I R A N
“axis of evil”
- The Original “axis of evil” list was established by
George W Bush in 2002 which included Iraq, Iran,
and North Korea since then it has expanded to include Cuba, Libya, and Syria.
- Iran became a part of the “axis of evil” when George W Bush in his
State of the Union address labeled Iran as “terrorist allies” along with
the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, making comments
infering that Iran had imidiately began to aqiuire weapons of mass
distruction just after the 9/11 attacks
_ another “axis” that has formed is the “axis of Diesel’ which includes
Iran, Russia and Venezuela; in this agreement there was billions of
dollars of arms sales, to both Venezuela and the Iranian nuclear
facilities. Later on China, North Kora, and Syria joined the axis.
Muhammad Reza Shah
Fun fact: he
had three
wives and
divorced two
of them
because their
first born was
not a boy
• Born: October 26, 1919- Died: July 27, 1980
• Maintained a pro-western foregin policy, fostered and promoted
economic development in Iran
• The White Revolution was a national development program that
included the expansion of road, rail, and air networking, along
with the eradication of disease and an increase in irrigation
projects- this solidified domestic support but continued to face
political and religious critisism
• His downfall is mostly due to his autocratic rule, corruption in his
government, the unequal distribution of oil wealth, forced
westernization, and the activities of Savak (the secret police)
Prophet Mohammed, and comprises a majority in the Muslim world.
The word “Sunni” comes from the word Sunnah in Arabic which means the
words and actions or example of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
About 4% to 8% of Iranians belong to the Sunni branch of Islam, mainly Kurds
and Iran's Balochi Sunni.
Considered more moderate than Shi’ites; considered orthodox and only support
descendants of muhammad as leaders.
Most Sunnis in Iran are Larestani people (from Larestan), Turkomen, Baluchs,
and Kurds living in the south, southeast, northeast and northwest.
DOn’t fit in to the typical Shi’ites in Iran; similarly to Judaism and Islam in Russia
which is dominated by the eastern orthodox.
Revolution of 1979
-Lasted from January 1978 to February 1979, led to the overthrow of Pahlavi dynasty in Iran. It
was caused by the public being discontent with the Shah's rule and social injustice that
existed under the monarchy. The revolution was led by Ruhollah Khomeini, who became the
-Supreme Leader when the Shah was overthrown.
-The revolution was characterized by an overwhelming amount of protests, demonstrations,
and strikes in Iran, specifically between August and December of 1978. Iran was voted, by
national referendum, to become the Islamic Republic, and was taken over by Khomeini after
Shah Pahlavi was exiled in January of 1979.
-A similar instance of a revolution such as this one, was the Mexican revolution in 1910 that
ended the dictatorship in Mexico and institued a constitutional democracy.
Rentier State
-A state that derives a substantial portion of its revenue on a regular basis from
payments by foreign concerns in the form of rent. A rentier state profits largely
from exporting natural resources.
-An example of a rentier state is Iran, whose oil exports earn $50 billion a year and
provide more than 70% of the revenues for the Iranian government. In countries
like Iran, taxes are low, but the major problem is that these countries depend on
commodities like oil; and citizens of Iran become disposable because they no
longer provide substantial revenue.
-Another example of a country that benefits from foreign revenue from oil exports
in Mexico, however now to the extreme degree of reliance that Iran does.
Cultural Revolution Council, the revolution initially closed universities for three
years and after reopening, banned many books and purged thousands of
students and lecturers from the schools.[2]
The cultural revolution sometimes involved violence in taking over the university
campuses. Higher education in Iran had many leftist forces who opposed
Ayatollah Khomeini. The resistance of Khomeiniist control at many universities
was largely unsuccessful. The government's process of censoring foreign
influences has not been without conflict.
This event interrupted freedom, education and professional livelihoods, and
struck a major blow to Iran's cultural and intellectual life and achievement.
