Leaders/Empires
The last Shah of Iran ousted for his authoritarianism and perceived status as a "U.S. puppet."
Pahlavi
An elected body of 88 clerics who have the power to appoint and (theoretically) remove the Supreme Leader.
Assembly of Experts
Large, "charitable" Islamic foundations that are state-subsidized and exempt from taxes.
Bonyad
The document that established the theocracy, blending democratic elements (elections) with clerical oversight.
Constitution of 1979
The Persian language.
Farsi
The charismatic leader of the 1979 Revolution and the first Supreme Leader.
Ayatollah Khomeini
A powerful 12-member body (6 clerics, 6 lawyers) that vets all candidates for office and ensures all laws passed by the Majles align with Islamic law.
Guardian Council
A country that derives a massive portion of its national revenue from one resource.
Rentier State
A society divided into a traditional/religious sector and a modern/secular sector.
Dual society
A religious minority that is not recognized by the state and faces systematic persecution.
Baha'i
This empire established Shia Islam as the state religion.
Safavid
The Iranian Parliament (unicameral legislature). They draft legislation and ratify treaties but are heavily checked by the Guardian Council.
Majles
The regime’s policy toward women—granting them rights (like education and voting) but maintaining different legal standards in marriage, divorce, and inheritance.
Equality with a difference
Massive protests following the disputed re-election of Ahmadinejad; the first major "Twitter revolution" seeking democratic reform.
Green Revolution
A volunteer paramilitary force under the IRGC, often used for internal security and cracking down on protesters.
Basij
The Supreme Leader from 1989 until 2026
Ayatollah Khamenei
A body designed to settle disputes between the Majles and the Guardian Council. It acts as an advisory board to the Supreme Leader.
Expediency Council
The holy city that serves as the center of Shia learning and the power base of the clergy.
Qom
Islamic law derived from the Qur'an and the examples of the Prophet.
Sharia
The foundational principle of the Islamic Republic, asserting that senior clerics have the ultimate authority over the entire community.
Jurist’s Guardianship (Velayat-e-Faqih)
President (2005–2013). A hardline conservative known for populist economic policies, nuclear defiance, and the controversial 2009 election.
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
An elite military branch separate from the regular army, tasked with protecting the Islamic system and managing a massive parallel economy.
Revolutionary Guard
Recognized religious minorities (Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians) who are granted protected status and reserved seats in the Majles.
People of the book
A theory applied to 1979; it suggests revolutions happen when people’s lives improve for a while, then hit a sudden downturn, creating a gap between expectations and reality.
Revolution of rising expectations
The 2015 "Nuclear Deal" where Iran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
JCPOA