Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference 2018
Joint Crisis Committee - Cabinet of Iran
Background Guide
Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Letter from the Director
Dear Delegates,
It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you all to the Hawaiian Pacific Model United Nations Conference, and to my committee - the Iranian Cabinet! It is my goal that all delegates, regardless of skill level or prior experience, find this committee challenging and intellectually stimulating. I was born in the Indian city of Surat, Gujarat, where my family made the decision to move to Canada just months after. From there, I journeyed across the world to Toronto, Ontario, where I spent my formative years. My family once again uprooted our lives to live in San Jose, California, where we now live. I am an alumni of Santa Teresa High School, and am currently a first year at the University of California, Berkeley, where I am prospectively studying Molecular and Cell Biology, as well as Public Health. At UC Berkeley, I am involved in Helix Medical, Phalanx Consulting, and am a volunteer at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, Oakland. My commitment to Model United Nations started later than most students, where I happened upon my high school’s Model UN club in sophomore year, instantly gravitating towards the playing field I grew to love. I attended the Pacific Model United Nations Conference twice as a delegate, taking part in the United States Senate, and the Japanese National Security Council Crisis Committee in 2016 and 2017, respectively. During those years, I also served as Santa Teresa High School’s IRC’s treasurer. This year, I am honored to be your chair, and look forward to working with all of you! I am expecting a high level of preparedness and participation when it comes time for PacMUN 2018, and remember most of all to have fun in this process!
Best wishes, Apurva Prasad
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Letter from the Crisis Director
Dear Delegates,
It is with much excitement and honor that I welcome you to this year’s conference. In creating the core of this committee, I hope for three things; that you would learn, challenge yourselves and make (or break) lasting connections. I am from Osu, a suburb of Accra, Ghana. I am currently a senior studying Human Biology with a concentration in Infectious Diseases and Child Health at Stanford University. I am currently a Resident Assistant at the Freshman Sophomore College, a Teaching Assistant for the Global Child Health Class, a Research Assistant at the Egan’s Lab for Infectious Diseases as well the President of the Stanford African Students’ Association (SASA). I joined Stanford’s Model United Nations’ team during my freshman fall with no prior experience and absolutely loved it. Since then, I have remained a part of the Stanford MUN travel team. I have traversed several states attending different conference. In the past two years, I have crisis directed the “Quest for an African Empire” committee and the “Greece JCC” at the annual Stanford Model United Nations Conference (SMUNC). I look forward to a weekend of creativity, diplomacy and uninhibited tenacity. Bring your best feet forward and I am sure we will all have great times! Looking forward to meeting you all.
My very best, Brian A. Fleischer
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Letter from the Supreme Leader
16 November 2018
Brothers in Arms and Soul,
We must be diligent in our work in opposing the evil regimes of the world and magnanimous in our efforts to protect the sanctums of prosperity.
Time is passing over the opportunities that our great Islamic Republic can assert dominance against the evils in the Syrian battle against the evil Islamic State, and for our comrades under the benevolent rule of President Bashar al-Assad.
Meanwhile, the administration of the great pillar of the West - the United States - continues to defile its government about the nature of our great nation and our people. In the words of myself: “even if we ever - impossible as it is - negotiated with the US, it would never ever be with the current US administration.”
We are fighting an uphill battle my friends; however, we have the tools to outwit, and outplay the enemies in this sandbox known as world politics. Within our righteous cabinet, discourse is not only suggested, but required in order to show our grandeur most effectively to the audience known as the human population. We shall ensure our position of power my friends!
“Iran First,”
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei
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General Background of Iran History Pre-British Colonialism At her peak, Iran’s territory touched Russia to the North, encompassing the Caucuses and much of Central Asia, Mughal India to the East, and Europe to the West, including most of the modern day states in the Middle East in the fertile crescent. Iran has been a critical crossroads of the Eastern and Western parts of the Eurasian continent. Everyone from the Mongols, Silk Road traders, Muslim missionaries, etc. passed through Iran. It was known as cultural, scientific, and mathematically enlightened part of the world, with a diverse group of scholars inhabiting key cities in the country over the centuries. It has also been a hub of immigrants and various ethnic groups. As wars and people moved through this land, an eclectic mix of peoples, faiths, and languages have always marked Iran as a diverse society.
th By the 11 Century most of the people who now encompass modern day Iran had been converted to the Islamic faith, yet the Iranian people sought to protect an independent and distinct identity from their Arab rulers.1 While they adopted their faith over a process of Islamization, there was movement to protect their independent identity known as Persianization. This led them to maintain the Persian language that is spoken to this day.