Many teachers and technocrats emigrated. The loss of job skills and capital has
weakened Iran's economy.
White Revolution
• Reform program initiated by Mohammad Mossadegh in January
1963
• Included land reforms, naturalization of forests, resources, and
pasturelands, nationalization of government owned enterprises,
profit sharing, suffrage, formation of the literacy, health, and
reconstruction/development corps, an introduction of social
security and health insurance, educational advances, and measures
to fight corruption
• The White Revolution is similar to the Great Leap Forward and the
Property Laws that were enacted in China during the 20th century
HOS and HOG
Head of Government (Supreme Leader)
– Combines religious and temporal authority
– Chosen by Assembly of Experts (ulemas), who selects the most talented ulema to rule
for life
– establishes key figures and heads the economic organizations
Head of State (President)
– “Elected” through universal suffrage (chosen by Council of Guardians to serve a 4 year
term
– Must be male and a Twelver Shiite
– Appoints cabinet and provincial governors and signs bills into laws
Similar to the CCP’s control over China. The one group has all the real power but the
traditional government doesn’t have any major impact without the support of the
supreme leader
SHARI’AH LAW
 Shari’ah Law is the canonical law of Islam, meant to embody a vision of
a community in which all Muslims have the same moral values
 The new regime of the Islamic Republic interpreted shari’ah law very
strictly by allowing mandated death penalties for activities like adultery,
homosexuality, drug dealing, and alcoholism.
Fundamentalism/
Islamism
 A DEFENSIVE REACTION AGAINST THE SPREAD
OF SCIENTIFIC VIEWS OF NATURE AND HUMAN
BEHAVIOR, AND THE LIBERTARIAN VALUES AND
ATTITUDES THAT ACCOMPANY THESE VIEWS
 IN IRAN, FUNDAMENTALISM CAN BE SEEN IN
THE USE OF SHARI’AH LAW, WITH ISLAM AS
THE BASIS OF THE LEGAL CODE
 ISLAMIC FUNDAMENTALIST IDEOLOGY IS USED
BY GROUPS LIKE THE BOKO HARAM IN
NORTHEASTERN NIGERIA
Imams- An imam is an Islamic position held by a high
ranking Mosque leader of worship. Abu Bakr is a famous
example of one of these religious leaders. These positions
can be related to Russian nomenklatura, in that political
positions are given to the elite who are not necessarily
politicians.
Secularization- the transition from religious to
nonreligious. Reza shah made secularization law during his
regime and forbade displays of religion. This oppression of
culture is similar to recent situations of civil rights denial in
Russia.
Sayyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei- the second and current Supreme Leader of
Iran and a Muslim cleric. Ali Khamenei succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini, the
leader of the Iranian Revolution, after Khomeini's death, having been
elected as the new Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts on June
4th 1989. He had also served as the President of Iran from 1981 to 1989.
He can be associated with Vladimir Putin, in that he excercises supreme
power over his country’s government, whereas he differs only in that his
ultimate power is outright granted, and Putin’s is a result of corrupt
elections and bullish tactics.
Theocracy- A nation or state in which the clergy exercise political power
and in which religious law is dominant over civil law. Iran is an example
of a theocracy, as its government is overseen by the supreme leader,
who excersies power based on Islamic principles, and is evaluated by the
Assembly of Religious Experts. This relates to twentieth and nineteenth
century China, as the government was ruled with confucian influence,
despite not being designated as a theocratic government.
OPEC
- The Organization of the
Petroleum Exporting Countries
- International organization
headquartered in Vienna,
Austria.
- established in Baghdad, Iraq
on 10–14 September 1960
- OPEC's mission is "to
coordinate and unify the
petroleum policies of its
member countries and ensure
the stabilization of oil markets
Faqih
• An expert in fiqh, or Islamic
jurisprudence and Islamic
Law
• Deal with the observance of
rituals, morals and social
legislation in Islam.
