Iran
Heir to ancient Persian empires, Iran experienced a constitutional revolution, a Western-backed modernising monarchy and the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which created a unique theocratic republic that now faces war, sanctions and recurrent mass protest.
Who Governs Iran
Reformist Pezeshkian beat hardliner Saeed Jalili on a record-low first-round turnout.
Ali Khamenei was killed in US-Israeli strikes on 28 February 2026; the Assembly of Experts chose his son. The conflict is in a "neither war nor peace" phase.
Majlis
Seat distribution (Elected March-May 2024 (approximate factional blocs)), ordered from economic left to right.
| Party | Ideology | Seats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Principlists (conservatives and hardliners) (PRIN) | Velayat-e faqih, Conservatism | 200 | governing |
| Independents (IND) | Various | 65 | confidence |
| Reformists and moderates (REF) | Islamic reformism | 20 | opposition |
| Religious minority seats (MIN) | Reserved seats | 5 | opposition |
Party Landscape
Each party placed on economic and social axes, sized by seats.
The System
- Official name
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- Capital
- Tehran
- Population
- 91 million
- Statehood
- Continuous statehood from antiquity; Islamic Republic 1979; Constitution 1979 (revised 1989)
- System
- Theocratic republic
- Structure
- Unitary
- Current constitution
- 1979
- Legislature
- Islamic Consultative Assembly
- Lower / sole chamber
- Majlis (290 seats)
- Electoral system
- Two-round presidential vote; multi-member plurality for the Majlis; Guardian Council vets all candidates.
- Term limits
- President: two consecutive four-year terms. Supreme Leader serves for life.
Sources
- IRNA
- Reuters, Mar-Oct 2026
- EIU Democracy Index 2024; Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2025; RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025; Transparency International CPI 2024; IPU Parline, 2026; V-Dem v15 Liberal Democracy Index (approximate five-year readings)
Last verified 2026-10-29. Party placements are editorial estimates.
Data as of 2026-10-29.