Modern Day State
th Near the turn of the 20 Century, there had been a series of revolutions against the Shah. In 1906, he finally conceded to a limited constitutional monarchy in exchange for remaining in
th 2 power. The Majils (Parliament) convened for the first time on October 7 , 1906. Iran had steadily been losing territory to the Russians up North and was plagued with famine. Unfortunately, things were made worse with the discovery of petroleum in the country. The British Empire and the Russian empire sought to divvy up these resources in Iran, and the country’s sovereignty was disregarded and divided into spheres of influence by the two great
1 “Iran Profile - Timeline.” BBC News 2 “Persia/Iran.” New Articles RSS 4 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
powers. The Ottoman, British and Russian empires increased their presence and occupation was made worse during World War I. Following the war, Britain was unable to establish a protectorate but continued to maintain influence in the country. Between 1925 and 1941, Reza Shah ruled the country with an iron fist. He introduced nationalism, militarism, secularism and anti-communism. His legacy is controversial because the country modernized significantly during his reign, but he also ran a police state with strict censorship. He was overthrown in favor of his son, Mohammad- Reza Shah.During World War II, allied troops worked hard to maintain control over Iran and its oil fields, which were crucial to the success of the military operations against the Germans. In 1951, then-Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddeq, who was democratically elected, received the required vote from Parliament to nationalize the British-owned oil industry. Britain was infuriated, and forced the Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi to remove the Prime Minister. The Shah obliged the British, but was forced to allow his return to power a year later following domestic uprisings. The second time around, the British and the Americans, acting through their covert agencies, MI6 and the CIA respectively, ran an operation to initiate a coup d’état of the Prime Minister to protect their oil industry from nationalization.3
Post-American Coup Iran’s democratic history was suppressed and discarded. The Americans worked with the Shah to institute an absolute monarchy in Iran. The Iranian government was forced to enter an economically outrageous deal with the West, that surrendered most of the profits and sovereignty of the country’s oil industry. During this time, the Shah initiated a series of reforms aimed at modernization and economic growth. However, the pro-Western policies alienated the conservative Islamic clergy. Major protests occurred almost every decade of the Shah’s rule. One
3 Mostofi, Khosrow, et al. “Iran.” 5 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
of the major leaders of these protests was Ayatollah Khomeini, who was spent the last 14 years of the Shah’s rule in exile in France.4
The Islamic Revolution In 1978, major demonstrations were rocking the reign of the Shah and the country was paralyzed. A year later, in January of 1979, the Shah left Iran to the United States for exile. A month later, Ayatollah Khomeini returned from France to Iran and the military shortly declared it was neutral, essentially surrendering the government to guerrillas and rebel troops. Iran officially became an Islamic Republic on April 1, 1979, when Iranians overwhelmingly voted to do so. The Ayatollah became the Supreme Leader in December of that year, and the Revolution had concluded. The Revolution could be characterized as populist, nationalist, and Shia Islamic. Iran’s modernizing economy was changed, and industries were nationalized. Iran’s identity and policies were defined by Islam or anti-Western sentiments, and the revolution sought to redefine society. Shia Islam heavily influenced public institutions, schools, and the laws – Iran had become theocratic. In November of 1979, radicals in Iran decided to seize 52 US embassy personnel in Tehran. The move was universally condemned around the world for breaking diplomatic protocol, but the Iranian hostage crisis was very popular in Iran. The event completely soured the US-Iranian relationship to an extent that it has not recovered from. The hostages were eventually released after the 1980 election once President Reagan was elected.
4Allen-Ebrahimian, Bethany. “64 Years Later, CIA Finally Releases Details of Iranian Coup.” Foreign Policy, Foreign Policy, 20 June 2017, foreignpolicy.com/2017/06/20/64-years-later-cia-finally-releases-details-of-iranian-coup-iran-tehran-oil/.
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Political System
The Supreme Leader The role of Supreme Leader in the constitution is based on the ideas of Ayatollah Khomeini, who positioned the leader at the top of Iran's political power structure. The Supreme Leader, currently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, appoints the head of the judiciary, six of the members of the powerful Guardian Council, the commanders of all the armed forces, Friday prayer leaders and the head of radio and TV. He also confirms the president's election. The Leader is chosen by the clerics who make up the Assembly of Experts. The President of Iran The president is elected for four years and can serve no more than two consecutive terms. The constitution describes him as the second-highest ranking official in the country. He is head of the executive branch of power and is responsible for ensuring the constitution is implemented. In practice, however, presidential powers are circumscribed by the clerics and conservatives in Iran's power structure, and by the authority of the Supreme Leader. It is the Supreme Leader, not the president, who controls the armed forces and makes decisions on security, defense and major foreign policy issues.
