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Iranian Revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution was the 1979 revolution that transformed Iran from an autocratic, pro-western monarchy, under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to an Islamic, populist theocratic republic under the rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The revolution has been divided into two stages: the first stage saw an alliance of liberal, leftist, and religious groups oust the Shah; the second stage, often named the Islamic Revolution, saw the ayatollah's rise to power. The Shah had been in power since 1941, with a brief interruption in 1953; through the 1960s and 1970s he faced continued opposition, from religious figures as well as from urban middle classes, who were not among the wealthy elite benefitting from the Shah's extravagance, and who supported a constitutional democracy. The Shah enforced a strict regime, imprisoning hundreds of political activists, and enforcing censorship laws. While living conditions for most of the population were poor, there was little popular demand for constitutional reform. In 1978 a series of protests, triggered by a libelous story attacking Khomeini in the official press, created an escalating cycle of violence, until, on December 12, over two million people filled the streets of Azadi Square in Tehran to protest against the Shah. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. The Shah agreed to introduce a more moderate constitution, but it was too late for compromise. The majority of the population was loyal to Khomeini, and when he called for a complete end to the monarchy, the Shah was forced to flee the country on January 16, 1979. Khomeini returned to Iran (from France) on February 1, invited by the anti-Shah revolution already in progress, and Khomeini rapidly displaced the more moderate elements, creating an Islamic Republic with himself as Supreme Leader.

Precursors to the revolution

Pahlavi was returned to power in Iran after he had fled the country in 1953. This was achieved by overthrowing the democratically elected government of Dr. Mohammad Mossadegh with the aid of a CIA covert operation, codenamed Operation Ajax. Pahlavi maintained good relations with the United States, but experienced conflict with traditional Iranian Muslim views on alcohol, gambling, and pre-marital sex, all of which he refused to ban. The regime was renowned for its corruption and its brutal practices that, in response, witnessed protests in Iran and elicited criticism from many parts of the international community. Strong opposition arose in many sections of society during the Shah's reign. Of particular importance in this respect were the religious figures that had long grown to be an important voice of opposition in Iran. Since the 19th century Tobacco Protests, the Ulema had been steadily growing in political as well as religious influence. The dominant theology in Iran was one that closely linked religious and secular concerns with a strong history of social activism. These included opposition to government brutality and a commitment to fight poverty. This activism was matched by a strong conservatism toward the maintenance of Islamic values. As this opposition grew, the Shah struck hard on dissidents. In 1963, for example, he attacked theology students who tried to stop the opening of a liquor store. theology Ayatollah Khomeini was a leader of the opposition, who claimed that the Shah's reign was a tyranny. Following the arrest of Khomeini, and his subsequent exile from Iran in 1964, rioting among the cleric's followers increased. Pahlavi frequently chose to answer the riots with violence, arresting and killing demonstrators. It is unknown how many lives were claimed in this campaign; the Pahlavi government claimed it to be 86, while Iranian exiles have estimated it in the thousands. During 1963 and 1967, the Iranian economy grew considerably, due to a rise in the value of oil, as well as steel exports. Inflation accelerated at the same time, however, and the economic boom failed to better the lives of middle-class and poor Iranians. Instead, much of this wealth was siphoned off by the Shah and his allies into private reserves. The leaders in the Shah's regime, and those who acted as intermediaries with western companies, became extremely wealthy, indulging in conspicuous consumption that angered both those who were not sharing in the wealth, and the Islamic leaders who questioned its morality. The government also began to spend vast amounts of public money in purchasing modern weapon systems, primarily from the United States. Faced with growing opposition from the religious leaders, who were joined by small business leaders in 1975, the Shah launched a new effort to assert his control over Iranian society. This effort attempted to minimize the role of Islam in the life of the kingdom, lauding instead the achievements of pre-Islamic Persian civilization. Thus, in 1976, the lunar Islamic calendar was abolished from public usage and replaced with a solar calendar. Muslim and Marxist publications were also heavily censored. The Shah's reform is known as the King's or White Revolution. It also abolished the feudal system (causing consequences such as breaking up property owned by some Shia clergy - which reduced their income) and it gave suffrage to women (which was protested by the clergy as being a plot to "bring the women to the streets").

Pre-revolutionary conditions inside Iran

The poorest section of the Iranian population tended to be the most religious and the most opposed to perceived foreign imperialism. The poor were largely rural, or inhabited slums outside the large cities, especially the capital Tehran. They wanted the basic Islamic lifestyle to return, in opposition to the Shah's efforts for modernism and progress, which they believed to be imperialism. They viewed the Shah's reforms as self-serving and his promise of providing "progress" to be false, based on the increased gap between rich and poor. In addition, many felt that much of the great wealth created by the oil industry was creating an increasing gap between the rich and the poor. As the Iranian middle classes became more urbanised, educated, and exposed to progressive and modern philosophies, many came to see the regime as being part of the problem. In addition in the years following his restoration in 1953, the Shah's position became increasingly perilous. This was due in large measure to his close ties to the West, unpopular reforms enacted during the White Revolution, internal corruption, and the despotic nature of his regime, especially its secret police known as SAVAK. In the early 1970's, as the price of oil continued its upward climb, many became increasingly angered by the regime's cronyism, internal corruption, and repressive nature. The internal decadence is well illustrated by the 2,500th anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire. These celebrations consisted of a three-day party held at the site of Persepolis in October, 1971. Officially, the celebrations cost $40 million, but unofficial estimates were more in the range of $100-120 million. The party included extravagances, such as over a ton of caviar, prepared by some of the two hundred chefs flown in from Paris. Meanwhile, many within Iran had insufficient food and shelter of their own. In the 1970s, as the rise in global crude oil prices increased the gulf between rich and poor in Iran, the pressure for a change in government policies became more acute. Even pro-Western elements in Iran became disturbed by the increasingly autocratic style of government and increased use of the secret police. Many fled Iran before the Revolution, and others began to organize. At the same time, a broader populist movement found its source of organization in mosques, and in sermons that denounced the wickedness of the West and Western indulgences. The collision between a young and growing population, and a social structure which offered neither advancement in a modern state, nor the stability of a traditional society, created the conditions which were ripe for revolution.

