Iran

Islamic Republic of Iran جمهوری اسلامی ایران
Map of Islamic Republic of Iran
Flag	State Emblem

For the history of the region, see Persia.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, often shorted to Iran or Persia, is a theocratic state whose anti-communist national bourgeois political system lacks basic democratic rights and violates those that exist. However, Iran sides with opponents of imperialism, having been targeted for regime change and subjugation ever since the Iranian Revolution founded the current state in 1979 and kicked out foreign bourgeois forces intent on capturing Iran's oil market. Furthermore, Iran's role in supporting Syria, Hezbollah, and other forces in conflict with the USA, Israel, and Saudi Arabia has made it a major target of imperialism.

Name

Historically, the predecessor states of the modern Islamic Republic were known as Persia in English and other European languages. This name ultimately derives from the Ancient Greek Persís (Περσίς), originally used to refer to the southern Pārsa region (Modern Persian: فارس Fârs), an important region home to the rulers of the Achaemenid and Sassanid dynasties. However, the Greeks typically used this term to refer to the entire Achaemenid Empire. In fact, Persians have always called the country Iran, a term ultimately derived from the name of the ancient Aryan people. In 1935, Reza Shah asked the international community to refer to the country by its native name, but the full name apparently did not take hold until later in the century.

History

Pre-20th century

Main article: Persia

Islamic Revolution

Main article: Iranian Revolution

Politics

Iran is currently ruled by what has been described as a partly theocratic government in which Islamic clerics and jurists have direct influence over government policy.

Communism and leftism

The IRI is explicitly anti-communist and has repressed communists and leftists since it betrayed its leftist allies directly following the events of 1978–9. In 1983, the CIA provided the IRI with a list of up to 200 Soviet agents, collaborators, and leftists to be executed. Communist parties such as the Tudeh were banned and forced underground, making the country a one-party state. In August 1988, directly following the disastrous outcome of the Iran-Iraq War, the IRI tortured and killed thousands of political prisoners, including members of the Mujahideen-e-Khalq (MEK) and the remainder of the Tudeh. The MEK, Tudeh, and other leftist parties continue to operate clandestinely.

Foreign policy

United States

The Islamic Republic of Iran combats American imperialism with militancy and diplomacy. Middle Eastern nations who hold similar anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist beliefs have joined in the Axis of Resistance. Iran acts as a counterweight to America in this alliance, preventing the United States from overthrowing various secular and non-bourgeois states. Iran thus ensures its safety from American encroachment along with furthering its own capital gains.

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (the "Iran Deal") was employed by Rouhani in an attempt to improve the economy with things such as foreign investment. His neoliberal policies (neoliberal by Iranian standards) certainly have not succeeded, nor have expected investments been made. Taking advantage of the popular unrest against Rouhani's policies, Iran has been even further subject to destabilization by imperialist powers, leading to some socialists arguing that they should be temporarily supported in the anti-imperialist struggle. However, at the same time and to a lesser degree, Iran should be opposed for being staunchly reactionary. This makes Iran, in the end, only a lower-priority opponent of socialism.

Opposition to the Soviet Union

During the Soviet-Afghan War, the Islamic Republic of Iran supported Shi'ite Islamists fighting against the Soviet Union. Iranian military support and funds also went to the Sunni Islamists included under the Mujahideen umbrella. This conflict was one of the odd instances of America and Iran working together.

In the Iran-Iraq War, the Soviet Union supported Iraq by sending them large shipments of weapons because Iran had destroyed the communist Tudeh party. Yugoslavia and China sold arms to both sides with no interest in which side prevailed, while North Korea was neutral as a result of its friendship with both China and the Soviet Union.

Foreign intervention

Iraq

Certain sections of the Iranian state hold imperial ambitions for Iraq. The Islamic Revolution of 1979 brought the Shi'i sections of the Iranian and Iraqi bourgeoisie closer together, with both nations religious establishment working for rule by clerics like Khomeini. There were certain Iraqi Shi'ites who were opposed to Iranian intervention, namely the Sadrists and Ali al-Sistani.

Iranian intelligence played an important role in the Gulf War and the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Though Iran officially condemned the American intervention, they were still involved in destabilizing Iraq by funding political parties and insurgent groups which worked along with the Americans towards regime change.

Today, Iran is still very much involved in Iraq. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of the Iranian military has bases and personnel stationed in Iraq, with Iranian money going to various Iraqi paramilitary organizations and political parties.