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Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority vested in a learned religious scholar referred to commonly as the Supreme Leader who, according to the constitution, is accountable only to the Assembly of Experts. US-Iranian relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981.

During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987 and 1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world and remains subject to US and UN economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement in terrorism and conventional weapons proliferation.

Following the election of reformer Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Khatami as president in 1997 and similarly a reformer Majles (parliament) in 2000, a campaign to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction was initiated. The movement floundered as conservative politicians, through the control of unelected institutions, prevented reform measures from being enacted and increased repressive measures. Starting with nationwide municipal elections in 2003 and continuing through Majles elections in 2004, conservatives reestablished control over Iran's elected government institutions, which culminated with the August 2005 inauguration of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as president. In December 2006 and March 2007, the international community passed resolutions 1737 and 1747 respectively after Iran failed to comply with UN demands to halt the enrichment of uranium or to agree to full IAEA oversight of its nuclear program. In October 2007, Iranian entities were also subject to US sanctions under EO 13382 designations for proliferation activities and EO 13224 designations for providing material support to the Taliban and other terrorist organizations.  

Iran is edging closer to a functioning atomic bomb according to international experts. The US at the same time, says the situation is unacceptable. Concerns are growing that Israel, with a nod from the US, may attack the Iranian installations. Not all in Iran are happy with the bomb and the confrontation. They prefer relations with the West.  Additionally, Iran suffers from huge unemployment which generates a simmering wave of resentment. The economy is almost entirely dependent on one source, oil which has plummeted, essentially cutting Iran’s income in half.

Iran is edging closer to a functioning atomic bomb according to international experts. The US at the same time, says the situation is unacceptable. Concerns are growing that Israel, with a nod from the US, may attack the Iranian installations. Not all in Iran are happy with the bomb and the confrontation. They prefer relations with the West.  Additionally, Iran suffers from huge unemployment which generates a simmering wave of resentment. The economy is almost entirely dependent on one source, oil which has plummeted, essentially cutting Iran’s income in half.

Following national elections on June 12, 2009, Iran descended into chaos as hundreds of thousands of students and others who voted for Mr. Mir Mousavi and the Reform Party began weeks of protests over their generally supported allegation that the election had been rigged to ensure that Mr. Ahmadinejad would continue in office.  

During the violent confrontations that followed, 17 people have been killed, though higher numbers are suspected. Thousands have been jailed and the political fabric of the country has been seriously shaken as power ebbs and flows in this fluid situation. Many pro-democracy newspapers have been shut down and journalists and bloggers are leaving the country as they fear for their lives.

Though few doubt that Ahmadinejad and the hardliners will continue to hold power, they face huge pressure for change and the outcome is very much in doubt. It is clear that the situation will remain unresolved for some time to come.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has made Iran key to peace in the Middle East placing pressure on the US. Ahmadinejad continues to denounce the existence of the Holocaust and continues to call for the destruction of Israel. Soon after the UN General Assembly in September of '09, there have been published claimes that Ahmadinejad's family may have Jewish roots. The assertion is based on a photograph taken during the elections where Ahmadinejad is seen holding up his identity card. Upon close examination, the card reveals that Ahmadinejad's family name was changed from Sabourjian in the early 1950s. Sabourjian is a Jewish name meaning “weaver of the sabour” (or prayer shawl, known in Hebrew as talit).- Sabourjian is a common Iranian Jewish name- “-jian” is a well known Jewish ending to Persian names

Various experts opine that Ahmadinejad's virulently anti-Israel stance may be orchestrated to draw attention away from a possible Jewish past.

Original inquiries into the subject were spurred by Persian blogger Dr. Mehdi Khazali, who first raised the issue of the president's heritage during Iran's June presidential elections. (The blog has since been deleted by the Iranian government.)

Dr. Mehdi Khazali, who reportedly participated in several recent opposition demonstrations, was reportedly summoned to a special court convened for religious figures, detained and transferred to an unknown location.

Before his detention, Dr. Khazali was director of the Hayyan Cultural Institute in Teheran. No further information is available on Dr. Mehdi Khazali's well-being.

Iran continues to aggressively expand its control of dissident groups. Iran's revolutionalry Gaurds, whose power has increased measurably since the demonstrtions, have recently purchased large media outlets to control information on TV, the net and phones throughout Iran. They are also threatening professors with their jobs if they fail to maintain the Conservative line and rhetoric.

Internaionally, Iran continues to defy the UN and the world concerning it's nuclear ambitions. Iran has ruled against shipping it's uranium out of the country to be processed and the negotiations are stalemated at this time.