Iran Government

The government of Iran changed from a monarchy led by the Shah of Iran to a republic led by the leader of an Islamic revolution in 1979, and this created significant changes within the nation's society. The current system of politics in Iran can be classified as a theocratic national ruling structure with elements of democratic rule at the local and regional levels. The 1979 Constitution of Iran defines the Supreme Leader as the Head of State as well as the supervisor of the executive (Presidential), legislative, and judiciary sectors of government. The Supreme Leader's term in office lasts until death.

Elections in Iran take place for the President, parliament (also known as the Islamic Consultative Assembly), the Assembly of Experts, and also local councils who represent the regions, or cities, of the country. Elections do not take place nationally for the position of Supreme Leader, also known as Ayatollah, this post is elected by the Assembly of Experts.

The Islamic Consultative Assembly is the national legislative body of Iran, and it is located in downtown Tehran, the capital city, on Mojahedin Eslam St. The Parliament currently has 290 seats representing 207 constituencies and the last election for these positions took place on 28 May 2016. The function of the Iranian Parliament is to legislate national laws within the limits of the Constitution. The official residence of the President of Iran is located at Sa'dabad Complex in Tehran and features 180 hectares of natural forests as well as lavish architecture and valuable art and cultural artefacts.

There are several political parties currently operating in Iran, the most active o which is the Mojahedin-e Khalq-e Iran.

This page was last modified on May 1st, 2018

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Published on 2019-11-06


Capital	Tehran
Languages	Persian (official), Azeri Turkic and Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic, other
Ethnic Groups	Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes
Religion	Muslim (official) 99.4% (Shia 90-95%, Sunni 5-10%), other (includes Zoroastrian, Jewish, and Christian) 0.3%, unspecified 0.4% (2011 est.)
Government	Theocratic republic
Independance	1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed); notable earlier dates: ca. 550 B.C. (Achaemenid (Persian) Empire established); A.D. 1501 (Iran reunified under the Safavid Dynasty); 1794 (beginning of Qajar Dynasty); 12 December 1925 (modern Iran established under the PAHLAVI Dynasty)
Area	1,648,195.00 km²
Water Area	116,600.00 km²
Land Area	1,531,595.00 km²
Population	82,801,633.00 Population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much smaller population density
Location	Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
No. Bordering Countries	7
Bordering Countries	Afghanistan 921 km, Armenia 44 km, Azerbaijan 689 km, Iraq 1,599 km, Pakistan 959 km, Turkey 534 km, Turkmenistan 1,148 km
GDP(PPP)	$1,460,000,000,000.00 (USD)
GDP (Per Capita)	$18,100.00 (USD)
Export Partners	Its major export partners are China, India, and Turkey.
Export Commodities	Its main exports are petroleum, chemical and petrochemcial products, fruits and nuts, and carpets.
Import Partners	Its major import partners are the United Arab Emirates, China, and South Korea.
Import Commodities	Its major imports include industrial supplies, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods.
Climate	Mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Terrain	Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Learn More	Iran

Iran Government

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