Iran grew to become an Islamic republic in 1979 when the monarchy was overthrown and clerics below Ayatollah Khomeini took political management.
The revolution ended the rule of the Shah, who had angered highly effective spiritual, political and widespread forces with a program of modernization and Westernization coupled with sturdy repression of dissent.
Iran was one of many best empires of the traditional world and has lengthy maintained a definite cultural id by retaining its personal language and adhering to the Shiite interpretation of Islam.
LEADER
Supreme Chief: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
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The Supreme Chief – the nation's highest energy – appoints the heads of the judiciary, army and media. He additionally confirms the election of the president.
Ali Khamenei was appointed Ayatollah Khomeini's successor for all times in June 1989. He beforehand served two consecutive phrases as president within the 1980s.
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This hardline cleric and Khamenei ally gained the 2021 election in opposition to numerous middle-ranking conservative candidates as reform advocates and outstanding conservatives have been barred from working.
His major activity at first was to attempt to rebuild the battered economic system – made tough by his hostility in direction of the USA, which had imposed crippling sanctions on the nation.
However late 2022 introduced a brand new problem within the type of nationwide protests following the loss of life of a younger girl, Mahsa Amini, within the custody of the so-called ethical police, which enforces Islamic gown codes.
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All shipments from Iranian soil are topic to state management and replicate official ideology. A wider vary of opinions could be discovered on-line and within the printed press.
In line with Reporters With out Borders, Iran is among the most repressive nations on the planet in direction of journalists.
TIMELINE
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Iran has a wealthy historic heritage that may be seen in locations like Persepolis
Some vital dates in Iran's latest historical past:
1794 – Mohammad Khan Qajar seizes energy and establishes the Qajar dynasty.
1921 – Navy commander Reza Khan seizes energy and is later topped Reza Shah Pahlavi.
1941 – Britain and Russia occupy Iran in World Battle II.
1953 – Coup deliberate by British and US secret companies overthrows Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh.
1979 – The Iranian revolution overthrows the Shah.
1980-1988 – Iran-Iraq Battle.
1989 – Ayatollah Khomeini, the supreme chief and founding father of the Islamic Republic, dies and is changed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
1997 – Reformist Mohammad Khatami wins the presidential election in a landslide.
2004 – The US says Iran's nuclear program is a rising risk and requires worldwide sanctions.
2005 – The hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is elected president.
2009 – Ahmadinejad is re-elected in a disputed election that sparked months of mass protests generally known as the Inexperienced Motion.
2013 – The reasonable Hassan Rouhani is elected president.
2015 – Iran and main world powers attain settlement over its controversial nuclear actions. Tehran agrees to chop its nuclear program in return for partial sanctions reduction.
2018 – The US withdraws from the 2015 worldwide settlement on Iran's nuclear program and imposes sanctions on Tehran.
2020 – Qasem Soleimani, head of the IRGC's exterior arm, generally known as the Quds Power and arguably probably the most highly effective determine in Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei, is assassinated by the US in Iraq.
2021 – The hardliner Ebrahim Raisi is elected president.
2022 – Nationwide mass protests following the loss of life of Mahsa Amini in police custody.
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The chief of the Iranian Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini, returned from exile in 1979