IRAN. Islamic Republic of Iran
A state in Southwest Asia. Area — 1,648,000 km². Capital - Tehran (over 12 million with suburbs), largest cities: Mashhad (1.5 million), Isfahan (1 million), Tabriz (852 thousand), Shiraz (800 thousand). Administratively divided into 32 provinces (ostans). Population - about 68 million (December 2004, estimate). Ethnic composition: Persians (51%), Azerbaijanis (27%), Kurds (5%), Lurs, Arabs, Turkmen, Baluchis, Armenians, Jews, representatives of other nationalities. The official language is Persian (Farsi). The state religion is Islam of the Shia branch (practiced by over 90% of the population). Currency - rial.
Has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the RSFSR on May 20, 1920).
National holiday - February 11 - Revolution Day (1979).
Iran is an Islamic republic. The constitution, approved in a referendum on December 2-3, 1979, is in effect, with subsequent amendments (from July 28, 1989). State power is exercised by independent legislative, executive, and judicial authorities, controlled by the political and spiritual leader of the country — Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei (elected by the Council of Experts on June 4, 1989, after the death of Ayatollah R. M. Khomeini). The president is elected by direct vote for a term of 4 years (on June 24, 2005, in the second round of voting, former Tehran mayor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of the IRI, and his inauguration took place on August 4), and he also heads the cabinet of ministers. The highest legislative body is the unicameral parliament - the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis), consisting of 290 deputies, elected by direct and secret ballot for a term of 4 years. The last elections to the Majlis took place in 2004.
According to the constitution of the IRI and the law adopted in 1981, the activities of political parties and non-Islamic organizations were banned in Iran. In 1988, it was announced that parties and organizations not aiming to change the existing regime could be officially registered. There are several Islamic associations with pro-government orientation, in particular, the Society of Struggling Clergy (which holds pragmatic positions), and the Association of Struggling Clerics (which advocates for a fundamentalist course for the country).
Among the opposition parties and organizations, the most notable are: the Movement for Freedom of Iran — founded in 1961, General Secretary — I. Yazdi. The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan — founded in 1945, emerged on the political scene after prolonged persecution in the spring of 1979, but was banned in August of the same year. It conducts an armed struggle for the autonomy of Iranian Kurdistan within Iran. The People's Party of Iran — established in October 1941, is the successor to the Iranian Communist Party (banned in 1931). In March 1979, it announced the beginning of legal activities, expressing readiness to cooperate with the Shia clergy in the interests of strengthening national independence and ensuring democratic rights and freedoms.
In May 1983, the authorities announced the dissolution of the party, and its leaders and activists were repressed. Currently, it operates illegally. Leader - Ali Khavari. The Organization of Iranian People's Fedayeen (majority) (OFINb) and the Organization of Mojahedin of the Iranian People (OMIN) operate underground. OFINb was established in 1971. The first secretary of the Central Committee is F. Negahdar. OMIN was formed in 1965. Leader - M. Rajavi, who created the so-called National Council of Resistance in exile. There are also some groups of clerical, pro-monarchist, and liberal-bourgeois directions in opposition.
Trade unions were dissolved in 1979. Iran (until 1935 — Persia) is one of the oldest states in Asia. As a result of colonial expansion by England and Russia by the end of the 19th century, it became their semi-colony. Seeking full control over national wealth and the use of the country's important strategic position, the British government provoked a coup in 1921, as a result of which the dictatorship of the former commander of the Cossack brigade, and later Minister of War Reza Khan, was established in the country.
In 1925, he was proclaimed Shah of Iran and took the surname Pahlavi. After World War II, following the policies of the USA and other Western countries, Iran became a member of the CENTO bloc (1955). As a result of a conspiracy orchestrated by the CIA, in 1953 the legitimate government of M. Mossadegh, which was pursuing a policy of strengthening the country's independence, was overthrown. After pushing aside its partners as a result of the coup, the USA, relying on the son of the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, took leading positions in Iran. In 1959, the Shah concluded a military agreement with the USA, which strengthened American presence in the region.
In the 1960s, due to increasing anti-government protests, the ruling circles were forced to implement some socio-economic reforms — the so-called "White Revolution," which aimed to accelerate the country's development along Western lines.
In 1978-79, a struggle against the Shah's regime unfolded in Iran, in which representatives of almost all layers of Iranian society participated. The Shia clergy played an active role, seeking to restore the values of Islam in the country. In 1979, an anti-monarchist revolution occurred, overthrowing the Shah's regime. On April 1, 1979, Iran was proclaimed an Islamic Republic.
Immediately after the revolution, certain circles of the clergy, led by the religious leader of the Shia, Ayatollah R. Khomeini, closely connected with the petty bourgeoisie and large landowners, pushed aside all other political forces and took a course towards monopolizing power in the country.
At the same time, under pressure from the masses, the religious leadership carried out a number of measures to eliminate the legacy of the Shah's regime.