Early protests

In 1977, following human rights pressure from U.S. President Jimmy Carter (who threatened to cut arms shipments), more than 300 political prisoners were released, censorship was relaxed, and the court system reformed. This loosening of restrictions led to more campaigns from the opposition, where writers campaigned for freedom of thought, and people began to demonstrate. Also, the policy of land reform which the Shah implemented, and had also been caused by pressure from the Carter administration, infuriated the mullahs (who declared a holy war against the Shah), and contributed to the Shah's problems. This early opposition was led by Mehdi Bazargan and his Freedom Movement of Iran. It was a liberal, secularist group that was closely linked to Massadegh's movement of the 1950s. This group saw significant support in Iran and abroad in the West. More radical was Ali Shari'ati, who combined Marxism and Shia orthodoxy into a revolutionary movement inspired by the Cuban and Algerian revolutions. Shari'ati's alleged murder in London in 1977, which was blamed on SAVAK agents, greatly inflamed tensions. The Ulema were divided, some allying with the liberal secularists, and others with the Marxists. Khomeini, who was in exile in Iraq, led a small faction that advocated the overthrow of the regime and the creation of a theocratic state. In late 1977, Khomeini's son Mostafa was found dead of unknown reasons; again the Shah security forces were blamed. The various anti-establishment groups operated from outside Iran, mostly in London, Paris, Iraq, and Turkey. Speeches by the leaders of these groups were placed on audio cassettes to be smuggled into Iran. The speeches could then be listened to by the largely illiterate population.

Escalating protests

During the period up to 1978, the opposition to the Shah mostly came from the urban middle class, a section of the population that was fairly secular and would support a constitutional monarchy. It was the Islamic groups that first managed to rally the great mass of the population against the Shah. In January of 1978 the official press ran a libelous story attacking Khomeini. Angry students and religious leaders protested against the allegations in the city of Qom. The army was sent in, dispersing the demonstrations and killing several students. According to the Shi'ite customs, forty days after a person's death memorial services are held. In mosques across the nation, calls were made to honour the dead students. Thus on February 18, groups in a number of cities marched to honour the fallen, and to protest against the rule of the Shah. This time, violence erupted in Tabriz, and over a hundred demonstrators were killed. The cycle repeated itself, and on March 29, a new round of protests began across the nation. Luxury hotels, theaters showing "unethical movies", and other symbols of the Shah regime were destroyed; again security forces intervened, killing many. On May 10 the same occurred. The damage from the demonstrations, along with rampant inflation, further ravaged the Iranian economy. As a result, in the summer of 1978, the government introduced austerity measures that saw many public works projects shut down and wage freezes imposed. These measures created widespread unemployment and labour unrest, mostly among the poor labourers living in the slums around Tehran and other major cities. Increasingly, the working class joined the students and the middle class in the protests against the regime.

Overthrow of the Shah

By September, the nation was rapidly destabilizing, with major protests becoming a regular occurrence. The Shah introduced martial law, and banned all demonstrations. On Friday, September 8, a massive protest broke out in Tehran, and in what became known as Black Friday, the regime used the full force of its weaponry to crush the protests. Tanks, helicopter gun ships, and machine guns killed hundreds. Black Friday succeeded in alienating much of the rest of the Iranian people, as well as the Shah's allies abroad. A general strike in October resulted in the collapse of the economy, with most industries being shut down. The protests of 1978 culminated in December, during the holy month of Muharram, one of the most important months for Shia Muslims. Hundreds of demonstrators were killed each day, yet each day the protests grew. On December 12, over two million people filled the streets of Tehran to protest against the Shah. The army began to disintegrate, as conscripts refused to fire on demonstrators and began to switch sides. Some soldiers turned on superior officers, killing them, and took over military bases. The Shah agreed to introduce a constitution and appoint the moderate Shapour Bakhtiar as Prime Minister, but it was too late for compromise. The majority of the population was by this time loyal to Khomeini, and when he called for a complete end to the monarchy, the Shah was forced to flee the country on January 16, 1979. Khomeini returned to Iran on February 1, 1979, invited by the anti-Shah revolution already in progress.

Khomeini takes power

1979.]] There was great jubilation in Iran at the ousting of the Shah, but there was also much disagreement over Iran's future path. While Khomeini was the most popular political figure, there were dozens of revolutionary groups, each with a differing view of the proper direction of Iran's future. There were strong liberal, secularist, Marxist, and anarchist factions, as well as a wide array of religious groups looking to craft the future of Iran. The military, economy, and foreign relations of the nation all were in turmoil. The early years saw the development of a government with two centres of power. Mehdi Bazargan became Prime Minister, and the Freedom Movement worked to establish a liberal secular government. The clerics led by Khomeini formed a separate centre of power, the Islamic Republican party. The groups tried to cooperate, but tensions grew between the two factions. It was the theologians who were the first to bring order to the nation, as revolutionary cells became local committees. Becoming known as the Revolutionary Guards in May 1979, these groups soon were running local governments across Iran, and wielding most of the local power. They also gained control of the judicial tribunals that were passing judgment on the former officials in the Shah's security services and the military. In June, the Freedom Movement released its draft constitution; it referred to Iran as an Islamic Republic, but gave no official role to the Ulema or Islamic law. The constitution was sent to the newly-elected legislature for review, dominated by allies of Khomeini. The chamber rejected the constitution, agreeing with Khomeini that the new government should be based "100% on Islam." A new constitution was made that created a powerful post of Supreme Leader for Khomeini, who would control the military and security services, and could veto candidates running for office. A president was to be elected every four years, but only those candidates approved indirectly by the Supreme Leader (through a Council of Guardians) were permitted to run for the office. Khomeini himself became Head of State for life, as "Leader of the Revolution", and later "Supreme Spiritual Leader". Feeling powerless and disagreeing with the direction the nation was moving, Bazargan resigned as Prime Minister in November.

Opposition to the revolution

Western/U.S.-Iranian relations

That same month saw anger at the United States, which continued to support the Shah and was blamed for encouraging counter-revolutionary activity. That feeling peaked, as youthful supporters of Khomeini took a number of hostages at the American embassy, in what became known as the Iran hostage crisis. The students responsible would blame it on the United States for accepting the Shah into the country for cancer treatments, but the message was clear; they could defy the U.S.

