Iran Profile
History, Government, Current Conditions, and Foreign Relations
Iranis a pluralistic society. Persians are the largest predominant ethnic andcultural group in this country, though many are actually of mixed ancestry. Thepopulation of the country has important Turkic elements (e.g., Azeris), andArabs predominate in the southwest. In addition, Iranian citizens includeKurds, Balochi, Bakhtyari, Lurs, and other smaller minorities, such asArmenians, Assyrians, Jews, and Brahuis (or Brohi). The 1979 Islamic revolution and the 1980–1988 war with Iraq transformed Iran’s class structure politically, socially, and economically. During this period, Shia clerics took a more dominant position in politics and nearly all aspects of Iranian life, both urban and rural. After…
