Changes

In February 2004 flawed elections were held for the Seventh Majles in which many reformists were prohibited from contesting their seats, meaning that a much more conservative group of parliamentarians would easily retake control of the Majles in May 2004.

In February 2004 flawed elections were held for the Seventh Majles in which many reformists were prohibited from contesting their seats, meaning that a much more conservative group of parliamentarians would easily retake control of the Majles in May 2004.

Presidential elections took place on June 17, 2005, resulting in a two-candidate runoff between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on June 24. Ahmadi-Nejad won in the second round, taking office in August 2005. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2009. The president, however, is not the country's primary authority; that is the position of the Supreme Leader.

Presidential elections took place on June 17, 2005, resulting in a two-candidate runoff between Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and former-president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani on June 24. Ahmadinejad won in the second round, taking office in August 2005. The next presidential elections are scheduled for 2009. The president, however, is not the country's primary authority; that is the position of the Supreme Leader.

== GOVERNMENT ==

== GOVERNMENT ==

The Council of Guardians consists of 12 persons. The Supreme Leader appoints the six religious members of the Council of Guardians while the Iranian parliament, the Majles, selects the six lay members from candidates recommended by the judiciary, which is in turn selected by the Supreme Leader. The latter group plays a role only in determining whether legislation before the Majles conforms to Iran’s constitution. The religious members, on the other hand, take part in all deliberations, considering all bills for conformity to Islamic principles. The Council of Guardians can veto any law. This body also certifies the competence of candidates for the presidency, local government councils, the Assembly of Experts and the Majles.

The Council of Guardians consists of 12 persons. The Supreme Leader appoints the six religious members of the Council of Guardians while the Iranian parliament, the Majles, selects the six lay members from candidates recommended by the judiciary, which is in turn selected by the Supreme Leader. The latter group plays a role only in determining whether legislation before the Majles conforms to Iran’s constitution. The religious members, on the other hand, take part in all deliberations, considering all bills for conformity to Islamic principles. The Council of Guardians can veto any law. This body also certifies the competence of candidates for the presidency, local government councils, the Assembly of Experts and the Majles.

The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is elected by universal suffrage to a four-year term. If no candidate receives a simply majority during elections, the top two vote-getters compete in a run-off. Voter turn-out was quite low, but Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad won 62% in the elections in 2005, while former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani received only 36% of the vote.

The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran is elected by universal suffrage to a four-year term. If no candidate receives a simply majority during elections, the top two vote-getters compete in a run-off. Voter turn-out was quite low, but Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won 62% in the elections in 2005, while former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani received only 36% of the vote.

The president supervises the affairs of the executive branch, appointing and supervising the Council of Ministers (members of the cabinet), coordinating government decisions, and selecting government policies to be placed before the National Assembly.

The president supervises the affairs of the executive branch, appointing and supervising the Council of Ministers (members of the cabinet), coordinating government decisions, and selecting government policies to be placed before the National Assembly.

== Principal Government Officials ==

== Principal Government Officials ==

* Leader of the Islamic Revolution--Ali Hoseini-Khamenei

* Leader of the Islamic Revolution: Ali Hoseini-Khamenei

* President--Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad

* President: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

* First Vice President--Mohammad Reza Aref-Yazdi

* First Vice President: Mohammad Reza Aref-Yazdi

* Foreign Minister--Manouchehr Mottaki

* Foreign Minister: Manouchehr Mottaki

* Ambassador to the United Nations--Mohammad Javad Zarif

* Ambassador to the United Nations: Mohammad Javad Zarif

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By mid-1982, the clergy had won a succession of post-Revolution power struggles that eliminated first the center of the political spectrum and then the leftists, including the communist Tudeh party. Assassinations, throwing acid in the faces of women who refused to wear the veil, and other acts of violence punctuated this period. There has been some moderation of excesses since the early days of the revolution, and the country experienced a partial "thaw" in terms of political and social freedoms during the tenure of former president Khatami, but serious problems remain. These include human rights violations, worsening constraints on press freedom and civil liberties, and, internationally, Iran remains a major state sponsor of terrorism.

By mid-1982, the clergy had won a succession of post-Revolution power struggles that eliminated first the center of the political spectrum and then the leftists, including the communist Tudeh party. Assassinations, throwing acid in the faces of women who refused to wear the veil, and other acts of violence punctuated this period. There has been some moderation of excesses since the early days of the revolution, and the country experienced a partial "thaw" in terms of political and social freedoms during the tenure of former president Khatami, but serious problems remain. These include human rights violations, worsening constraints on press freedom and civil liberties, and, internationally, Iran remains a major state sponsor of terrorism.

The Islamic Republican Party (IRP) was Iran's sole political party until its dissolution in 1987. Iran now has a variety of groups engaged in political activity; some are oriented along ideological lines or based on an identity group, others are more akin to professional political parties seeking members and recommending candidates for office. Some are active participants in the Revolution’s political life while others reject the state. Conservatives consistently thwarted the efforts of reformists during the Khatami era and have consolidated their control on power since the flawed elections for the seventh Majles in 2004 and president Ahmadi-Nejad’s victory in 2005.

The Islamic Republican Party (IRP) was Iran's sole political party until its dissolution in 1987. Iran now has a variety of groups engaged in political activity; some are oriented along ideological lines or based on an identity group, others are more akin to professional political parties seeking members and recommending candidates for office. Some are active participants in the Revolution’s political life while others reject the state. Conservatives consistently thwarted the efforts of reformists during the Khatami era and have consolidated their control on power since the flawed elections for the seventh Majles in 2004 and president Ahmadinejad’s victory in 2005.

The Iranian Government has faced armed opposition from a number of groups, including the Mojahedin-e-Khalq or MEK (which the U.S. Government added to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 1999), the People's Fedayeen, and the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI).

The Iranian Government has faced armed opposition from a number of groups, including the Mojahedin-e-Khalq or MEK (which the U.S. Government added to its list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations in 1999), the People's Fedayeen, and the Kurdish Democratic Party of Iran (KDPI).