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Iran: Political situation



CONTENT

INTRODUCTION
1. Political situation
2. Economy
3. Health & Education
4. Religions & Peoples
5. History

IRANIAN STATE LEADERS
Emperors / Shahs
Ismail 1
1502-1524
Tahmasp 1
1524-1576
Ismail 2
1576-1577
Muhammed Khudabande
1577-1587
Abbas 1 the Great
1587-1629
Safi 1
1629-1642
Abbas 2
1642-1667
Safi 2
1667-1694
  
Hussein
1722
Tahmasp 2
1722-1731
Abbas 3
1731-1736
Nadir Shah
1736-1747
Adil
1747-1748
Shah Ruk
1748-1749
Muhammed Ali
1750-1779
Abu Fath
1779
Sadiq
1779-1781
Ali Murad
1781-1785
Djafar
1785-1789
Lutf Ali
1789-1796
Muhammed Qajar 1
1794-1797
Fath Ali Qajar
1797-1834
Muhammed Qajar 2
1834-1848
Naseruddin Qajar
1848-1896
Mozaffaruddin Qajar
1896-1907
Muhammad Ali Qajar
1907-1909
Soltan Ahmed Qajar
1909-1925
Reza Pahlavi
1925-1941
Muhammad Reza Pahlavi
1941-1979
Presidents
Abolhassan Bani-Sadr
1980-1981
Muhammed Ali Rajai
1981
Sayyed Ali Khamenei
1981-1989
Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani
1989-1997
Mohammed Khatami
1997-


The new regime under Khatami has slowly opened up parts of the political structures of Iran, and there is a little more political freedom and freedom of speech. Iran is stable but there are strong oppositional undercurrents against the domination of Islam in the political reality.
The regime in Iran has been losing much of its control over what happens inside the country. This is because the economy is weak, and because much energy has been used on the international arena. It remains uncertain on who has the actual power in Iran right now, the non-clergy rulers or the religious leaders. It seems clear that at least some power has moved over to the hands of the non-clergy rulers, but there is a strong theocratic influence on the symbolics of the government. The constitution remains Islamic, and the appearance inside, and outside Iran, is always stamped by the Islamic orientation.
The opposition against the regime has been weakened over the last years, but there is now operating an exile government, which of course has no other importance than propagating their aims on the international scene.
The violent actions performed inside Iran by the illegal opposition has become rarer in the recent years, but little suggests that internal disagreement with the present rulers is dwindling.
Iran's international position remains impregnated by little will of adjusting to both Western, and Middle Eastern politicians and diplomats. Iran's foremost importance on the international arena, is through supporting groups like Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.
Iran is still very much concerned about the Western border area towards Iraq, and is strongly opposing US attempts to gain influence in Iraq, but this happens without expressing support for Saddam Hussayn.

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By: Tore Kjeilen