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| Iran (Islamic Republic of Iran) |
State in Southwest Asia, in the Middle East. Territory - 1648 thousand sq. km. Population - 35.8 million (end of 1979), there are over 30 nations and nationalities, the largest of them are Persians (about 17 million), Azerbaijanis (about 6 million), Kurds (about 5 million), Lurs (about 2.5 million), Gilans (1.6 million) and Mazandzrans (1.2 million), there are also Turkmens, Arabs, Talysh, Baluchis, Bakhtiars, Qashqai, Armenians, Assyrians, Jews, etc. About 3 million people are nomadic and semi-nomadic. The capital is Tehran (about 4.5 million inhabitants). The state language is Persian (Farey). The official religion is Shiite Islam, which is professed by over 90% of the population. Iran is one of the most ancient states in Asia. On its territory at the beginning of the III millennium before and. NS. a class society arose. From the end of the 18th century. Iran became the object of the colonial policy of Western European countries. By the beginning of the XX century. the country turned into a semi-colony of imperialist powers. Under the influence of the Great October Socialist Revolution in Russia and with the help of the young Soviet state, Iran tore up the enslaving treaties. In May 1920, diplomatic relations were established between Soviet Russia and Iran, and on November 26, 1921, the Soviet-Iranian treaty was signed, the first equal treaty in the modern history of Iran, which opened a new era in relations between the two states. However, the imperialist powers (primarily the United States, Britain and Germany) continued to keep Iran in their sphere of influence, trying to use its nat. wealth and an extremely important strategic position. This determined the extremely acute political and diplomatic struggle both inside the country and around Iran during the Second World War and after it. The governments of Great Britain and the United States concluded a number of military and economic agreements with Iran, and in 1955 drew Iran into the aggressive CENTO bloc. The colonial aspirations of the United States achieved their goal after the Second World War, when, with the assistance of the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who ascended the throne in 1941, and with the direct intervention of the CIA, the legitimate government of Iran, headed by M. Mosaddegh, was overthrown (August 1953) , pursuing a policy of strengthening the nat. independence of the country. By pushing back its imperialist partners, the United States occupied a dominant position in Iran. In 1959, the Shah concluded a military agreement with the United States, which opened up even greater opportunities for American imperialism to exploit the Iranian people and interfere in the country's internal affairs. The preservation of strong remnants of tribal and feudal relations in the countryside, the weak development of industry and the increased penetration of foreign capital into the economy, which extracted huge profits from the exploitation of the nat. wealth and the Iranian people - all this gave rise to deep discontent in the country, caused anti-government protests. In 1963, the ruling circles were forced to carry out some socio-economic reforms, known as the "white revolution", which were aimed at accelerating the country's development along the capitalist path. However, under the conditions of the anti-popular regime of the Shah’s power, the ruling classes mainly took advantage of the results of this “revolution,” and the situation of the broad masses of the people remained extremely difficult. With colossal oil revenues (from the mid-1970s they reached $ 22 billion a year), the bulk of Iranians continued to live on the brink of poverty. At the same time, a significant part of the budget was allocated for military purposes (in 1977/78, out of a total of $ 55 billion — $ 10 billion). The shah and his entourage invested huge amounts of money in shares of Western monopolies and transferred them to personal accounts in foreign banks. Even limited bourgeois freedoms were suppressed in the country. Since 1975, only the pro-monarchist Rastakhiz party has been allowed to operate. Membership in a communist or any other leftist party was punishable by death. Thousands of Iranians were tortured in the chambers of the secret police (SAVAK). Deep socio-political contradictions in society have led to a conflict between the broad popular masses and the authoritarian regime. The political and religious opposition headed by Ayatollah r Khomeipi began to lead the political struggle. As a result of the anti-monarchist, anti-imperialist revolution of 1978-79, which culminated in the armed uprising of November 10-11, 1979 in Tehran, the monarchical regime was overthrown. The Islamic Revolutionary Council took over the leadership of the country. In accordance with the results of the referendum on April 1, 1979, Iran was officially proclaimed an Islamic Republic. During the referendum on December 2-3, 1979, in which more than 15 million Iranians took part, the majority of the population approved the country's new constitution. On 25 January 1980, the first presidential elections in the country's history were held. In March - May 1980, elections were held in the nat. parliament - majlis. During the time that has passed after the revolution, the republican leadership has carried out a number of measures to eliminate the heavy legacy of the Shah's regime. The property and assets belonging to the former were confiscated. the shah and his family members, the secret police (SAVAK) was disbanded, and the army, police and state apparatus were purged of supporters of the previous regime. In June 1979, the Iranian authorities nationalized private banks and insurance companies. The property of all the fled representatives of the comprador bourgeoisie was confiscated, the enterprises that formed the basis of the Iranian economy were nationalized. In January 1980, a decision was made to nationalize foreign trade, at the same time it was announced that trade within the country would remain with private entrepreneurs. The leaders