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| Iran profile | Iran profile |
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| Iran became a unique Islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was overthrown and clerics assumed political control under supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini. | Iran became a unique Islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was overthrown and clerics assumed political control under supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini. |
| The Iranian revolution put an end to the rule of the Shah, who had alienated powerful religious, political and popular forces with a programme of modernization and Westernization coupled with heavy repression of dissent. | The Iranian revolution put an end to the rule of the Shah, who had alienated powerful religious, political and popular forces with a programme of modernization and Westernization coupled with heavy repression of dissent. |
| Persia, as Iran was known before 1935, was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, and the country has long maintained a distinct cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own language and adhering to the Shia interpretation of Islam. | Persia, as Iran was known before 1935, was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, and the country has long maintained a distinct cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own language and adhering to the Shia interpretation of Islam. |
| In 2002, US President George W Bush declared Iran as part of an "axis of evil" . While Mr Bush's successor, Barack Obama, has softened his tone, Washington continues to accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. | In 2002, US President George W Bush declared Iran as part of an "axis of evil" . While Mr Bush's successor, Barack Obama, has softened his tone, Washington continues to accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons. |
| Iran, which has built its first atomic power station - at Bushehr, in the south of the country - with Russian help, says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. President Ahmadinejad says Iran has an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel. | Iran, which has built its first atomic power station - at Bushehr, in the south of the country - with Russian help, says its nuclear ambitions are peaceful. President Ahmadinejad says Iran has an "inalienable right" to produce nuclear fuel. |
| In 2010, the UN voted to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over the issue. Two months later, Tehran announced that engineers had begun loading fuel into the Bushehr plant and described this as a milestone in the country's drive to produce nuclear energy. | In 2010, the UN voted to impose a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over the issue. Two months later, Tehran announced that engineers had begun loading fuel into the Bushehr plant and described this as a milestone in the country's drive to produce nuclear energy. |
| Lack of progress on the nuclear issue increased tension with the UN, US and European Union through 2011, and the European Union announced a ban on Iranian oil imports that came into force in July 2012. As the EU buys 20% of Iran's oil exports this was a significant step, although the UN says Iran continues to advance its nuclear programme. | Lack of progress on the nuclear issue increased tension with the UN, US and European Union through 2011, and the European Union announced a ban on Iranian oil imports that came into force in July 2012. As the EU buys 20% of Iran's oil exports this was a significant step, although the UN says Iran continues to advance its nuclear programme. |
| The country has an abundance of energy resources - substantial oil reserves and natural gas reserves second only to those of Russia. | The country has an abundance of energy resources - substantial oil reserves and natural gas reserves second only to those of Russia. |
| Iran has been led by a highly conservative clerical elite since 1979, but appeared to be entering another era of political and social transformation with the victory of the liberals in parliamentary elections in 2000. | Iran has been led by a highly conservative clerical elite since 1979, but appeared to be entering another era of political and social transformation with the victory of the liberals in parliamentary elections in 2000. |
| But the reformists, kept on the political defensive by powerful conservatives in the government and judiciary, failed to make good on their promises. | But the reformists, kept on the political defensive by powerful conservatives in the government and judiciary, failed to make good on their promises. |
| Former President Mohammad Khatami's support for greater social and political freedoms made him popular with the young - an important factor as around half of the population is under 25. | Former President Mohammad Khatami's support for greater social and political freedoms made him popular with the young - an important factor as around half of the population is under 25. |
| But his relatively liberal ideas put him at odds with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and hardliners reluctant to lose sight of established Islamic traditions. | But his relatively liberal ideas put him at odds with the supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, and hardliners reluctant to lose sight of established Islamic traditions. |
| The elections of June 2005 dealt a blow to the reformists when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor, became president. | The elections of June 2005 dealt a blow to the reformists when Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran's ultra-conservative mayor, became president. |
| Mr Ahmadinejad's controversial re-election in June 2009 and the violent suppression of subsequent opposition protests further widened the rift between conservatives and reformists within Iran's political establishment. | |
| Hopes for more fruitful engagement with the rest of the world rose with the election of self-proclaimed moderate Hassan Rouhani to the presidency in 201, but the domestic divide remains deep. |