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All presidential candidates are vetted by the Guardian Council, which banned hundreds of hopefuls from standing in the 2005 elections. Cabinet Members of the cabinet, or Council of Ministers, are chosen by the president. They must be approved by parliament. Parliament can also impeach ministers. The Supreme Leader is closely involved in defense, security and foreign policy, so his office also holds influence in decision-making. The cabinet is chaired by the president or first vice-president, who is responsible for cabinet affairs. Parliament (Majlis) The 290 members of the Majlis, or parliament, are elected by popular vote every four years. The parliament has the power to introduce and pass laws, as well as to summon and impeach ministers or the president. However, all Majlis bills have to be approved by the conservative Guardian Council. Guardian Council: The 12 member Guardian Council of the Constitution wields considerable power by being able to approve members for the Council of Experts, as well as the Parliament. Additionally, the Guardians Council of the Constitution vets the presidential candidates, so most hopefuls who want to participate politically, are not given the chance.
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Major Stakeholders in Iran Iranian Revolutionary Guard & Military Elite The Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Military Elite have a huge stake in the war efforts perpetuated in Iran by the Supreme Leader. They support the ongoing war against the Islamic State in Syria, which will be expanded upon in following sections. They are also ardent supporters of the nuclear program. These select few individuals share many of the ideologies that the Ayatollah himself share, including his hate and mistrust of the West and its allies - in particular, the United States and Israel. However, unlike many of the other branches of government in the Iranian system, the Ayatollah exercises very limited oversight over the military operations controlled by this group, giving them a large portion of the real control of the country’s resources.
The Youth The youth is especially feared by the regime in Iran because of the trends that make this group lethal to the future of the President and his government. Due to the harsh sanctions imposed upon Iran in recent years, the youth demographic has taken the largest hit when it comes to livelihood. They currently face an unemployment rate of up to 50%.5 Additionally, these individuals are increasingly urban dwelling, less religious, and more open to Western customs, as through avenues such as the modern internet and blogging. This two-handed longing and resentment of current status foments hatred for one's country and their practices, which has manifested into protests, as well as overcoming the Iranian vanguard.6
Women Though it is impossible to generalize, women, and especially younger women, are outpacing men in the educational sphere and now are seeking to break through the glass ceiling
5“Iran Unemployment Rate | 2001-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast.” Haiti Exports | 2008-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast | News, tradingeconomics.com/iran/unemployment-rate 6 Ibid. 9 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Many do not support such traditional religious rule because it is accompanied by cultural conservatism that limits their opportunities, which has led to a slippery slope of anti governmental sentiments on the part of this oppressed group.7
Iranian Diplomats This group includes the current president, diplomats, and ministers. They, for the most part, argue that Iran should not be involved in many wars, or take the brunt of impact that the imposition of sanctions will pose to the Iranian populus. Despite their semi-focus on the interests of the majority, many of their supporters still want a more democratic system of governance that is less repressive. This group mostly consists of the youth in the population, which we touched upon in a prior section.
Business Community As the Iranian government, we want to promote our economy to a better standing, whilst comparing our assets and losses logically. We want an economically open Iran that not only conducts business in all corners of the world, but rules it. Logically, war and sanctions would dampen the positive efforts, so, we need to make an effort to reduce the effects of the sanctions and war. The economy is a separate sphere from politics, and we can consider the Supreme Leader relatively “separate” from this sphere as well. Thus, this sphere is most closely allied by the “Iranian diplomats.”8
Theocratic Elite This sector of persons of interest is highlighted by the Ayatollah himself and his vehement opposition to all Western culture, governmental bodies, and ideologies. His interests are more alongs the lines of protecting the sanctity of Iranian national pride and identity; instead of bowing to these Western frameworks, he wishes to go against the tide.