Opposition by neighboring regimes

The leaders of Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States were also distressed by the Iranian revolution, as a shi'a minority exists among their nation (except in Iraq where shi'a are the majority) and it would stir a civil war. Ayatollah Khomeini was seen by the leaders of these countries as extreme not only that he encouraged the overthowing of the current oppressive regime in Iran but also the ones in the neighboring countries. Thus, in 1980, Iraq, with financial support from the other nations and the backing of the United States, invaded Iran in an attempt to destroy the revolution in its infancy. This began the eight year Iran-Iraq War that would see a huge cost in lives and resources. The invasion by Iraq helped rally the people of Iran behind the new regime, and past differences were largely abandoned in the face of the external threat. In the same year, the new constitution was passed in a referendum by a large majority. For those who did remain opposed to the new regime, mostly the Soviet-backed leftist groups, the war became an excuse for harsh treatment that saw the new regime use torture and illegal imprisonments, just as the Shah had. While Iraq was, in the end, unsuccessful at defeating the revolution, the Islamic revolution failed to spread beyond the borders of Iran. Thus the war patially fulfilled its goals and instead of the revolution spreading to other nations it was only maintained at Iran The significant Shi'ite populations of Iraq and the Gulf States did not embrace the new model even though they sypathise with the system and are often of Persian origin The one area where Iranian influence was extended, was into the Lebanese Civil War, where Hezbollah became closely allied with the Iranians, fighting Sunni and Christian factions in Lebanon, and later the Israelis. This support for a group regarded as terrorists by much of the world, especially the United States, further ostracized Iran from the world community. Since the end of the civil war, Hezbollah has developed a significant domestic base and is no longer reliant on support from Iran, but relations between the two remain close.

Exile of previous regime

Upon the ascension of the new Shi'ite regime, scores of the Shah's secret police, the SAVAK, and other supporters of the Shah were executed (most importantly by Sadegh Khalkhali, the Sharia ruler). The Shah himself found political asylum in Egypt under Anwar Sadat. The Shah, already terminally ill with cancer, died in Cairo on July 27, 1980.

Post-revolutionary impact

In the long run, the revolution did result in a lessening of foreign influence, which had tended to be imperialistic. The distribution of wealth also became far more equitable. However, despite a fair degree of democracy in the post-revolutionary political structure (see politics of Iran for more depth), the violations of human rights during the theocratic regime have been of a similar level of brutality as during the monarchy. Torture, the imprisoning of dissidents, and the murder of prominent critics is commonplace. The oppression of women has been common since the revolution. So has the oppression of religious minorities, particularly the members of the Bahá'í Faith, which has been declared heretical. More than 200 Bahá'ís have been executed or killed, hundreds more have been imprisoned, and tens of thousands have been deprived of jobs, pensions, businesses, and educational opportunities. All national Bahá'í administrative structures have been banned by the government, and holy places, shrines and cemeteries have been confiscated, vandalized, or destroyed. The revolution also left Iran isolated internationally, outcast from both the capitalist and communist worlds, with significant trade sanctions that continue to this day (by the United States). On the other hand, the revolution also had the impact of allowing internal evolution of the political system, rather than evolution imposed by external pressures. For example, in 1997, reformist president Mohammad Khatami was elected, and the relatively high level (for the region) of Internet penetration (as of 2004, Iran had about 5 million internet users — [http://www.internetworldstats.com/middle.htm], see also Iranian blogs) makes it difficult to stop this continued internal evolution of political thought and organisation.

External links

- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/revolution/ The Story of the Revolution] - a detailed web resource from the BBC World Service Persian Branch, devoted to the Iranian Revolution (audio recordings in Persian, transcripts in English)
- [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/reunion/reunion4.shtml The Reunion - The Shah of Iran's Court] - BBC Radio 4 presents an audio program featuring reminiscences of the Iranian Revolution by key members of the pre-Revolutionary elite
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/middle_east_the_iranian_revolution/html/1.stm BBC World's "Iranian revolution in pictures"]
- [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/anti-semitism/iranjews.html Jews and the Iranian Revolution]

Footnotes

# Hiro, Dilip. Iran Under the Ayatollahs. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul. 1985. p. 57. Category:Revolutions Category:1979 Category:History of Iran ko:이란 혁명 ja:イラン革命

1979

This page refers to the year 1979. For the Smashing Pumpkins song, see 1979 (song). 1979 (MCMLXXIX) is a common year starting on Monday.

Events

- 1979 energy crisis - occurred in the wake of the Iranian Revolution

January

- January 1 - United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the "International Year of the Child." Many musicians donate to the "Music for UNICEF" fund.
- January 1 - Sino-American relations: United States and the People's Republic of China establish diplomatic relations
- January 4 - State of Ohio agrees to pay $675,000 to families of dead and injured in Kent State University shootings.
- January 7 - Vietnam and Vietnam-backed Cambodian insurgents announce the fall of Phnom Penh, Cambodian capital, and the collapse of the Pol Pot regime. Pol Pot and Khmer Rouge retreat to Thailand
- January 8 - The French tanker Betelgeuse explodes at the Gulf Oil terminal at Bantry in Ireland - 50 dead
- January 13 - YMCA sues the Village People for libel because of their song of the same name
- January 16 - The Shah of Iran flees Iran with his family and relocate to Egypt after a year of turmoil.
- January 19 - Former US Attorney General John N. Mitchell released on parole after 19 months at a federal prison in Alabama
- January 29 - Brenda Ann Spencer opens fire at random in San Diego, California, killing two teachers and wounding 8 students

February

- February 1 - Convicted bank robber Patty Hearst is released from prison after her sentence was commuted by President Jimmy Carter
- February 1 - Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns to Tehran, Iran after nearly 15 years of exile.
- February 2 - Sid Vicious dies of heroin overdose
- February 3 - Khomeini creates the Council of the Islamic Revolution
- February 7 - Supporters of Khomeini take over the Iranian law enforcement, courts and government administration
- February 7 - Pluto moves inside Neptune's orbit for the first time since either planet was known to science.
- February 10-February 11 - Iranian army mutinies and joins the Islamic Revolution
- February 11 - Khomeini seizes power in Iran.
- February 14 - In Kabul, Muslim extremists kidnap the American ambassador to Afghanistan, Adolph Dubs, who is later killed during a gunfight between his kidnappers and police
- February 14 - Musician Walter Carlos reveals that he has undergone a sex change operation and become Wendy
- February 17 - The People's Republic of China invades northern Vietnam, launching the Sino-Vietnamese War.
- February 22 - Independence of Saint Lucia from the United Kingdom.

