Country profile: Iran

Story from BBC NEWS:
_east/country_profiles/790877.stm

Published: 2009/03/11 10:19:39 GMT

Iran became a unique Islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was
overthrown and religious clerics assumed political control under
supreme leader Ayatollah Khomenei.

The Iranian revolution put an end to the rule of the Shah, who had
alienated powerful religious and political forces with a program of
modernization and Westernization.

Persia, as Iran was known before 1935, was one of the greatest empires
of the ancient world, and the country has long maintained a distinct
cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own
language and adhering to the Shia interpretation of Islam.

In 2002, US President George W Bush declared Iran as part of an "axis
of evil". Washington accuses it of undermining its efforts in Iraq and
of trying to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran, which is building its first atomic power station with Russian
help, says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

In 2006 the government announced that it had succeeded in enriching
uranium. President Ahmadinejad said Iran has an "inalienable right" to
produce nuclear fuel.

The country has an abundance of energy resources – substantial oil
reserves and natural gas reserves second only to those of Russia.

AT-A-GLANCE

Politics: Conservatives have kept reformers at bay and retain power in
the complex system of religious and democratic government
Economy: Iran holds 9% of world oil reserves; a critical shortfall in
jobs has hit the young
International: Iran has defied international pressure over its nuclear
programme; it is accused of funding terrorism and some fear its
burgeoning regional influence

Iran has been led by a conservative elite since 1979, but appeared to
be entering another era of political and social transformation with the
victory of the liberals in parliamentary elections in 2000.
But the reformists, kept on the political defensive by powerful
conservatives in the government and judiciary, failed to make good on
their promises.

Former President Mohammad Khatami’s support for greater social and
political freedoms made him popular with the young – an important
factor as around half of the population is under 25.

But his liberal ideas put him at odds with the supreme leader,
Ayatollah Khamenei, and hardliners reluctant to lose sight of
established Islamic traditions.

The elections of June 2005 dealt a blow to the reformists when Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, Tehran’s ultra-conservative mayor, became president.

Full name: Islamic Republic of Iran
Population: 72.2 million (UN, 2008)
Capital: Tehran
Area: 1.65 million sq km (636,313 sq miles)
Major language: Persian
Major religion: Islam
Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 10 Iranian rials = 1 toman
Main exports: Petroleum, carpets, agricultural products
GNI per capita: US $3,470 (World Bank, 2007)
Internet domain: .ir
International dialling code: +98

Supreme leader: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

The supreme leader – the highest power in the land – appoints the head
of the judiciary, military leaders, the head of radio and TV and Friday
prayer leaders.

Moreover, he selects six members of the Guardian Council, an
influential body which has to pass all legislation and which can veto
would-be election candidates.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was appointed for life in June 1989, succeeding
Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic republic. He served two
consecutive terms as president in the 1980s.

He has intervened on behalf of conservatives, coming into conflict with
former president Mohammad Khatami and other reformists.

President: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran’s ultra-conservative mayor, won a run-off
vote in elections in June 2005, defeating his rival, the former
president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, to become Iran’s first non-cleric
president for 24 years.

Promising an administration of "peace and moderation", he said his
government would press on with Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.

Local elections in December 2006 – his first major test at the polls
since coming to power – saw his allies trailing moderate conservatives
and reformists.

But parliamentary elections in March 2008 – in which many pro-reform
candidates were disbarred from standing – saw a strong showing not only
by the president’s supporters but also by more pragmatic conservatives
who oppose his confrontational style of dealing with western countries.

In March 2008 Mr Ahmadinejad made an unprecedented official visit to
Iraq. He said the presence of foreign forces in Iraq was a humiliation
and insult to the region.

Born near Tehran in 1956, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a former provincial
governor and Revolutionary Guards officer. He was actively involved in
the Islamic revolution and was a founding member of the student union
that took over the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. But he denies being
one of the hostage-takers.

The struggle for influence and power in Iran is played out in the
media.

The relatively free press, a tangible achievement of former President
Khatami’s government, has been targeted by conservatives. Many
pro-reform publications have been closed and reformist writers and
editors jailed. The conservative judiciary has also campaigned against
the liberal media.

There are some 20 major national dailies, but few Iranians buy a
newspaper every day. Sports titles are the biggest sellers.

Broadcasters are more restricted than the press. Despite a ban on
owning dishes, foreign satellite TV channels are widely watched; this
is largely tolerated by the authorities. Stations operated by exiles in
the US were said to have played a role in student protests in 2003.

State-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting – IRIB – operates
national and provincial networks. Its Jaam-e Jam international TV
channels are available worldwide via satellite. IRIB targets Arabic
speakers in Iraq and the Middle East via the Al-Alam and Al-Kawthar TV
networks.

It launched an English-language satellite station, Press TV, in 2007.
President Ahmadinejad said its mission would be "to stand by the
oppressed of the world".

Television is very popular, with more than 80% of Iranians being
regular viewers. The most-watched network is the third state channel,
the youth channel.

IRIB’s radio channels include a parliamentary network and Radio Koran.
The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, an external radio service,
broadcasts via shortwave and the internet.

By early 2008 there were around 23 million internet users
(InternetWorldStats). The web is the main forum for dissident voices.
Access is easy to arrange and affordable for middle-class households.

However, service providers are prevented from allowing access to sites
deemed to be pornographic or anti-Islamic.

News sites are becoming increasingly important in providing information
and insight. They often have strong political leanings. There are tens
of thousands of weblogs, with bloggers active both in Iran and among
the diaspora. Officials, including President Ahmadinezhad, have
launched blogs.

Foreign broadcasters target audiences in Iran; they include the
Washington-backed Radio Farda, a music-based station aimed at younger
audiences.

The press

Tehran Times – English-language daily, published by state-run body
Iran Daily – English-language, published by official news agency IRNA
Iran News – English-language
Aftab-e Yazd (Sun of Yazd) – reformist daily
Kayhan (Universe) – conservative daily
Resalat (Message) – conservative daily
Etemaad (Confidence) – reformist daily
Etemaad-e Melli (National Trust) – owned by National Trust Party leader
Mehdi Karrubi
Jomhuri-ye-Eslami (Islamic Republic) – conservative daily
Jaam-e Jam (Jam’s Cup) – large-circulation daily, published by IRIB,
reflects broadcaster’s editorial line
Television

IRIB – state-run, operates four national networks, provincial and
international services
Press TV – IRIB’s English-language satellite channel
Radio

IRIB – state-run, operates eight national networks, provincial services
and an external service
News agencies

Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) – state-run, English-language pages
Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) – English-language pages
Fars News Agency – affiliated to Revolutionary Guards, English-language
pages
Mehr News Agency – affiliated to Islamic Propagation Organisation,
English-language pages