Understanding Iran's Key Political and Religious Terms

Key Political and Religious Terms in Iran

• Majlis: Unicameral parliament, reformist, vetted members, passes laws that are marginalized by its theocratic nature.
• Expediency Council: Liaison between the Guardian Council and the Majlis. This council makes policy and consists of 32 members who serve five-year terms.
• Guardian Council: The most powerful theological body in Iran, vetting all candidates. Their job is Sharia law oversight, making them too important to create laws. They cross executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
• Assembly of Religious Experts: They meet once a year to choose supreme leaders and are the only branch with the power to oust the Supreme Leader. Members are popularly elected.
• Maslahat: A Sunni concept meaning expediency or self-interest. The Supreme Leader can overturn any decision made by the Guardian Council if it is in the best interest of Islam, safeguarding “public interest” by postponing religious rulings, even over prayer, fasting, and the pilgrimage to Mecca.
• Sharia Law: A body of law based on Islam and the Quran.
• Savak: The secret police of the Shah, hated by the people.
• Pasdaran: A Persian term referring to Iranian guards used during Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
• Rentier State: A country that obtains much of its revenue from the export of oil or other natural resources and does not rely on its people for a tax base.
• Ayatollah Khomeini: The first Supreme Leader who ruled over the 1979 revolution, known for his charismatic authority.
• President Ahmadinejad: The 6th president of Iran, known for his controversial positions on human rights and nuclear development. He was also alienated from Israel.
• Ayatollah Khamenei: The second and current Ayatollah of Iran, previously the president, and Supreme Leader since 1989. A mid-level cleric who took steps back because he is considered less qualified than Rafsanjani.
• Mossadegh: Democratically elected as Prime Minister until his government was overthrown in a coup, ousted by a CIA coup.
• Bonyads: A form of Islamic Charity controlled by clerics, most well known for the Foundation of the Oppressed.
• Hezbollah: Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups that translate to partisans of God. They are a religious vigilante group.
• Wahhabis: A religious movement/branch of Sunni Islam.
• White Revolution: The 1960s exile of Khomeini, which began to westernize Iran, unveiling women, introducing blue jeans, and was seen as part of westernization, done in an autocratic fashion.
• Bazaaris: Conservative, lower/middle-class shopkeepers and merchants.