March

March and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign the Camp David Accords.]]
- March 1 - Scotland voted narrowly for home rule, which was not implemented, and Wales voted against
- March 5 - Voyager I passes Jupiter
- March 13 - In Grenada, Maurice Bishop leads a successful coup
- March 14 - In China, a Hawker-Siddeley Trident crashes into a factory near Beijing killing at least 200
- March 25 - The first fully functional space shuttle orbiter, Columbia, was delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to be prepared for its first launch
- March 26 - In a ceremony at the White House, President Anwar Sadat of Egypt and Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel sign a peace treaty
- March 28 - Nuclear power plant accident at Three Mile Island, Pennsylvania, releases radiation
- March 28 - In Britain, Jim Callaghan's government loses a motion of confidence by one vote, forcing a general election
- March 29 - Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra, 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia dies in office. He is replaced by Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Mustain Billah ibni Almarhum Sultan Sir Abu Bakar Riayatuddin Al-Muadzam Shah, Sultan of Pahang.
- March 30 - Airey Neave, World War Two veteran and Conservative Northern Ireland spokesman, is killed by INLA bomb in British House of Commons car park
- March 31 - The Royal Navy withdraws from Malta

April-May

May.]]
- April 1 - Iran's government becomes Islamic Republic by a 98% vote, overthrowing the Shah officially
- April 1-April 18 - Police lock Andreas Mihavecz in a holding cell in Bregenz, Austria and forget him there for the next 18 days without food or drink
- April 2 - Soviet biowarfare laboratory at Sverdlovsk accidentally releases airborne anthrax spores. 66 dead plus unknown amount of livestock
- April 4 - President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan is executed
- April 10 - A tornado hits in Wichita Falls, Texas killing 42 people. It was the most notable tornado of twenty-six that hit that day.
- April 11 - Tanzanian troops take Kampala, the capital of Uganda. Idi Amin flees
- April 17 - Schoolchildren in the Central African Republic arrested for protesting against wearing the expensive, school uniforms. Around 100 killed.
- April 23 - Fighting in London between the Anti-Nazi League and the Metropolitan Police's Special Patrol Group results in the death of protestor Blair Peach
- May 1 - Greenland gets home rule
- May 4 - Conservatives win the British general election; Margaret Thatcher becomes the new prime minister.
- May 9 - Unabomber bomb injures Northwestern University graduate student John Harris
- May 10 - The Federated States of Micronesia becomes self-governing.
- May 25 - American Airlines Flight 191: In Chicago, Illinois, a DC-10 crashes during takeoff at O'Hare International Airport killing 271 on board and two people on the ground.

June

- June 1 - The first black-led government of Rhodesia in 90 years takes power, in succession to Ian Smith and under his power-sharing deal.
- June 2 - Pope John Paul II visits his native Poland, becoming the first Pope to visit a Communist country
- June 3 - A blowout at the Ixtoc I oil well in the southern Gulf of Mexico causes at least 600,000 tons (176,400,000 gallons) of oil to be spilled into the waters, the worst oil spill to date. Some estimate the spill to be 428 million gallons, making it the largest unintentional oil spill ever.
- June 4 - Joe Clark becomes Canada's sixteenth, and youngest, prime minister.
- June 12 - Bryan Allen flies the Gossamer Albatross, man powered, across the English Channel.
- June 18 - Jimmy Carter and Leonid Brezhnev sign the SALT II agreement in Vienna.
- June 20 - a national guard soldier in Nicaragua kills ABC TV news correspondent Bill Stewart and his interpreter Juan Espinosa. Other members of the news crew capture the killing on tape
- June 23 - Sydney: New South Wales Premier Neville Wran officially opens the Eastern Suburbs Railway. It operates as a shuttle between Central & Bondi Junction until full integration with the Illawarra Line during 1980.

July-August

- July 2 - The Susan B. Anthony one-dollar coin is introduced in the US.
- July 3 - President Carter signed the first directive for secret aid to the opponents of the pro-Soviet regime in Kabul.
- July 9 - A car bomb destroys a Renault owned by "Nazi hunters" Serge and Beate Klarsfeld at their home in France. A note purportedly from ODESSA claims responsibility.
- July 11 - The space station Skylab returns to Earth.
- July 12 - A "Disco Demolition Night" publicity stunt goes awry at Comiskey Park forcing the Chicago White Sox to forfeit their game against the Detroit Tigers.
- July 12 - Assassination of Carmine Galante, boss of Bonanno mafia family
- July 13 - Skylab re-enters the Earth atmosphere; the wreckage lands in Australia
- July 16 - Iraqi President Hasan al-Bakr resigns and Vice President Saddam Hussein replaces him
- July 17 - Nicaraguan president General Anastasio Somoza Debayle resigns and flees to Miami; Sandinistas form a new government on July 19.
- July 19 - The Marxist Sandinistas take control of Nicaragua
- July 19 - Maria de Lurdes Pintasilgo becomes prime minister of Portugal
- July 24 - Soviet Union exchanges Gerald Brook for spies Peter and Helen Kroger with United Kingdom
- July 31 - 400 Iranian pilgrims are killed after clashes with Saudi security forces in Mecca
- August 5 - Polisario signs a peace treaty with Mauritania
- August 5 - Government of Mauritania signs a peace treaty with Polisario
- August 9 - The first British nudist beach is established in Brighton
- August 27 - Lord Mountbatten and three others assassinated by the I.R.A..

