Government and Politics of Iran

Government Type

theocratic republic

Administrative Divisions

28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Legal System

the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

Suffrage

15 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: the father must be a citizen of Iran dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) head of government: President Masoud PEZESHKIAN (since 30 July 2024); First Vice President Mohammad Reza AREF (since 30 July 2024) cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader exercises significant influence over appointments to sensitive ministries, particularly those related to defense, intelligence, and foreign affairs elections: Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held on 28 June 2024, with a two-candidate runoff on 5 July 2024 election results: Masoud PEZESHKIAN elected president in runoff; percent of vote - Masoud PEZESHKIAN 54.8%, Saeed JALILI 44.3%; note - the election was called early following the death of President Ebrahim RAISI in a helicopter crash on 19 May 2024

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly, also known as the Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve four-year terms). Candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council before standing for election, which has historically resulted in the disqualification of large numbers of reformist and moderate candidates. Elections: Last held on 1 March 2024, with runoff elections held on 10 May 2024. Voter turnout reached approximately 41 percent in the first round, among the lowest recorded in the Islamic Republic's history. Election results: Percent of vote — NA; seats by party — hardline conservatives and principalists secured the overwhelming majority of seats, with reformists and independents holding a markedly reduced presence. The political landscape of the assembly continued to be dominated by factions aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, consolidating hardline influence over the legislature following the mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates by the Guardian Council ahead of the vote.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court - above a special clerical court, a revolutionary court, and a special administrative court

Political Parties

formal political parties are a relatively new phenomenon in Iran and most conservatives still prefer to work through political pressure groups rather than parties; a loose pro-reform coalition called the 2nd Khordad Front, which includes political parties as well as less formal pressure groups and organizations, achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majles in early 2000; groups in the coalition include: Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF), Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran), Solidarity Party, Islamic Labor Party; Mardom Salari, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization (MIRO), and Militant Clerics Society (Ruhaniyun); the coalition participated in the seventh Majles elections in early 2004; a new apparently conservative group, the Builders of Islamic Iran, took a leading position in the new Majles after winning a majority of the seats in February 2004

Head of State

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI

Head of Government

President Masoud PEZESHKIAN

Cabinet

Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries note: also considered part of the Executive branch of government are three oversight bodies: 1) Assembly of Experts (Majles-Khebregan), a popularly elected body charged with determining the succession of the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if deemed necessary; 2) Expediency Council or the Council for the Discernment of Expediency (Majma-e-Tashkise-Maslahat-e-Nezam) exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree and since 1989 has been used to advise national religious leaders on matters of national policy; in 2005 the Council’s powers were expanded to act as a supervisory body for the government; 3) Council of Guardians of the Constitution or Council of Guardians or Guardians Council (Shora-ye Negaban-e Qanun-e Assassi) determines whether proposed legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law, vets candidates for suitability, and supervises national elections

Elections

Last held on 1 March 2024, with runoff elections held on 10 May 2024. Voter turnout reached approximately 41 percent in the first round, among the lowest recorded in the Islamic Republic's history.

Election Results

Percent of vote — NA; seats by party — hardline conservatives and principalists secured the overwhelming majority of seats, with reformists and independents holding a markedly reduced presence. The political landscape of the assembly continued to be dominated by factions aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, consolidating hardline influence over the legislature following the mass disqualification of moderate and reformist candidates by the Guardian Council ahead of the vote.

Constitution

2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Independence

1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National Holiday

Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

International Organization Participation

CP, ECO, FAO, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OPEC, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

none; note - Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani Embassy; address: Iranian Interests Section, Pakistani Embassy, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007; telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990; FAX [1] (202) 965-1073

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

none; note - protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

Capital City

Tehran

Location

35 42 N, 51 25 E

Time Difference

UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC)

History

various explanations of the city's name have been proffered, but the most plausible states that it derives from the Persian words tah meaning "end or bottom" and ran meaning "[mountain] slope" to signify "bottom of the mountain slope"; Tehran lies at the bottom slope of the Elburz Mountains

The U.S. government does not have diplomatic or consular relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran and therefore cannot provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens in Iran. The Swiss government, acting through its Embassy in Tehran, serves as protecting power for U.S. interests in Iran. If you are going to live in or visit Iran, please take the time to tell the Swiss Embassy about your trip. If you enroll in our Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements. Local embassy information is available below and at the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates. Embassy of Switzerland – U.S. Interests Section No. 39, Shahid Mousavi (Golestan 5th) Pasdaran Avenue Tehran, Iran Telephone: (98) (21) 2254-2178 and (98) (21) 2256-5273 Facsimile: (98) (21) 2258-0432 Contact via e-mail: tie.vertretung@eda.admin.ch The workweek is Sunday through Thursday. Public service hours are 8:00 am – 12:00 noon. The Interests Section does not issue U.S. visas or accept visa applications.

Military Branches

Islamic Republic of Iran Regular Forces (Artesh): Ground Forces, Navy, Air Force (IRIAF), Khatemolanbia Air Defense Headquarters; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah-e Pasdaran-e Enqelab-e Eslami, IRGC): Ground Resistance Forces, Navy, Aerospace Force, Quds Force (special operations); Law Enforcement Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18 months; women exempt from military service