The result was the establishment of an Islamic constitution that was to be vested in the Khomeini (religious leader). .
• Major events that occurred during the new religious system: the death of the Shah (7/4/79), Iranian militants seized the US embassy (4/11/79), US broke diplomatic relations with Iran (7/4/79), dispute over Shatt Al-Arab (22/9/80). .
• Iran's government is intermingled with its economy, just like most of the Arab-Islamic countries. "Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture and small-scale private trading and service ventures." (www.mestee.com/countries/iran/index.html) "Unemployment, a major problem even before the revolution, has many causes including population growth, the war with Iraq and shortages of raw materials and trained managers." (US Department of State).
• The Islamic government is divided into an executive branch (chief of state, head of government, cabinet, elections, election results), legislative branch (unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or Mayles-e-Shura-Ye Eslam, elections) judicial branch (supreme court).
• Iran's political and economic system is extremely organized that the only way to change the system is by revolutions. That is why there are many political, diplomatic, economic issues that are unresolved.
• The Republic of Iran is a major crossing point in the Gulf, which makes it a very important location. Even though Iran is not an Arabic speaking country, it is a major part of the Middle East and has a broad and an ongoing civilization.
Sources:.
- N.R. Keddi, Religion and Politics in Iran (1983).
- www.mesteel.com/countries/iran/index.html.
- www.encyclopedia.com.
- US Department of State official website.
- Elton L.Daniel, The History of Iran Nov.2000.
- Elain Sciolino, Persian Mirrors: The Elusive Face of Iran (2001).