September-October

- September 1 - The American Pioneer 11 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Saturn when it passes the planet at a distance of 21,000 km
- September 7 - The Chrysler Corporation asks the United States government for $1 billion to avoid bankruptcy.
- September 7 - ESPN starts broadcasting.
- September 16 - Three families flee from East Germany by balloon
- September 20 - French paratroopers help David Dacko to overthrow Bokassa
- September 22 - The South Atlantic Flash is observed near Bouvet Island, thought to be a nuclear weapons test.
- October 14 - A major gay rights march in the United States takes place in Washington, DC, involving many tens of thousands of people.
- October 16 - 23 people die in Nice, France, when the coastal town is hit by a tsunami
- October 21 - 259 Muslim radicals occupy Kaaba and the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Saudi Arabian army goes in to expel them
- October 26 - South Korean president Park Chunghee killed by KCIA head Kim Jaekyu.
- October 27 - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gains independence.

November

November
- November 1 - Iran hostage crisis: Iranian Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urged his people to demonstrate on November 4 and to expand attacks on United States and Israeli interests
- November 2 - French police shoots gangster Jacques Mesrine in Paris
- November 3 - In Greensboro, North Carolina, five members of the Communist Workers Party are shot to death and seven are wounded by a group of Klansmen and neo-Nazis during a "Death to the Klan" rally
- November 4 - Iran hostage crisis begins: 3000 Iranian radicals, mostly students, invade the United States embassy in Tehran and take 90 hostages (63 of whom are American). They demand that the United States send the former shah back to Iran to stand trial.
- November 5 - The radio news program Morning Edition premieres on National Public Radio.
- November 6 - At Montevideo , Uruguay the International Olympic Committee adopts a resolution where Taiwan Olympic and sports team participate with the name Chinese Taipei in future Olympics Games and international sports tournaments and championships .
- November 12 - Iran hostage crisis: In response to the hostage situation in Tehran, US President Jimmy Carter orders a halt to all oil imports into the United States from Iran
- November 14 - Iran hostage crisis: US President Jimmy Carter issues Executive Order 12170, freezing all Iranian assets in the United States and US banks in response to the hostage crisis
- November 16 - Bucharest Metro Line 1 is opened, in Bucharest, Romania (from Timpuri Noi to Semanatoarea stations, 8.63 km)
- November 17 - Iran hostage crisis: Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini orders the release of 13 female and black American hostages being held at the US Embassy in Tehran.
- November 20 - A group of around 200 militant Muslims occupied Mecca's Grand Mosque. They were driven out by French commandos (allowed into the city under these special circumstances despite their being non-Muslims) after bloody fighting that left 250 people were killed and 600 wounded.
- November 20 - Group of Sunni muslims barricade themselves into the Holy Mosque of Mecca. They hold out until December 4
- November 21 - After false radio reports from the Ayatollah Khomeini that the Americans had occupied the Great Mosque in Mecca, the United States Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan is attacked by a mob and set afire, killing four. (see: Foreign relations of Pakistan)
- November 23 - In Dublin, Ireland, Irish Republican Army member Thomas McMahon is sentenced to life in prison for the assassination of Lord Mountbatten
- November 28 - The Mount Erebus disaster: an Air New Zealand DC-10 crashes into Mount Erebus on a sightseeing trip, killing all 257 people on board.

December

- December 5 - Jack Lynch resigns as Taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland. Successor Charles Haughey.
- December 21 - Ceasefire for Rhodesia signed at London
- December 24 - Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
- December 24 - The launch of the first European Ariane rocket.
- December 26 - In Rhodesia, 96 Patriotic Front guerillas enter the capital Salisbury to monitor a ceasefire that begins in December 28
- December 27 - The Soviet Union seizes control of Afghanistan and Babrak Karmal replaces overthrown and executed President Hafizullah Amin.

Unknown dates

- The World Health Organization declares the world free of naturally occurring smallpox.
- UNICEF declares 1979 the "International Year of the Child."
- VisiCalc becomes the first spreadsheet program.
- Guardian Angels civilian patrol group forms in New York City.
- Sprengel Museum opens in Hanover, Germany.
- Windsor Tower was built in Madrid, Spain.
- The first usenet experiments were conducted by Tom Truscott and Jim Ellis of Duke University.

Births

- January 15 - Mary Pierce, American tennis player
- January 16 - Aaliyah, American singer (d. 2001)
- January 20 - Rob Bourdon, American drummer (Linkin Park)
- January 21 - Brian O'Driscoll, Irish rugby player
- January 24 - Tatyana Ali, American actress
- January 29 - Sui Feifei, Chinese basketball player
- February 9 - Mena Suvari, American actress
- February 9 - Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress and model
- February 11 - Brandy Norwood, American singer
- February 16 - Valentino Rossi, Italian race car driver
- February 21 - Jennifer Love Hewitt, American actress and singer
- March 9 - Melina Perez, American professional wrestler
- March 11 - Benji Madden and Joel Madden, twins from Good Charlotte
- March 12 - Pete Doherty, English singer and guitarist (The Libertines and Babyshambles)
- March 30 - Norah Jones, American musician
- April 4 - Heath Ledger, Australian actor
- April 3 - Daniel Lane, British music journalist (Kerrang!)
- April 8 - Alexi Laiho, Finnish guitarist (Children of Bodom)
- April 10 - Rachel Corrie, American activist (d. 2003)
- April 10 - Tsuyoshi Domoto, Japanese artist
- April 10 - Sophie Ellis-Bextor, English singer
- April 12 - Claire Danes, American actress
- April 18 - Michael Bradley, American basketball player
- April 19 - Kate Hudson, American actress
- April 19 - Antoaneta Stefanova, Bulgarian chess player
- April 28 - Jorge Garcia, American actor
- May 2 - Roman Lyashenko, Russian hockey player (d. 2003)
- May 24 - Tracy McGrady, American basketball player
- May 25 - Jonny Wilkinson, English rugby player
- May 26 - Ashley Massaro, American professional wrestler and model
- June 5 - Pete Wentz, American bassist and lyricist (Fall Out Boy)
- June 13 - Nila Håkedal, Norwegian beach volleyball player
- June 23 - LaDainian Tomlinson, American football player
- June 24 - Craig Shergold, British cancer patient
- June 28 - Randy McMichael, American football player
- June 29 - Marleen Veldhuis, Dutch swimmer
- July 3 - Ludivine Sagnier, French model and actress
- July 5 - Amélie Mauresmo, French tennis player
- July 9 - Enav Itamar, Israeli Writer
- July 21 - David Carr, American football player
- July 26 - Johnson Beharry, British war hero
- August 10 - Joanna Garcia, American actress
- August 13 - Taizo Sugimura, Japanese politician
- August 16 - Sarah Balabagan, Filipina prisoner and singer
- August 26 - Jamal Lewis, American football player
- August 28 - Robert Hoyzer, German football referee
- September 13 - Bjørn-Arild Berthelsen, Norwegian Salvation Army soldier
- September 13 - Ivan Miljković, Serbian volleybal player, considered as the best attacker in the world, Olympic Champion in 2000 (with the team of Jugoslavia)
- September 15 - Amy Davidson, American actress
- September 28 - Bam Margera, American skater
- October 1 - Rudi Johnson, American football player
- October 14 - Stacy Keibler, American professional wrestler
- October 17 - Kimi Räikkönen, Finnish race car driver
- October 30 - Yukie Nakama, Japanese actress
- November 6 - Lamar Odom, American basketball player
- November 7 - Jon Peter Lewis, American singer and songwriter
- November 13 - Ron Artest, American basketball player
- December 12 - Nate Clements, American football player
- December 14 - Michael Owen, English footballer
- December 15 - Adam Brody, American actor
- December 17 - William Green, American football player
- December 23 - Summer Altice, American model and actress
- December 27 - Carson Palmer, American football player