7 “Bold, Brilliant and Beautiful: A Look at Iranian Women.” CNN 8 Phillips, James. “Iran's Economy Can't Be Shielded from U.S. Sanctions.” 10 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Fault Lines in Iran Moderate v. Conservative In Iran, the Moderates are, for the most part, a group of Western educated businessmen who support peace and diplomacy. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are traditional military elite who support the ideological and practical goals of the Ayatollah9. They disagree on a variety of issues: 1. Openness to the West (culturally and socially) 2. Integration of women into higher levels of government and business 3. Economic integration with the rest of the world 4. Nuclear program 5. Military assertiveness in the region (proxy wars against Saudi Arabia)
Secular v. Theocratic The secular group, by definition, are a group of those who are disbelievers of the typical religious structures of Iranian society. These individuals include, but are not limited to, religious minorities, women, and most notably, the youth. The theocratic side of society are those who do believe in the predominant religious and social structures embedded in society. These individuals include the clergy, rural dwelling men, the elderly, and Shia Muslims10, to sum it up as a whole. They disagree on a wide variety of issues, socially, and politically: 1. How globalized the country should be and if that will compromise Iranian culture 2. The role of women in modern-day society 3. How willing they should be to work with large Western nations, such as the United States
Authoritarian v. Democratic
9 “Iraqi Elections Deepen Political Fault Lines amid U.S.-Iran Tensions.” Russia's Energy Goals in Syria - The Washington Institute for Near East Policy 10 Ibid. 11 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Authoritarian individuals are those who support the ideals of the political majority, and those who favor the ruling structure of the Ayatollah, centralized government, and minimal democracy, if any. These individuals are typically from the military elite, or the theocratic elite. The Democratic group in Iran is supportive of representative government, a globalized Iran, and an open society with vigorous participation of all different groups and peoples in the country. These individuals include diplomatic society, business groups, the youth, and women. The disagree on many issues: 1. The openness of the political system (how democratic and how much dissent is tolerated) 2. The status and participation capacity of the nation’s youth
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Iran on Syrian Crisis Background Syria has been drastically reduced to a state of war and terrorism, mostly due to the Syrian Civil War, which began in 201111. This war is a multilateral conflict between President Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian Republic and a conglomerate of other states vying for power in the region, as well as international allies. It is up to delegates to ascertain which issues, current and past, will be focused on in committee and which issues will take the backburner. This section is to provide the foundational backbone of Syria and Iran relations, the rest is up to you to pick issues which are pertinent to your assignment and interests. However, delegates are urged to focus their paper on issues pertaining to Syria right now, and continually researching, since this conflict is occurring in real time. The Supreme Leader is likely to focus on issues pertaining to who is involved in this conflict, and the motives behind these different international players, since most of these players are actual committees in PACMUN 2018.
Iran and Syria Relations Syria and Iran first came into contact with one another due to a mutual dislike for the policies and parties contained within the Arab state of Iraq. From this connection in the early post-World War II era, a bond survived through generations, magnifying after the Iranian Revolution of 1979, resulting in a concrete multifaceted relationship, and the coining of Syria as Iran’s “closest ally.” After this era, an even more foundational figure threatened the ideological strength of both Iran and Syria: Saddam Hussein. In addition, constant misgivings with the United States and Israel only strengthened the preexisting bond between Syria and Iran. In 2011, at the beginning of the civil war in Syria, Iran vowed to attempt to keep President Bashar al-Assad in power through the Syrian Crisis, in adjointment with Russia. Iran
11 Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Syrian Civil War.” 13 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
continues to support Syria in its endeavours against the Islamic State in Syria, as well as several other militant nationalist groups. Recently, the United States has publicly denounced Iran by stating that Iran must no longer support the mistreatment of Syrian citizens in operational recapturing of IS controlled cities.12 In the Syrian Civil War, Iran is often referred to as the “Persian Shadow,” which signifies is role as guardian of the Assad Regime.13 Syria and Iran have both been similarly attacked by Western nations, namely the United States, by allowing state sponsored terrorism of organizations such as the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah.14
12 Deutsche Welle. “Syria: US-Backed Forces Launch 'Final' Operation against 'Islamic State' Strongholds 13 Ibid. 14 Byman, Daniel L. “Proxy Power: Understanding Iran's Use of Terrorism.” 14 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Other Country’s Positions and Interests vis-à-vis Iran and Syria Israel We are threatened by the United States, and continue to profit off of their anger politically, which puts us in dangerous political situation. Anti-semitism runs rampant, and the people of Iran have learned to fear and despise the people of Israel, as well as their political links to the United States.
