A Country Study: Iran

• Iran
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Preface
• Country Profile - Visit new updated Profile (PDF)
  • Country
  • Geography
  • Society
  • Economy
  • Transportation and Communications
  • Government and Politics
  • National Security
• Introduction

• Chapter 1 - Historical Setting (Shaul Bakhash)
  • Ancient Iran
    • Pre-Achaemenid Iran
    • Immigration of the Medes and the Persians
    • The Achaemenid Empire, 550-330 B.C.
    • Alexander the Great, the Seleucids, and the Parthians
    • The Sassanids, A.D. 224-642
    • Islamic Conquest
  • Invasions of the Mongols and Tamerlane
  • The Safavids, 1501-1722
  • The Oajars, 1795-1925
    • The Constitutional Revolution
    • World War I
  • The Era of Reza Shah, 1921-41
  • World War II and the Azarbaijan Crisis
  • Mossadeq and Oil Nationalization
  • The Post-Mossadeq Era and the Shah's White Revolution
    • State and Society, 1964-74
    • Renewed Opposition
    • The Coming of the Revolution
  • The Bakhtiar Government
  • The Revolution
    • Bazargan and the Provisional Government
    • The New Constitution
    • The Bani Sadr Presidency
    • Terror and Repression
    • Consolidation of the Revolution

• Chapter 2 - The Society and Its Environment (Eric Hooglund)
  • Geography
    • Topography
    • Climate
  • Population
    • Major Cities
    • Emigration
    • Refugees
  • People and Languages
    • The Persian Language
    • The Persian-speaking People
    • Indo-Iranian-speaking Groups
      • Lurs and Bakhtiaris
      • Baluchis
      • Kurds
      • Other Groups
    • Turkic-speaking Groups
      • Azarbaijanis
      • Qashqais
      • Other Groups
    • Semitic Language Groups
    • Armenians
  • Structure of Society
    • Urban Society
      • The Urban Political Elite
      • The Bazaar
    • Social Class in Contemporary Iran
      • The Upper Classes
      • The Middle Classes
      • The Working Class
      • The Lower Class
    • Urban Migration
    • Rural Society
    • Nomadic Society
  • The Family
  • The Sexes
    • Traditional Attitudes Toward Segregation of the Sexes
    • Impact of Western Ideas on the Role of Women
    • Female Participation in the Work Force
  • Religious Life
    • Shia Islam in Iran
      • Distinctive Beliefs
      • Religious Obligations
      • Religious Institutions and Organizations
      • Religious Hierarchy
      • Unorthodox Shia Religious Movements
    • Sunni Muslims
    • Non-Muslim Minorities
      • Bahais
      • Christians
      • Jews
      • Zoroastrians
  • Education
  • Health and Welfare
    • Medical Personnel and Facilities
    • Health Hazards and Preventive Medicine
    • Water Supply and Sanitation
    • Welfare

• Chapter 3 - The Economy (Angus MacPherson)
  • Role of the Government
    • The Beginnings of Modernization: The Post-1925 Period
    • Oil Revenues and the Acceleration of Modernization, 1960-79
    • The Post-1979 Period
    • Monetary and Fiscal Policy
      • Banking
      • Taxes
  • The War's Impact on the Economy
    • Oil Exports
    • War Costs
  • Labor Force
  • Petroleum Industry
    • Oil and Gas Industry
    • Production and Reserves
    • Concession Agreements
    • Refining and Transport
  • Non-Oil Industry
    • Carpets
    • Construction
    • Manufacturing and Industrial Development
    • Mining and Quarrying
    • Utilities
    • Transportation and Telecommunications
      • Transportation
      • Telecommunications
    • Tourism
  • Agriculture
    • Water
    • Land Use
    • Crop Production
      • Grains
      • Sugar
    • Livestock
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
  • Foreign Trade
    • Imports
    • Non-Oil Exports
    • Trade Partners
  • Balance of Payments

• Chapter 4 - Government and Politics (Eric Hooglund)
  • Constitutional Framework
    • The Faqih
    • The Presidency
    • The Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers
    • The Majlis
    • The Council of Guardians
    • The Judiciary
  • Local Government
  • Political Dynamics
    • The Provisional Government
    • The Rise and Fall of Bani Sadr
    • The Reign of Terror
    • The Consolidation of Theocracy
  • Political Parties
    • The Domination of the Islamic Republican Party
    • Opposition Political Parties in Exile
      • Monarchists
      • Democratic Parties
      • Islamic Groups
      • Marxists
  • Political Orientations
  • The Mass Media
  • Foreign Policy
    • Concept of Export of Revolution
    • Concept of Neither East nor West
    • The Iran-Iraq War
    • Relations with Regional Powers
      • The Persian Gulf States
      • Turkey, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
      • Israel and the Non-Gulf Arab States
    • Iran's Role in Lebanon
    • Iran and International Organizations

• Chapter 5 - National Security (Joseph A. Kechichian and Houman Sadri)
  • Armed Forces
    • Historical Background
    • The Revolutionary Period
    • Command and Control
    • Organization, Size, and Equipment
      • Army
      • Navy
      • Air Force
    • Source and Quality of Manpower
    • Foreign Influences in Weapons, Training, and Support Systems
    • Domestic Arms Production
  • Special and Irregular Armed Forces
    • Organization and Functions
    • Operations
    • Role in National Security
  • The Iran-Iraq War
    • The Original Iraqi Offensive
    • Iranian Mobilization and Resistance
    • The Iranian Counteroffensive
    • The War of Attrition
    • Internationalization of the War
    • Gradual Superpower Involvement
    • The Tanker War
    • Role of the Air Force
    • Role of the Navy
  • Armed Forces and Society
    • Status in National Life
    • The Defense Burden
    • The Impact of Casualties on Society
    • Treatment of Veterans and Widows
  • Internal Security
    • Internal Security in the 1970s
    • Law Enforcement Agencies
      • Savak
      • Savama
      • Gendarmerie and National Police
    • Antiregime Opposition Groups
      • Mojahedin
      • Fadayan
      • Paykar
    • The Role of Minorities in Internal Security

• Appendix. Tables
• Bibliography
• Glossary