• Help with comprehension
and implementation of
Shari’ah law.
Reza Shah Pahlavi
(15 March 1878 – 26 July 1944)
Shah of Iran (Persia) from 15 December 1925 to 16 September 1941.
 Led the 1921 Persian coup d'état, in 1925 Rezā
Shāh deposed Ahmad Shah Qajar, the last Shah of the
Qajar dynasty, and founded the Pahlavi dynasty. He
established a constitutional monarchy that lasted until
overthrown in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution.
Reza Shah introduced many social, economic, and
political reforms during his reign, ultimately laying the
foundation of the modern Iranian state.
 His legacy remains controversial to this day: his
defenders assert that he was an essential modernizing
force for Iran (whose international prominence had
sharply declined during Qajar rule), while his
detractors assert that his reign was often despotic,
with his failure to modernize Iran's large peasant
population eventually sowing the seeds for the Iranian
Revolution. Moreover, his insistence on ethnic
nationalism and cultural unitarism along with forced
detribalization and sedentarization resulted in
suppression of several ethnic and social groups.
Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
often called Revolutionary Guards or Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps ("IRGC")
 Founded after the Iranian revolution on 5 May 1979.
 Whereas the regular military (artesh) defends Iran's
borders and maintains internal order, according to the
Iranian constitution, the Revolutionary Guard
(pasdaran) is intended to protect the country's Islamic
system. The Revolutionary Guards state that their role in
protecting the Islamic system is preventing foreign
interference as well as coups by the military or "deviant
movements”.
 In recent years it has developed into a multibilliondollar business empire, and is reportedly the thirdwealthiest organization in Iran.
 Since its origin it has taken an ever more assertive
role in virtually every aspect of Iranian society. Its
expanded social, political, military, and economic role
has led many analysts to argue that its political power has
surpassed even that of the Shia clerical system.
OPEC
OPEC- A cartel that aims to manage the supply of oil in an effort to set the price of
oil on the world market, in order to avoid fluctuations that might affect the
economies of both producing and purchasing countries.
• Iranians have attempted to nationalize oil and have a hub of oil at their disposal.
The control the oil markets for most of the civilized world.
• Russia is in competition with Iran/OPEC to control the oil markets
• Russia is not a member of OPEC and has suffered enormously because of OPEC’s
decision to seek contractions in oil production from abroad.
National Front
National Front- A political opposition party founded by Mohammad Mosaddegh
and other secular Iranian nationalist leaders who had been educated in France in
the late 1940s. It held power in the Iranian parliament for several years prior to the
1953 Iranian coup d'état and continued as an opposition force thereafter.
• drew support from middle-class people emphasizing Iranian nationalism
• Opposed western domination of Iran’s natural resources
• The goal of the National Front was to nationalize Iran’s oil resources and to
counteract British dominance of Iran's international affairs by initiation direct
relations with the United States
Shah Muhammad Reza Pahlavi
“The Last Shah” 1941-1979
………………………………………………………………………………
 About:
• Put into power by Soviets, Great Britain, and U.S. during WWII to replace
pro-Germany shah who had been in power
• Overthrown in 1979 after Iranian Revolution, forced to flee from riots
• Replaced by Khomeini
 Actions in Office / Policies:
• Started the SAVAK (secret police, domestic security and intelligence
service) with help from CIA
• Began reform program in 50s and 60s that sought to centralize and
modernize Iran
• Became important U.S. ally; received a lot of U.S. aid
• Stocked up on weapons and made Iran 5th largest world military by 1976
• Tried to limit political influence of religion by limiting role of Islamic legal
and academic experts (very unpopular)
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
President 2003-2013
………………………………………………………………………………
 About:
• Elected as 6th president in 2003, reelected 2009
• Anti-Shah
• Leader of the Alliance of Builders of Islamic Iran (coalition of conservative
Iranians)
 Actions in Office / Policies:
• Gas rationing plan: reduced fuel consumption and amount of interest
banks could charge
• Supported nuclear program
• Took a different direction in foreign policy by severing ties with western
world and rest of world in general
• Super duper unpopular in the UN (anti-Semitic, said U.S. gov did 9/11, said
Israel should be wiped off the map, called Holocaust a myth)
 Criticism:
• Criticized for human rights violations
• High inflation, decline in growth, massive corruption
• Hostility towards Saudi Arabia, Israel UK and US
Khatami, Mohammad
Khatami served as the fifth president of Iran from 1997-2005. attracted global
attention during his first election to the presidency when he captured almost
70% of the vote. Khatami had run on a platform of liberalization and reform.