Russian Federation Russia and Iran have had a complex relationship with Iran, dating back to the days of the USSR, with increasing competition with the West for influence in certain areas of the Middle East. However, Russia believes in the limitation of the proliferation of nuclear weaponry in the Middle East and will support Western sanctions over Iran in the prospect of nuclear contentions. Russia is the most willing of any country in this simulation to sell Iran weapons, and given the authoritarian similarities, both countries have a lot to learn from each other to the dismay of reformists in both countries. Additionally, they both want to see Assad in power in Syria for different reasons.15
Saudi Arabia The competition for influence in the Middle East from countries ranging from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen has caused these deep pocketed rivals to be bitter enemies. They do not necessarily want to fight each other other, especially with nuclear weapons, because both countries know how devastating that would be for all sides and much prefer the proxy fights. There is room to bargain with the Saudis, but be aware that in the long term, both sides only see one of them as the plausible regional hegemonic power.16
Turkey
15 Wootliff, Raoul, et al. “Iran-Russia Relations.” 16 Marcus, Jonathan. “Why Saudi Arabia and Iran Are Bitter Rivals.” 15 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Turkey has taken a rapid turn under Erdogan, who recently won the presidency once again and now shares the authoritarian values of Iran and Russia. Both Iran and Turkey do not want to see a strong Kurdish presence in Syria, like there is in Iraq. However, the United States and even Russia, seem to be comfortable with this reality in Iraq since it counters ISIS. Russia is less than the United States is comfortable with the Kurdish protection force along the border with Turkey. However, the Kurds have long demanded a separate state in the Middle East, which would cut through at least 3 major countries – Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, all of whom vehemently oppose this plan.17
United Kingdom and France The UK and France, along with their other EU partners, largely share the same concerns with regard to the Syrian crisis – terrorism and refugees. While terrorist attacks are fairly low probability events, they have a huge impact on the psyche of European populists: terrorist attacks have provided the pretext for far right European politicians to call for an end to refugees, immigration, and the EU itself. At this point, while humanitarian concerns are important for Europeans, it is in the backburner for many. Most would like to see an end to the conflict in whatever way, shape or form that would take, even if it means a negotiated settlement between Assad and the opposition. Iran’s objective is to have enough skin in the game to make sure Europeans will accept Assad/Shias in power in Syria and Iran will have a seat at the table.
17 “From Rep. of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs.” Republic of Turkey Ministry of Foreign Affairs 16 Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hawaii Pacific Model United Nations Conference
Character Portfolios 1. President Hassan Rouhani Iranian president Hassan Rouhani was born Hassan Feridon on November 12, 1948, in Sorkheh, Iran. His family was opposed to the Shah, thus exposing him to national political concerns at an early age. He began studying religion as a youth and attended religious seminaries in the 1960s, learning from prominent Shia scholars; eventually he took the surname Rouhani, which means "community of clerics."
Rouhani enrolled at the University of Tehran in 1969 and graduated three years later with his bachelor's degree in judicial law. He went back to school in the '90s, earning his master’s degree and Ph.D. from Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.After receiving his undergraduate degree, Rouhani traveled across Iran to voice his opposition to the Shah and his support for the exiled cleric Ruhollah Khomeini. Forced to flee the country in 1977, he joined Khomeini in Paris and spoke to student groups across Europe. After the 1979 Iranian Revolution, Rouhani returned to Iran with Khomeini to rebuild the government.
Rouhani was elected president of Iran in 2013, his desire to engage in diplomacy with Western powers leading to a landmark nuclear agreement in 2015. He was re-elected in 2017 in a decisive win against hardline populist Ebrahim Raisi.The President of Iran is the head of government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The country's president is the highest popularly elected official in Iran (however, the president is still required to gain the Supreme Leader’s official approval before being sworn in before the Parliament and the Leader also has the power to dismiss the elected president anytime). The President carries out the decrees, and answers to the Supreme Leader of Iran, who functions as the country's head of state.
President Rouhani is committed to assisting in Syria’s reconstruction effort and is vehemently
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against any military action against Syria. He however is very suspicious of western involvement, especially that of the United States, in matters concerning Syria. A right winged conservative in the 1980s, Rouhani presents as a moderate today and support pro-democratic and pro-reformist ideals. https://www.biography.com/people/hassan-rouhani-21313175 https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-News/Rouhnani-tells-Assad-Iran-ready-to-aid-in-Syrias -reconstruction-551363 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/05/23/iranian-president-rouhani- won-reelection-heres-how-reformists-got-him-there/?utm_term=.e037f8ba2e1d
2. Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani Ali Larijani was born on 3 June 1957 in Najaf, Iraq to Iranian parents. He hails from a religious family based in Behshahr in the province of Mazandaran.[13] His father was a leading cleric, Ayatollah Mirza Hashem Amoli. His parents moved to Najaf in 1931 due to pressure of then ruler Reza Shah, but returned to Iran in 1961. Larijani is a graduate of in Qom. He also holds a bachelor of science degree in computer science and mathematics from Sharif University of Technology and holds a master's degree and Ph.D. in Western philosophy from Tehran University.