Iran declared its goal to liberate the country from all forms of dependence on imperialism in defense of national interests, withdrew from the CENTO bloc, and joined the Non-Aligned Movement.
During the Iran-Iraq war, which began in 1980, the country suffered significant economic damage (over $700 billion), about 60% of processing industry capacities were rendered inoperable. The war cost Iran $13-14 billion annually (over 40% of budget funds were spent on military needs). In August 1988, an agreement was reached to cease fire and begin peace negotiations between Iran and Iraq.
The current course of the Iranian leadership on the international stage, especially its pragmatically oriented wing, is characterized by a desire to bring the country out of diplomatic isolation. Regarding a whole range of international and regional issues, the position of the IRI has undergone certain transformations.
On December 20, 2004, parliamentary elections were held (195 out of 290 seats were won by representatives of conservative forces, the remaining seats were approximately evenly divided between "reformers" and independents). The chairman of the Majlis became Gholam-Ali Adel.
Iran is a member of the UN (since 1945), and in 1967 joined the Colombo Plan.
The most important sector of the country's economy is the oil and gas extraction and processing industry. It accounts for up to 14% of GNP, 83% of state budget revenues, and about 90% of foreign exchange earnings. The country has proven gas reserves of 26.6 trillion m³. The state sector accounts for over 70% of the country's GDP. The government controls the most important sectors of the economy, including all large and medium-sized (and partially small) industries.
Iran ranks second in the world in oil reserves (after Saudi Arabia, 13% of world reserves) and gas (after Russia, 18% of world reserves). In terms of oil production volume (about 4 million barrels per day), Iran ranks third in the world and second within OPEC. However, it is unable to meet its needs for petroleum products from domestic industrial capacities. The import of petroleum products amounts to 7-8 million tons per year (25-30% of Iranian needs).
Other sectors of industry are also developed, but they suffer from disrupted foreign economic ties and a lack of foreign currency, as they depend 60% on raw material imports and 90% on equipment imports. The annual need for foreign currency purchases is $10-12 billion (only $4.5 billion is allocated).
Agriculture is a developing sector of the economy. Iran is forced to import wheat, rice, sugar, and vegetable oil annually (food import needs - $2 billion). The area of cultivated land in the country is about 17 million hectares (10% of the country's territory), of which irrigated land is 4.2 million hectares. In recent years, Iran has taken steps to reduce food import volumes, primarily of grain crops.
The average annual GDP growth rate from 2000 to 2004 was 5.6% (in 2004, estimates suggest 6.5%, with an average inflation rate of 15.6%). GDP per capita is $1,060. In 2004, industrial sectors (including oil extraction) produced over 41.2% of GDP. The share of agriculture was 14.8%, and the services sector accounted for 44%. Crude oil production was 4 million barrels per day (about 200 million tons per year), of which 2.6 million barrels (130 million tons) were exported. Revenue from oil exports is estimated at $34 billion. The share of the private sector in GDP is increasing (up to 38%), while the share of the public sector is decreasing. Steps are being taken to attract foreign investors: the creation of enterprises with 100% foreign capital is allowed, rules for economic activities for foreign entities are being simplified, and efforts are being increased to attract Iranian entrepreneurs living abroad as investors.
Unemployment remains a serious problem. At the beginning of 2005, there were 2.3 million unemployed (10.4% of the working-age population).
The foreign trade turnover for 2004 is estimated at $80 billion, with exports accounting for $43.5 billion. The main share of exports consists of crude oil (about 80%). Also exported are products from the petrochemical, chemical, and automotive industries, gas, and traditional goods such as carpets, pistachios, and caviar. Major trading partners of Iran are EU countries (about €15 billion), with Italy leading (over $4.4 billion), followed by Germany (over $4.3 billion), France, and Spain. Among Asian countries, Japan (over $8 billion), China (about $6 billion), South Korea (about $5 billion), India (about $3 billion), and Turkey (over $2.5 billion) hold dominant positions in trade turnover with Iran.
Iran's trade turnover with CIS countries exceeds $4.2 billion, including over $2 billion with Russia.
The active balance of the current account in 2004-2005 is expected to increase to $3.2-3.5 billion compared to $2.1 billion in 2003-2004. Gold and foreign exchange reserves increased by $3.5 billion in 2003-2004 and amounted to $24.5 billion. According to the IMF, by the end of 2004, Iran's reserves amounted to $27.5 billion. Iran's external debt (June 2004) is $12.3 billion.
The main part of transportation in the country (80%) is carried out by road transport. The length of highways is 60,000 km, and railways are 6,000 km, including electrified lines of 260 km. Recently, attempts have been made to revive foreign tourism.
The country has a well-developed system of secondary and higher education. Tehran and Isfahan universities are among the most modern.
The press is mainly controlled by the government. The largest publications include the newspapers "Kayhan," "Ettelaat," "Jomhouri-ye Islami," "Abrar" (in Persian), and "Tehran Times" (in English). The national news agency of the Islamic Republic is IRNA.
The government organization for radio and television is "Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran."