name: Islamic Republic of Iran conventional short form:
former: Persia

Government type: theocratic republic

Capital: Tehran

Administrative divisions: 28 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);
Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall
va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam,
Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad,
Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan
va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan

Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)

National holiday: Republic Day, 1 April (1979)

Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the
presidency and eliminate the prime ministership

Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of government

Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: Leader of the Islamic Revolution
Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989) elections: leader of
the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts;
president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last
held 8 June 2001 (next to be held NA 2005) election results: (Ali)
Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani reelected president; percent of vote - (Ali)
Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani 77% cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by
the president with legislative approval head of government: President
(Ali) Mohammad KHATAMI-Ardakani (since 3 August 1997); First Vice
President Dr. Mohammad Reza AREF-YAZDI (since 26 August 2001)

Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly or
Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami (290 seats, note - changed from 270 seats
with the 18 February 2000 election; members elected by popular vote to
serve four-year terms) elections: last held 18 February-NA April 2000
(next to be held NA 2004) election results: percent of vote - NA%;
seats by party - reformers 170, conservatives 45, and independents 10,
65 seats up for runoff; note - election on 5 May 2000 (reformers 52,
conservatives 10, independents 3)

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: the following organizations appeared to
have achieved considerable success at elections to the sixth Majlis in
early 2000: Assembly of the Followers of the Imam's Line, Freethinkers'
Front, Islamic Iran Participation Front, Moderation and Development Party,
Servants of Construction Party, Society of Self-