Deaths

January-March

- January 3 - Conrad Hilton, American hotelier (b. 1887)
- January 5 - Charles Mingus, American musician (b. 1922)
- January 13 - Donny Hathaway, American musician (b. 1945)
- January 26 - Nelson Rockefeller, Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States (b. 1908)
- February 2 - Sid Vicious, English musician (Sex Pistols) (drug overdose) (b. 1957)
- February 7 - Josef Mengele, Nazi war criminal (b. 1911)
- February 9 - Dennis Gabor, Hungarian physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1900)
- February 12 - Jean Renoir, French film director (b. 1894)
- February 14 - Reginald Maudling, British politician (b. 1917)
- February 23 - W.A.C. Bennett, Canadian politician (b. 1900)
- February 28 - Mr. Ed, American talking horse (b. 1949)
- March 1 - Mustafa Barzani, Iraqi Kurdish politician (b. 1903)
- March 19 - Richard Beckinsale, British actor (b. 1947)
- March 28 - Emmett Kelly, American clown (b. 1898)
- March 29 - Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra, King of Malaysia (b. 1917)
- March 30 - Airey Neave, British politician (asassinated) (b. 1916)

April-September

- April 4 - Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, President and Prime Minister of Pakistan (executed) (b. 1928)
- April 4 - Edgar Buchanan, American actor (b. 1903)
- April 10 - Nino Rota, Italian composer (b. 1911)
- April 23 - Blair Peach, New Zealand-born anti-Nazi campaigner (killed by police) (b. 1946)
- May 2 - Giulio Natta, Italian chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1903)
- May 11 - Barbara Hutton, American socialite (b. 1912)
- May 29 - Mary Pickford, Canadian actress and studio founder (b. 1892)
- June 1 - Werner Forssmann, German physician, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1904)
- June 11 - John Wayne, American actor (b. 1907)
- June 17 - Duffy Lewis, baseball player (b. 1888)
- June 19 - Paul Popenoe, American eugenicist (b. 1888)
- June 29 - Lowell George, American musician (Little Feat) (b. 1945)
- July 3 - Louis Durey, French composer (b. 1888)
- July 8 - Sin-Itiro Tomonaga, Japanese physicist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1906)
- July 8 - Robert B. Woodward, American chemist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1917)
- July 10 - Arthur Fiedler, American conductor (b. 1894)
- July 12 - Minnie Riperton, American singer (b. 1947)
- July 16 - Alfred Deller, English countertenor (b. 1912)
- July 22 - Nittatsu Hosoi, Japanese priest (b. 1902)
- July 29 - Bill Todman, American game show producer (b. 1916)
- August 2 - Thurman Munson, baseball player (b. 1947)
- August 3 - Bertil Ohlin, Swedish economist, Nobel Prize laureate (b. 1899)
- August 6 - Feodor Felix Konrad Lynen, German biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (b. 1911)
- August 12 - Ernst Boris Chain, German-born biochemist, recipient of the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine (b. 1906)
- August 27 - Earl Mountbatten, last British Viceroy of India (assassinated) (b. 1900)
- August 31 - Sally Rand, American dancer (b. 1904)
- September - Ismail Nasiruddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Zainal Abidin III, King of Malaysia (b. 1907)
- September 8 - Jean Seberg, American actress (b. 1938)
- September 10 - Agostinho Neto, Angolan nationalist (b. 1922)
- September 28 - John Herbert Chapman, Canadian physicist (b. 1921)
- September 29 - Francisco Macias Nguema, first president of Equatorial Guinea

October-December

- October 6 - Elizabeth Bishop, American poet (b. 1911)
- October 10 - Christopher Evans, British psychologist and computer scientist (b. 1931)
- October 13 - Rebecca Clarke, English composer and violist (b. 1886)
- October 16 - Johan Borgen, Norwegian author (b. 1903)
- October 22 - Nadia Boulanger, French composer and composition teacher (b. 1887)
- October 26 - Park Chung-hee, President of South Korea (b. 1917)
- November 1 - Mamie Eisenhower, First Lady of the United States (b. 1896)
- November 29 - Zeppo Marx, American actor and comedian (b. 1901)
- December 3 - Dhyan Chand, Indian hockey player (b. 1905)
- December 23 - Peggy Guggenheim, American art collector (b. 1898)
- December 27 - Hafizullah Amin, President of Afghanistan (b. 1929)

Fictional

- June 13 - Pamela Voorhees, serial killer, mother of Jason Voorhees (b. 1930)

Nobel Prizes

- Physics - Sheldon Lee Glashow, Abdus Salam, Steven Weinberg
- Chemistry - Herbert C. Brown, Georg Wittig
- Medicine - Allan M. Cormack, Godfrey N. Hounsfield
- Literature - Odysseas Elytis
- Peace - Mother Teresa
- Economics - Theodore Schultz, Arthur Lewis

Templeton Prize

- Rev. Nikkyo Niwano Category:1979 als:1979 ko:1979년 ja:1979年 simple:1979 th:พ.ศ. 2522

Iran

Iran (Persian: ايران) is a Middle Eastern country located in Southwest Asia bordering Armenia, Azerbaijan including its Nakhichevan exclave and Turkmenistan to the north, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the east, Turkey and Iraq to the west. Until 1935 the country was referred to in the West as Persia. In 1959, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi announced that both terms could be used. In 1979, the Iranian revolution established a theocratic Islamic Republic, changing the country's official name to the Islamic Republic of Iran (جمهوری اسلامی ايران). Dispute exists as to the country's current official name.