Former Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Larijani is a longtime regime strategist and national-security adviser to the Supreme Leader. He handled nuclear negotiations with the West for a period before being ousted from the role by former President Ahmadinejad. Larijani is considered a pragmatic conservative who is at once close to the Supreme Leader. His re-election came as a mild surprise as an overwhelming majority of Iran’s lawmakers chose a conservative candidate denying reformists a post they thought they had earned. However, Larijani is a supporter of the Moderate President Rouhani although they do not agree on
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everything. Larijani comes from a very politically powerful family. His brother, Sadeq Larijani, is the President of Iran’s Judiciary and his other brothers hold key positions within the human rights council, the ministry of health, and the diplomatic corps.
Larijani is openly vocal about his reservations with the United States involvement in Syria. Larijani recently mentioned U.S., Britain and France strike on Syria over suspected chemical attack and said in Iraq, Syria, and also Afghanistan in the past there was terrorist conflicts that one of their reasons was US military intervention in region. He is pro Russia and pro Turkey and like President Rouhani is committed to helping rebuild Syria. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/01/world/middleeast/iran-ali-larijani.html http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1905910_1905908_1905900,00.h tml https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/spotlight/2013/06/2013628374847373.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Larijani https://en.isna.ir/news/97012709848/US-does-not-support-peace-in-Syria-Larijani
3. Chief Justice Sadeq Larijani Sadeq Ardeshir Larijani, born 12 March 1961, is an Iranian cleric, conservative politician and the current and fifth head of the judicial system of Iran after the 1979 revolution. His father, the late Ayatollah Mirza Hashem Amoli, was an eminent Mujtahid of his time who worked in Najaf after being exiled by Mohammad Reza Shah. The family moved to Iran after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Larijani became familiar with both religious sciences and modern sciences as child. He began his primary school in 1345 solar (1966) and finished high school in 1356 solar (1977). Following high school, he began his seminary studies in Qom. He finished his seminary studies in 1368 solar (1989) then began to teach in both seminary and university. He became a member of scientific staffs of Qom University and taught many courses in theology and comparative
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philosophy.
The Chief Justice of Iran is the head of the Judicial system of Iran (Head of Judiciary) and is responsible for its administration and supervision.The Chief Justice is also the highest judge of the Supreme Court of Iran and is appointed by the Supreme Leader.
Larijani has played an important role in hardliners’ efforts to muzzle Iran’s reformists. He was the youngest jurist ever appointed to the Guardian Council, which vets presidential and parliamentary candidates for election and holds veto power over all the Parliament’s legislation. The Guardian Council has a long history of disproportionately disqualifying reformist and moderate electoral candidates and squashing reformist-leaning legislation. More recently, Larijani has clashed repeatedly with the reformist-backed President Rouhani on such issues as press freedoms and the imprisonment of the reformist leaders of the 2009 Green Movement. In 2016, he warned president Hassan Rouhani against voicing opposition to Supreme Leader and since then the two have harbored a rather strained relationship.
The European Union sanctioned Larijani in 2012 for personally approving and overseeing the imposition of horrific punishments. The White House decision to join the E.U. in sanctioning him may be intended to deter him from using his power and position to oppress the Iranian people too forcefully. Thus, Larijani is markedly pro-war and heavily anti-western involvement in Iran and in Syria. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Justice_of_Iran https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadeq_Larijani https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/why-did-the-u-s-sanction-irans-sadegh-amoli-larijani
4. Secretary Ali Shamkani Ali Shamkhani, born 29 September 1955, is an Iranian Rear Admiral Upper Half. He is the
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secretary of the Supreme National Security Council of Iran and the representative of the Supreme Leader on the council. He was appointed by President Rouhani as secretary of the council but takes his commands directly from the Supreme Leader.
Shamkhani was born on 29 September 1955 in Ahvaz, Khuzestan. His family are of Iranian Arab origin. Before the Iranian Revolution, Shamkhani was member of a clandestine Islamist guerilla group named Mansouroun, engaging in armed struggle against Pahlavi dynasty. After the revolution, he joined the Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization.He studied engineering at Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz.
Ali Shamkani is the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and has been the secretary since 2013. He was appointed by President Rouhani and owes some special allegiance to the President. He is outwardly anti-United States and generally anti-westerners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Shamkhani
5. Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari Mohammad Ali Jafari was born on 1 September 1957. He was born in Yazd where he had both his primary and secondary education before he was admitted into the Tehran University to study Civil Engineering.
In 1981, he became a part of the Revolutionary Guards where he rose to serve as a commander of operative battlefields of south and west. In 1992 and 1993, he taught at the War University of the Revolutionary Guards.