During his two terms as president, Khatami advocated freedom of expression,
tolerance and civil society, constructive diplomatic relations with other states
including those in Asia and the European Union, and an economic policy that
supported a free market and foreign investment. Khatami was no minated
for the global dialogue award recently for his work on a global dialogue
between nations.

The Global Dialogue Prize is one of the world's most significant recognitions
for research in the Humanities, honoring "excellence in research and
research communication on the conditions

Irans government has put a banned on any information or images being
released about Khatami
Khanemei, Ayatollah Ali

The dominant ruling figure in Iran is not the president but the dominant
ruling force, the supreme leader, ayatollah Ali kanemei. The Iranian
constitution endows tremendous authority to the supreme leader over all
state institutions and ayatollah has found many other ways to enforce his
power and increase his influence. He has held the post since 1989.
Whether it be in the institution or not, the executive, legislative and judicial
branches operate under his complete sovereignty. His ideals with
ultimately shape Iranian policy. He is the second largest ruling autocrat in
the Middle East as well as the longest serving Iranian leader in the last
century.
Jurist’s Guardianship
•“IS A POST-AGE-OF-OCCULTATION THEORY IN SHIA ISLAM WHICH HOLDS THAT
ISLAM GIVES A FAQĪH (ISLAMIC JURIST) CUSTODIANSHIP OVER PEOPLE.”
THEY DEAL WITH RELIGIOUS ENDOWMENTS, LAWS, ENACTING JUDICIARY MATTERS
STUDYING LAWS BASED ON THE QUR'AN, SUNNAH AND THE TEACHINGS OF THE
TWELVE IMAMS
UPDATE LAWS
DISCUSS VARIOUS PROBLEMS
HELP IN LEGAL DISPUTES; AND
DISTRIBUTE THE KHUMS CONTRIBUTIONS TO WORTHY WIDOWS, ORPHANS, AND
INDIGENT MALE DESCENDANTS OF THE PROPHET
THEY MUST BE MUST BE CLERICS, AND THE COURTS
SIMILAR???
THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM IN CHINA IS SIMILAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT LEGITIMATE
WHATSOEVER AND BASICALLY ONLY REAL ON PAPER, OTHER THAN THAT IT IS NOT
SIGNIFICANT
Assembly of Religious experts
A BODY OF MUJTAHIDS(ISLAMIC THEOLOGIANS) THAT HAS THE AUTHORITY TO ELECT AND REMOVE THE SUPREME LEADER OF
IRAN AND IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUPERVISING HIS ACTIVITIES.
THE MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY ARE ELECTED FOR AN EIGHT YEAR TERM HOWEVER, THEY ARE HANDPICKED TO BE
APPROVED CANDIDATES
LAWS REQUIRE THEM TO MEET FOR TWO DAYS EVERY SIX MONTHS
IN THE EVENT THAT HE RESIGNS, DIES, OR IS DISMISSED THE ASSEMBLY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING HIM
THE ASSEMBLY HAS NEVER DISMISSED A SITTING SUPREME LEADER AND THEY HAVEN’T BEEN KNOWN TO EVER CHALLENGE
HIM
"ISLAMIC SCHOLARSHIP, JUSTICE, PIETY, RIGHT POLITICAL AND SOCIAL PERSPICACITY, PRUDENCE, COURAGE,
ADMINISTRATIVE FACILITIES AND ADEQUATE CAPABILITY FOR LEADERSHIP.” ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR BEING
THEY CONTINUE TO MONITOR WHAT THE LEADER DOES TO MAKE SURE HE IS ABIDING BY EVERYTHING AND FULFILLING HIS
DUTIES
THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A FEMALE ASSEMBLY MEMBER
SIMILAR?????
THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT COULD BE CONSIDERED SIMILAR BECAUSE THEY ALSO HAVE THE ABILITY OF REMOVING A
LEADER WITH THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE
17. JURIST’S GUARDIANSHIP
JURIST’S GUARDIANSHIP IS A POST-AGE-OF-OCCULTATION
THEORY IN
SHIA ISLAM WHICH HOLDS THAT ISLAM GIVES A FAQĪH (ISLAMIC
JURIST)
CUSTODIANSHIP OVER PEOPLE. (WIKI)
BUT THIS IS OPEN TO INTERPRETATION! (LIMITED, NO SPECIFIC
PERSON
INVOLVED + ABSOLUTE, EVERYONE)
DEVELOPED BY AYATOLLAH KHOMEINI, SUPPORTS THE NOTION
THAT
SENIOR CLERICS HAVE THE BEST CAPACITY TO RULE MUSLIM
SOCIETY.
38. SUPREME LEADER
THE SUPREME LEADER IS MORE POWERFUL THAN THE PRESIDENT OF
IRAN
AND APPOINTS THE HEADS OF MANY POWERFUL POSTS IN THE
MILITARY, THE
CIVIL GOVERNMENT, AND THE JUDICIARY.ORIGINALLY IRAN'S
CONSTITUTION
STATED THAT THE LEADER MUST BE THE HIGHEST RANKING CLERIC
AND
AUTHORITY ON RELIGIOUS LAWS IN USULI TWELVER SHIA ISLAM.
HOWEVER, IN
1989, THE CONSTITUTION WAS AMENDED TO REQUIRE SIMPLY ISLAMIC
"SCHOLARSHIP" OF THE LEADER, I.E., THE LEADER COULD BE A LOWER
RANKING
CLERIC.
Majlis
• The national legislative body of Iran, containing 290 representatives
• Originally the lower house of Iranian legislature as created in 1906
with Shah Reza Pahlavi, but changed after the Islamic Revolution in
1979
• Women first allowed entry in 1963, and now hold about 8% of seats
• About 5% of seats belong to religious minorities
• In 2012 elections reformists were barred by the Guardian Council
from running, and Khamenei supporters ended up with the majority
of seats
• Members elect their speaker during the first session of the year for a
one year term
STATISTS V. FREE MARKETERS
• Statists- believe the government should take an active role in
controlling the economy: redistributing land and wealth, eliminating
unemployment, financing social welfare programs, price ceilings
• Free Marketers- want to remove price controls, lower business taxes,
encourage private enterprise, balance the budget, believe in the same
market principles that guide the United States, envision it working
within context of theocratic state
• (RIFTS HAPPEN, especially in the Majles)
• ex) Nationalization of oil in 1980s= statist approach
• Statists can be compared to the Soviet philosophy of a 5 year plan which
developed a national economy (free marketers more like the U.S)
CONSTITUTION OF 1979
• Present constitution of Iran created post Revolution of 1979, which
codified Shari'ah Law while combining both theocratic and
democratic elements (God is sovereign.. so is the Majles)
• ex) Shari'ah Law requires president to be Shi'ite
• Rule by Law in China is similar to Shari'ah Law in that it uses the
law to keep the government in power (in Iran's case, Shiism is
promoted by this).
• Russia's Soviet regime ends, Russian Constitution of 1993 begins
Iran's Pahlavi Regime ends, Iranian Constitution of 1979 begins