History

Sometime around 1500 to 1000 BC, the Iranian nomads of Indo-European stock emigrated to the Iranian plateau possibly from Central Asia. In 8th century BC, the first Iranian government was established under the Median dynasty and under the following dynasty, the Achaemenids, Iranians built the first world empire. Their empire emerged in the 6th century BC under Cyrus the Great, the founder of the Persian Empire, who called himself "King of Iran and beyond". Indeed, the name Persia is derived from Persis, the ancient Greek name for the empire. The Achaemenid dynasty was followed by the Parthian and Sassanid dynasties as Persia's greatest pre-Islamic empires. Alexander the Great first conquered Persia in 331 BC, followed by Islam's Arab forces in the 7th century, and Genghis Khan, and lastly, Tamerlane who conquered a significant portion of Persia in the middle ages. middle ages The 9th century saw the rise of the Saffarids and then other lines of kings or shahs. During the 19th century Persia came under increasing pressure from both Russia and the United Kingdom, leading to a process of modernization that continued into the 20th century. By the 20th century Iranians were longing for a change and thus followed the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1905/1911. In 1953 Iran's elected prime minister Mohammad Mosaddeq, was removed from power in a complex plot orchestrated by British and US intelligence agencies (dubbed "Operation Ajax"). Many scholars suspect that this ouster was motivated by British-US opposition to Mosaddeq's attempt to nationalize Iran's oil. Following Mosaddeq's fall, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (Iran's monarch) grew increasingly dictatorial. With strong support from the USA and the UK, the Shah further modernized Iranian industry but crushed civil liberties. His autocratic rule, including systematic torture and other human rights violations, led to the Iranian revolution and overthrow of his regime in 1979. After more than a year of political struggle between a variety of different groups, an Islamic republic was established under the Ayatollah Khomeini by a revolution. The new theocratic political system instituted some conservative Islamic reforms and engaged in an anti-Western course. In particular Iran distanced itself from the United States due to the American involvement in the 1953 coup, which supplanted an elected government with the Shah's repressive regime. It also declared its refusal to recognize the existence of Israel as a state. The new government inspired various groups considered by a large part of the Western World to be fundamentalist. As a consequence some countries, currently led by the USA, consider Iran to be a hostile power. In 1980 Iran was attacked by neighbouring Iraq and the destructive Iran-Iraq War continued until 1988. The struggle between reformists and conservatives over the future of the country continues today through electoral politics and was a central Western focus in the 2005 Elections where Conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad triumphed.

Politics

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Iran is a constitutional Islamic Republic, whose political system is laid out in the 1979 constitution. Iran's makeup has several intricately connected governing bodies, some of which are democratically elected and some of which are appointed by religious leaders. The concept of velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist) plays an influential role in the governmental structure. The Supreme Leader of Iran is responsible for the delineation and supervision of "the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran." In the absence of a single leader, a council of religious leaders is appointed. The Supreme Leader is commander-in-chief of the armed forces; he alone can declare war. He has the power to appoint and dismiss the leaders of the judiciary, the state radio and television networks, and the supreme commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He also appoints six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians. He, or the council of religious leaders, are elected by the Assembly of Experts, on the basis of their qualifications and the high popular esteem in which they are held. Twelve jurists comprise the Council of Guardians, six of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader. The head of the judiciary recommends the remaining six, which are officially appointed by Parliament. The Council of Guardians is vested with the authority to interpret the constitution and determines if the laws passed by Parliament are in line with sharia (Islamic law) and the Iranian constitution; if a law passed by Parliament is deemed incompatible, it is referred back to Parliament for revision. After the office of Leadership, the President of Iran is the highest official in the country. His is responsibile for implementing the Constitution and acting as the head of the executive, except in matters directly concerned with the Leadership. All presidential candidates must be approved by the Council of Guardians prior to running, and are elected to a 4-year term. After his election, the president appoints and supervises the 21-member Council of Ministers (who must then be confirmed by Parliament), coordinates government decisions, and selects government policies to be placed before the parliament. Eight vice presidents serve under the president. The unicameral Iranian parliament consists of 290 members elected to a 4-year term (approved by the Council of Guardians before running). It drafts legislation, ratifies international treaties, and approves the country's budget. All legislation from the assembly must be reviewed by the Council of Guardians. The Assembly of Experts, which meets for one week every year, consists of 86 "virtuous and learned" clerics elected by the public to eight-year terms. Like presidential and parliamentary elections, the Council of Guardians determines eligibility to run for a seat in this assembly. The head of the judiciary is appointed by the Supreme Leader, who in turn appoints the head of the Supreme Court and the chief public prosecutor. Public courts deal with civil and criminal cases. "Revolutionary" courts try certain categories of offenses, including crimes considered against national security or the republic and narcotics smuggling. Decisions rendered in these courts are final and cannot be appealed. The Special Clerical Court, which functions independently of the regular judicial framework and is accountable only to the Supreme Leader, handles crimes allegedly committed by clerics, although it has also taken on cases involving lay people.

Administrative divisions

Provinces

Iran consists of 30 provinces: Provinces are governed from a local center, mostly the largest local city. Provincial authority is headed by a governor (استاندار: ostāndār), who is installed by the Minister of Interior subject to approval of the cabinet. Until 2004 there were 28 provinces. A law passed that year split the province of Khorasan into three new provinces: North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South Khorasan.