Jafari currently heads the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. The IRGC is the most powerful element in the regime's security forces, running everything from the country's missile systems to the Basij militia, whose hundreds of thousands of young men enforce domestic order and have
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been at the forefront of attacks against those protesting the election result. Reporting to the Supreme Leader, the IRGC also maintains an extensive business empire in Iran. The support of the IRGC and the Basij will be crucial to the regime's hopes of suppressing a popular revolt against the election result.
Known for his open conversationism, Jafari was among 24 IRGC commanders who signed a letter to then President Mohammad Khatami, warning him that his liberalizing policies at a time of civil unrest in Tehran, threatened the country's leadership. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Ali_Jafari http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1905910_1905908_1905901,00.h tml
6. Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif Mohammad Javad Zarif was born on 7th January 1960 to a well to do family. His father was an affluent merchant in Tehran and his mother was the daughter of a successful businessman. He was first educated at a private religious school the Alavi school and then later at the Drew College Preparatory School in San Francisco, CA. He went to obtain a BA in international relations from San Francisco State University.
He was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs by the parliament following the recommendations of President Rouhani. During his tenure as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zarif has had several loggerheads with the United States. However, he worked most closely with US politician John Kerry and made the most way with the American government under his partnership with Kerry. The two share the Chatham House Prize delivered in 2016.
Zarif led the Iranian delegation that signed the nuclear agreement that consisted of a short-term freeze of portions of Iran's nuclear program in exchange for decreased economic sanctions on
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Iran, as the countries work towards a long-term agreement.
Minister Zarif is outwardly moderate and aligns with several pro-liberal ideals and is a staunch advocate for women’s rights.
7. Ambassador Mehdi Sanaei Mehdi Sanaei is Iran’s Ambassador to Russia. Prior to holding this position, he was the director of the Russian Studies Group, Faculty of World Studies at the University of Tehran and also a member of the Iranian Parliament since 2008.
As confrontation between the United States and Iran escalates, the country is finding itself further pushed into an alliance with China and Russia. Like Russia, Sanaei views Turkey's regional ambitions and the possible spread of some form of pan-Turkic ideology with suspicion.
Sanaei believes that Russia and Iran also share a common interest in limiting the political influence of the United States in Central Asia. This common interest has led the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to extend to Iran observer status in 2005, and offer full membership in 2006. Iran's relations with the organization, which is dominated by Russia and China, represents the most extensive diplomatic ties Iran has shared since the 1979 revolution.
Mehdi aims to rise in ranks and eventually make his way unto the Security Council and is willing to use his connections in Russia and in China and also on the ambassadorial board to do that. In the public eye, he appears moderate and a supporter of women’s rights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Russia_relations#Post_1979 http://valdaiclub.com/about/experts/436/
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8. Ambassador Mohammad Reza Rauf Sheibani Ambassador Sheibani is the diplomatic representative of the Iranian government to Syria, one of Iran’s closest Allies. Ambassador Sheibani is conservative, anti-Israel and a strong proponent of stronger military actions against Israel.
During the Syrian Civil War since 2011, Iran has aided the Syrian government by increasing its level of technical support and personnel support to strengthen Syria's ability to deal with protesters.
Sheibani and other Iranian officials have made public pronouncements identifying the U.S. government as the origin of the uprising in Syria. Sheibani looks to retiring soon but not without one last fatal blow to Israel and her allies especially the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Syria_relations#Syrian_Civil_War
9. Samir Shabar Samir Shabar is the leader of the Office for Strengthening Unity, the largest organized body of students activists in Iran.
The Office for Strengthening Unity was founded in 1979 as a central organization to organize student Islamic Associations against the influence of Marxist or Islamist-Marxist groups on university campuses.
After the Cultural Revolution in 1980 when all opposition groups were purged from the universities, OSU was the only active student organization to continue. “Its major functions were limited to propaganda, political control, and ideological challenge of any oppositional voice. It also mobilized students to serve at the front during the
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Iran-Iraq war. In respect to domestic politics, OSU could be regarded as part of the left-wing of the Islamic Republic and one of the supporters of Mousavi’s government during the 1980s.
Samir is a staunch believer in the reformist movement and has the massive support of the student and youth. He himself aligns more with democratic and more liberal ideals.
10. Abu Bakr Abu Bakr is the child of oil magnate Abdramane Bakr. He was schooled in the London School of Economics and graduated top of his class. At LSE, he was a devoted Islamic activist and stood up for Iranian and largely Middle Eastern students’ rights on campus. His activism won him a sort of local celebrity which soon reached Iran. His return to Iran was met with careful scrutiny both from the country’s critical politicians and the leaders of OSU as he presents a threat to the current leadership.
