Iran Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Type: theocratic republic

Capital: TehrSn

Political subdivisions: 24 provinces, subdivided into districts, subdistricts, counties, and villages

Legal system: the new constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

National holiday: Shi’a Islam religious holidays observed nationwide

Branches: Ayatollah ol-Ozma Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution, provides general guidance for the government, which is divided into executive, unicameral legislature (Islamic Consultative Assembly), and judicial branches

Government leaders Ayatollah ol-Ozma Ruhollah KHOMEINI, “Guardian Jurisprudent” (since February 1979); Ali KHAMENEI (cleric), President (since October 1981); Mir Hosein MUSAVI- KHAMENEI, Prime Minister (since October 1981); Ali Akbar HASHEMI R \FSANJANI (cleric), Speaker of Islamic Consultative Assembly (since July 1980); Ayatollah Hosein Ali MONT AZERI, Designated Successor to Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (22 November 1985)

Suffrage: universal over age 15

Elections: elections to select a president held in August 1985; those to select an Assembly of Experts to name Khomeini's successor held in December 1982; parliamentary elections held in 1984, next presidential election to be held during the summer of 1989, next parliamentary elections to be held in 1988

Politico¹ parties and leaders: Islamic Republic Party (IRP), Ali Khamenei

Voting strength: reliable figures not available; supporters of the Islamic Republic dominate the parliament

Communists: 1,000 to 2,000 est hardcore; 15,000 to 20,000 est. sympathizers; crackdown in 1983 crippled the party; trials of captured leaders began in late 1983 and remain incomplete

Other political or pressure groups: People’s Strugglers (Mujahedin), People’s Fedayeen, and Kurdish Democratic Party are armed political groups that have been harshly but not completely repressed by the government; other ethnic minorities, local leaders, and Islamic Committees enforce their political views through armed militia

Member of: Colombo Plan, ESCAP, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAC, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IPU, IRC, ITU, NAM, O1C, OPEC, Economic Cooperation Organization, UN, UNESCO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WSG, WTO; continued par ticipation in some of these organizations doubtful under the new Islamic constitution

NOTE: The information regarding Iran on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Iran 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iran 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.