Administrative divisions: 25 provinces (ostanha, singular -
ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr,
Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan, Hamadan,
Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshahan, Khorasan, Khuzestan,
Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi,
Mazandaran, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan
Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)
National holiday: Islamic 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:
supreme leader (rahbar-e moazam) and functional chief of sta: Leader
of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4
June 1989) was appointed for life by Council of Experts
head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3
August 1989) was elected for a four-year term by universal suffrage;
First Vice President Hasan Ebrahim HABIBI (since NA August 1989);
election last held 11 June 1993 (next to be held NA May 1997);
results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of the
vote
cabinet: Council of Ministers was selected by the president with
legislative approval
Legislative branch: unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections last held 8 March and 19 April 1996 (next to be held NA March 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by party NA
Judicial branch: Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties, none are, as yet, openly active; the most important groupings are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association, leader NA; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Servants of Reconstruction (G-6), leader NA