Abu aside the fame and acclaim, has his family’s wealth to fall on. He is the heir for the Bakr Oil Holdings one of the largest oil firms in the country. However, he has his eyes in the country’s parliament. Unlike Samir, Abu doesn’t mind playing pawn to get what he wants.
11. Managing Director, Jamal Iddrisu Jamal Iddrisu is the Managing Director of Bank Saderat Iran. He obtained his bachelors in Accounting and Masters and PhD in Banking and Finance from the University of Tehran. He later return as a faculty in the University for 10 years before moving fully into the Banking Sector.
Bank Saderat Iran is an Iranian multinational banking and financial services company headquartered in Tehran, Iran. It is Iran's largest bank. It was founded in Tehran in 1952 and commenced operation on 13 November 1952 with a board of three directors and 20 employees.
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Bank Saderat Iran has around 3,500 offices in 12 countries and territories across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, and around 10 million customers. As of 30 June 2013, it had total assets of $59.110 billion. BSI has 28 international branches and services in 12 countries. BSI has a primary listing on the Tehran Stock Exchange.
Jamal is one of the most powerful men in the business and finance sectors in Iran and has most politicians in his pockets. He doesn’t always agree with conservative ideals although he outwardly presents as conservative. He is pro-women’s right and a reformist.
12. Faatimah Awal Faatimah Awal is one of the most powerful women in Iran. She is a self made business woman, politician and president of the Iranian Women’s Union, the largest Women’s movement in the country. Faatimah comes from an impoverished background and funded herself through primary school and college.
The Iranian Women’s Union is the largest organized body of women in Iran. It was founded in 1943 as part of the resistance movement in Iran to stand up for women’s rights. In male dominated country, IWU’s very mandate is considered controversial and seen as very liberal. However, the IWU over the year has become synonymous with liberation for women and has record breaking womens’ following and support within the Middle East.
Faatimah has had international acclaim and has several powerful western partners.
13. CEO Mohamed Bassir
Mohamed Bassir is the CEO of the Bassir Brothers Holdings, one of the largest oil firms in the country. According to Forbes, he is the one of the top 5 richest men in Iran. He was born into a family of iron merchants whose trade spread from the borders of Egypt to the the hills of Myanmar.
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In 1987, he and his other two brothers, Khaled and Armin, join together to establish the first locally sourced and owned oil firms in the country. The Bassir Oil Consortium, as it was previously owned, was almost bankrupted via sinister dealings by some members of the Iranian government in the early 2000s and Mohamed had to flee for his life at some point. But he returned to Iran in 2005 with newfound wealth and established the Bassir Brothers Holdings, which in the last decade has grown to be one of the largest oil firms in the country.
Bassir is understandably, very anti-government but has recently started showing interest in political affairs. Although he likes to remain out of the public eye, his company most recently backed the campaign of some presidential aspirants.
14. H.E. Shahindokht Molaverdi
Shahindokht Molaverdi is an Iranian academic, feminist, Jurist, scholar and vice president of Iran in the cabinet of Hassan Rouhani in the section of Women and Family Affairs. Molaverdi was born on 23 October 1965. She is a lawyer by professor and schooled at Shahid Beheshti University and Allameh Tabatabaei University. She is currently married to Hamid Ayati and the two have two children.
Molaverdi served as the Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs from October 2013 till August 2017 and currently serves as a Special Assistant to the President for Citizenship rights. She is a staunch member of the Society for Support of Women's Rights and also affiliated Islamic Iran Participation Front. Molaverdi hopes to vie for Presidency after Rouhani steps down and hopes to become Iran’s very first female president. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahindokht_Molaverdi
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15. Managing Director James Connor
James Connor is a canadian citizen and the managing director of Telegram in the Middle East. His office is currently located in Tehran. Connor holds his bachelors and Masters in Computer Science from Stanford University and worked for Facebook and Goldman Sachs after completing his master’s thesis.
In 2009, he was offered a place in Telegram and quickly moved up the ladder. In 2013, he moved to Iran as part of the organization’s move to meet the needs of a burgeoning and yearning youthful population in the Middle East. The Iranian youth in particular, especially in the past few years, have taken to social media to demonstrate and express anger at certain government initiative and Telegram saw this as an opportunity to expand their market.
Connor has been invited to the presidential royal palace a number of times and is good friends with the current president and a few members of his cabinet. He hopes to channel these connections to expand Telegram’s base in the region. However, he contends that his first commitment is and will always be to the Iranian youth.
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Bibliography
“Iran Profile - Timeline.” BBC News, BBC, 24 Sept. 2018,
“Iran Unemployment Rate | 2001-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast.” Haiti Exports | 2008-2018 | Data | Chart | Calendar | Forecast | News,
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