصلاحات also known as 2nd of Khordad Front (Persian ^{[14] [15] [16] [17] [18]}

However, conservatives reject the existence of a circle, stating the ever-changing members of the Guardian Council and the Assembly of Experts, as well as human free-will, makes this system of checks and balances in power that exist in any system. ^[19]

Neither of these two laws are mandated by the constitution and are ordinary laws passed by the Parliament or the Assembly of Experts ^[20], which therefore can theoretically be reversed. However, despite efforts of many political activists, it has been impossible to do so until now, as they have failed to win majority in the Assembly. ^[21]

International organization participation

CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-15, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, International Maritime Organization, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO WFTU, WEF, WHO, WMO, WTO (observer)

References

Literature

• Ray Takeyh: Hidden Iran - Paradox and Power in the Islamic Republic, New York 2006, ISBN 978-0-8050-7976-0

See also

• Constitution of Iran
• U.S.-Iran relations
• Iranian Foreign Affairs
• Iran-Israel relations
• Iran-Contra Affair
• Iran-Iraq War
• Prime Minister of Iran
• Haghani Circle and Politics of Iran
• Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran
• Human rights in Iran
• 1988 Massacre of Iranian Prisoners
• Censorship in Iran
• National Council of Resistance of Iran
• People's Mujahedin of Iran
• Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran
• Iranian reform movement

External links

Government Ministries of Iran

• Ministry of Science, Research and Technology
• Ministry of Health and Medical Education
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance
• Ministry of Commerce
• Ministry of Energy
• Ministry of Petroleum
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
• Ministry of Industry and Mines
• Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces
• Ministry of Roads and Transportation
• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
• Ministry of Interior
• Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, (2)
• Ministry of Cooperation
• Ministry of Education
• Ministry of Economic and Finance Affairs

Other government links

• Secretariat of The High Council of Iran Free Trade Industrial Zones
• Islamic Republic of Iran Central Bank
• Secretariat of The High Council of The Cultural Revolution
• Official Spokesman of the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Islamic Republic of Iran Atomic Energy Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Police Forces
• Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of The Arts
• Islamic Republic of Iran Geological Survey Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Management and Planning Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Organization of Welfare
• Islamic Republic of Iran National Youth Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Judiciary Public Relations Bureau
• Islamic Republic of Iran Center for Affairs of Women's Participation
• Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of Medical Sciences
• Islamic Republic of Iran Cultural Heritage Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Headquarters for Combating Drugs
• Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of Persian Language and Literature
• Islamic Republic of Iran Department of Environment
• Islamic Republic of Iran International Center for Diologue Among Civilizations
• Islamic Republic of Iran Red Crescent Society
• Islamic Republic of Iran Physical Education Organization
• Islamic Republic of Iran Academy of Sciences

---

• Iran Center for Strategic Studies
• Tehran International Studies and Research Institute
• The Network of Iranian law in Persian, English and French
• Constitutional law in French
• Iranian law in English
• Iranian law in French
• Video Archive of Iranian Politics