STATE STRUCTURE
General Information
Official name – Islamic Republic of Iran.
Form of government – Islamic republic based on the principle of "Velayat-e Faqih" (i.e., "the rule of the most authoritative Shiite jurist", which must be maintained until the return of the 12th "Hidden Imam"; according to the Shiite religious doctrine, the latter holds full authority).
Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran (1989) – Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
President (2024) – Masoud Pezeshkian.
State language – Persian (Farsi).
Capital – Tehran.
Foundation Period
The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) began its history in 1979, when Ayatollah (an honorary title for Shiite theologians) R. Khomeini, who returned from exile in France in early February 1979, gathered a team of like-minded individuals and skillfully led the revolutionary processes unfolding in the country. On February 11 of the same year, the monarch - Mohammad Reza Pahlavi - was overthrown. On April 1, 1979, Iran was proclaimed an Islamic Republic through a general vote, and on December 2-3, 1979, the constitution of the IRI was approved by referendum.
Heads of State
Head of State (Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran)
Supreme Commander-in-Chief; determines the general political line of the IRI and exercises control over its implementation.
Ruhollah Mostafavi Musavi Khomeini – held the post of Supreme Leader of Iran from December 1979 to June 1989. Religious, spiritual, state, and political figure. In February 1979, he led the Islamic Revolution in Iran, which resulted in the abolition of the monarchy and the appointment of an interim government. In accordance with the Constitution adopted in December 1979, he assumed the post of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ali Hosseini Khamenei – religious, spiritual, state, political, military, and public figure. Has held the post of Supreme Leader of Iran from June 4, 1989 to the present. Third President of Iran in 1981-1989. One of the closest associates of the leader of the Islamic Revolution, "Grand Ayatollah" Ruhollah Khomeini.
The President heads the executive branch. Leads the work of the government (except for those matters that fall directly under the purview of the Supreme Leader of the IRI). The President is elected for a four-year term by direct secret ballot and may hold office for no more than two consecutive terms.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad – Iranian political and state figure, sixth President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from August 3, 2005 to August 3, 2013.
Hassan Rouhani – Iranian political, religious, spiritual, and state figure, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from August 3, 2013 to August 3, 2021.
Ebrahim Raisi – Iranian political, spiritual, religious, and state figure, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from August 3, 2021 to May 19, 2024.
Mohammad Mokhber Dezfuli – Iranian state figure, First Vice President of Iran from August 8, 2021 to July 29, 2024. Acting President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from May 19 to July 29, 2024.
Masoud Pezeshkian – Iranian cardiac surgeon, political and state figure, reformist, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran from July 28, 2024 to the present.
Administrative Division
Iran is administratively divided into 31 provinces – ostans. Ostans are in turn divided into counties – shahrestans. The next level of territorial division is the district – bakhsh. Bakhshs are subdivided into rural districts – dehestans. Dehestans unite several villages. Each rural district has a self-governing body called a dehkhoda.