Iran -- A profile of the Islamic Republic of Iran

• Conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran
• Conventional short form: Iran
• Local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran
• Local short form: Iran
• Former: Persia

• Noun: Iranian(s)
• Adjective: Iranian

• Persian 51%
• Azeri 24%
• Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%
• Kurd 7%
• Arab 3%
• Lur 2%, Baloch 2%
• Turkmen 2%
• other 1%

• Persian 51%
• Azeri 24%
• Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%
• Kurd 7%
• Arab 3%
• Lur 2%, Baloch 2%
• Turkmen 2%
• other 1%

• Persian and Persian dialects 58%
• Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%
• Kurdish 9%
• Luri 2%
• Balochi 1%
• Arabic 1%
• Turkish 1%
• other 2%

Chief of state: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989).

Head of government: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD (since 3 August 2005).

First Vice President Parviz DAVUDI (since 11 September 2005).

Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president with legislative approval; the Supreme Leader has some control over appointments to the more sensitive ministries.

Note: Also considered part of the Executive branch of government are three oversight bodies:

1. Assembly of Experts, a popularly elected body of 86 religious scholars constitutionally charged with determining the succession of the Supreme Leader, reviewing his performance, and deposing him if deemed necessary;
2. Expediency Council or Council for the Discernment of Expediency is a policy advisory and implementation board consisting of permanent and temporary members representing all major government factions, some of whom are appointed by the Supreme Leader; the Council exerts supervisory authority over the executive, judicial, and legislative branches and resolves legislative issues on which the Majles and the Council of Guardians disagree;
3. Council of Guardians or Council of Guardians of the Constitution is a 12-member board of clerics and jurists serving six-year terms that determines whether proposed legislation is both constitutional and faithful to Islamic law; the Council also vets candidates for suitability and supervises national elections

Elections: Supreme Leader appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a four-year term (eligible for a second term). Election last held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate runoff on 24 June 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi RAFSANJANI 36%

All information courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.