Name:

• 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

Location:

Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan.

Population:

68,688,433 (July 2006 est.)

Nationality :

• Noun: Iranian(s)
• Adjective: Iranian
• Ethnic Groups:
  
  • Persian 51%
  • Azeri 24%
  • Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%
  • Kurd 7%
  • Arab 3%
  • Lur 2%, Baloch 2%
  • Turkmen 2%
  • other 1%
  
  Religions:
  
  • Persian 51%
  • Azeri 24%
  • Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%
  • Kurd 7%
  • Arab 3%
  • Lur 2%, Baloch 2%
  • Turkmen 2%
  • other 1%
  
  Languages:
  
  • Persian and Persian dialects 58%
  • Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%
  • Kurdish 9%
  • Luri 2%
  • Balochi 1%
  • Arabic 1%
  • Turkish 1%
  • other 2%
  
  Government:
  
  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.