Major cities

Iran's top four largest cities are: Image:Meydoon sadeghiyeh.jpg|Tehran: 8,601,473 (2005 pop.) Image:Nadershahtomb.jpg|Mashad: 2,307,177 (2005 pop.) Image:IMG 0414 resize.jpg|Isfahan: 1,547,164 (2005 pop.) Image:Poets tomb tabriz.jpg|Tabriz: 1,424,641 (2005 pop.) See also: List of cities in Iran.

Geography

List of cities in Iran Iran borders Azerbaijan (length of border: 432 km / 268 mi ) and Armenia (35 km / 22mi) to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan (992 km / 616 mi) to the northeast, Pakistan (909 km / 565 mi) and Afghanistan (936 km / 582 mi) to the east, Turkey (499 km / 310 mi) and Iraq (1,458 km / 906 mi) to the west, and finally the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south. Iran's total land mass is 1,648,000 km² / ≈636,300 mi² (Land: 1,636,000 km² / ≈631,663 mi², Water: 12,000 km² / ≈4,633 mi²). Iran's landscape is dominated by rugged mountain ranges that separate various basins or plateaus from one another. The populous western part is the most mountainous, with ranges such as the Zagros and Alborz Mountains, the latter of which also contains Iran's highest point, the Damavand at 5,671 m (18,606 ft). The eastern half consists mostly of uninhabited desert basins with the occasional salt lake. The only large plains are found along the coast of the Caspian Sea and at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, where Iran borders on the mouth of the Arvand river (Shatt al-Arab). Smaller, discontinuous plains are found along the remaining coast of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman. The Iranian climate is mostly arid or semiarid, though subtropical along the Caspian coast. Iran is considered to be one of the fifteen states that comprise the so-called "Cradle of Humanity".

Climate

Iran's varied landscape produces several different climates. On the northern edge of the country (the Caspian coastal plain) the temperatures nearly fall below freezing and remain humid for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 29°C (84°F). Annual precipitation is 680 mm (26 in) in the eastern part of the plain and more than 1700 mm (75 in) in the western side of the plain. At higher elevations to the west, settlements in the Zagros mountains basins experience lower temperatures. These areas have severe winters, with average daily temperatures below freezing and have heavy snowfall. The eastern and central basins are arid. They get less than 200 mm (8 in) of rain and have occasional desert. The average summer temperatures exceed 38°C (100°F). The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern Iran have mild winters and experience very humid and hot summers. The Annual precipitation ranges from 135 mm to 355 mm (6 to 14 in).

Economy

Gulf of Oman 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. The current administration has continued to follow the market reform plans of the previous one and has indicated that it will pursue diversification of Iran's oil-reliant economy. Iran is attempting to diversify by investing revenues in other areas, including petrochemicals. Iran is also hoping to attract billions of dollars worth of foreign investment by creating a more favorable investment climate (i.e., reduced restrictions and duties on imports, creation of free-trade zones). Iran is OPEC's second largest oil producer and holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. It also has the world's second largest natural gas reserves (after Russia). The strong oil market in 1996 helped ease financial pressures on Iran and allowed for Tehran's timely debt service payments. Iran's financial situation tightened in 1997 because of lower oil prices. The subsequent rise in oil prices in 1999/2000 afforded Iran fiscal breathing room. Iranian budget deficits have been a chronic problem, in part due to large-scale state subsidies–totaling some $7.25 billion per year–including foodstuffs and especially gasoline. gasoline district.]] On March 20, 2006, Iran plans to participate in a new International Oil Bourse, trading oil priced as Petroeuros, rather than Petrodollars, as oil is traded in all other markets (as of 2005). This attempt to rebalance trading relationships in the world economy may trigger a series of far reaching consequences. A few observers, especially among peak oil production theorists who believe that an oil crisis is imminent, argue that there is a potential for a resource war with the United States of America over the flow of both dollars and oil. Others, including military leaders and peak oil theorists who believe that a crisis is further off, argue that the results of war game scenarios cast doubt on the argument that a war is the most likely result of the Oil Bourse. The services sector has seen the greatest long-term growth in terms of its share of GDP, but the sector remains volatile. State investment has boosted agriculture, however, with the liberalization of production and the improvement of packaging and marketing helping to develop new export markets. Large-scale irrigation schemes, together with the wider production of export-based agricultural items such as dates, flowers and pistachios, produced the fastest economic growth of any sector in Iran over much of the 1990s, although successive years of severe drought in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 have held back output growth substantially. Agriculture remains one of the largest employers, accounting for 22% of all jobs according to the 1991 census. According to the U.N. World Drug Report for 2005, Iran has the highest proportion of opiate addicts in the world–2.8 percent of the population over age 15. Only two other countries–Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan–pass the 2 percent mark. With a population of about 70 million and some government agencies putting the number of regular users close to 4 million, Iran has no real competition as world leader in per capita addiction to opiates, including heroin.

Demographics

heroin

Ethnic groups

The majority of Iran's population speak one of the Iranian languages, though only Persian is an official language. While the number, percentage, and definition of the different Iranian peoples is disputed, the major ethnic groups and minorities in Iran include the Persians (51%), Azeris (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Baluchi (2%), Lurs (2%), Turkmen people (2%), Qashqai, Armenians, Persian Jews, Assyrians and others.

Religion

Assyrians Most Iranians are Muslims; 89% belong to the Shi'a branch of Islam, the official state religion, and about 10% belong to the Sunni branch, which predominates in most Muslim countries. Non-Muslim religious minorities include the Bahá'í Faith, Zoroastrians, as well as Jews, Christians, and Mandeans. The latter three are officially recognised minority religions and have reserved seats in the Majlis (Parliament). Iran's population size increased dramatically during the latter half of the 20th century. Iran hosts more than one million foreign refugees, more than any other country on earth.

Culture

earth and guardians of an ancient and sophisticated culture.]] Like all ancient civilizations, culture constitutes the focal point and heart of Iranian civilization. The art, music, architecture, poetry, philosophy, traditions, and ideology of Iran have made it a continuously important nation in the global community. In fact, many Iranians believe their culture to be the one and only reason why their civilization has continuously survived thousands of years of plethoric calamities.

Miscellaneous topics

Notes and references

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- Please note that the numbers are according to the