of the republic proclaimed their main goal to be the liberation of the country from all forms of dependence on imperialism and the protection of national interests. Iran withdrew from the aggressive CENTO bloc, broke off relations with Israel and South Africa, spoke out for the recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization and applied for the admission of the country into the non-aligned movement. The principles of positive neutrality have been declared the basis of Iran's foreign policy, and it is also envisaged to strengthen ties with developing countries. Iran announced its intention to develop all-round cooperation with the USSR , which invariably pursues a policy towards this country based on the principles of equality, good neighborliness, respect for the nationalities. sovereignty and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. At the same time, the situation in the country remains difficult. The counter-revolution, supported by the United States, Israel, Egypt and other reactionary forces, seeks to create an atmosphere of anarchy and chaos in Iran, to turn the revolution back. To this end, it incites terror in the country, provokes clashes between national minorities, and conducts anti-communist and anti-Soviet propaganda. In the struggle against the Iraqi people, US imperialism resorted to the traditional "weapon of hunger": 1 September 1979 the US imposed an embargo on food supplies to Iran (it is known that the Shah's regime made the country completely dependent on food imports); 14, XI 1979 announced the freeze of Iranian financial assets. American imperialism used the taking of American hostages by Iranian students as an excuse to demonstrate its military power in the Persian Gulf and military threats against Iran. According to the 1979 constitution, Iran is a republic. The Constitution declares the leading role of the clergy in the life of Iranian society. Legislative power belongs to a unicameral parliament - Mejlis (270 deputies), elected for 4 years by direct secret ballot from representatives of all 24 provinces of the country. The head of the executive branch is the President (since January 1980 - A. Banisadr), also elected for a term of 4 years. The President appoints the Prime Minister, who forms the Cabinet of Ministers. In accordance with the constitution, the activities of the government and the president are monitored by the "fakih" - the highest spiritual and political authority in the country. The Constitution approved Ayatollah R. Khomeyiya as a life-long "fuqih". "National Front" - unites over 10 parties of the liberal bourgeoisie. In 1953, the opposition activities of the Front were banned by the Shah. In October 1978, the party re-entered the political arena. Delivers a liberal-democratic program. "National Democratic Front" - was created in March 1979 by a group of politicians who separated from the "National Front". It unites representatives of the liberal bourgeoisie. The "Party of the Islamic Republic" was founded in March 1979 and has 240 branches across the country. Party members adhere to the political platform of Ayatollah R. Khomeini. "Islamic Republican Party of the Muslim People of Iran" - was established in April 1979. It unites supporters of Ayatollah Shariat Madari among the clergy and in Iranian Azerbaijan. The parties - "The Organization of the Fedayeen Partisans of the People of Iran" and the "Organization of Fighters for the Holy Cause of the Iranian People" ("Mujahideen Khalk") occupy positions on the left flank of the Islamic movement. The People's Party of Iran (Tudeh) was founded in 1941, was subjected to severe repression under the Shah's regime and worked mainly underground. Since March 1979 it has been operating legally. Is the spokesman for the interests of the working masses. In accordance with the Party Program, developed by the 16th Plenum of the Central Committee (1979), Tudeh directs efforts to create a united front of all national patriotic forces advocating freedom, independence and social progress. General Secretary of the Central Committee - I. Kiyanuri. The constitution provides that the economy will be based on three types of property: state, cooperative and private. In this case, the public sector will become the leading one. The main task set by the Iranian government in the field of economy is to end the country's dependence on foreign influence, to provide the population with food from its own agriculture, and in the field of industry to develop only those industries that have a raw material base inside the country, to organize production on the basis of state planning. ... The main wealth of Iran is oil. Oil production and export from 1954 to 1973 was carried out by the International Petroleum Consortium, the main participants of which were American and British companies. Now these functions are performed and also engaged in oil sales by the Iranian National Oil Company (INK). INNK owns the largest oil refinery in Asia in the city of Abadan (capacity - 25 million tons per year), as well as oil pipelines and oil storage facilities in Abadan, Mehshahr and on the island of Khark in the Persian Gulf. In previous years, Iran produced from 270 to 290 million tons of oil a year, in 1979 about 130 million tons were produced. Since November 1979, in response to the anti-Iranian measures of the American administration, Iran has stopped oil supplies to the United States. At the same time, INNK signed contracts for the supply of oil to more than 30 countries, primarily to Western Europe and Japan. Agriculture employs 60% of the self-employed population. A program for the creation of Islamic agricultural cooperatives is under way. Wheat (about 5 million tons per year), barley (about 1 million tons), rice (1.4 million tons), cotton, sugar beets, and tobacco are grown. Livestock raising is extremely extensive. It accounts for a third of the national income generated in agricultural production. There are about 6 mli. heads of cattle, 27 million sheep, 14 million goats. The USSR is rendering great assistance to Iran . With the assistance of the Soviet Union, about 150 facilities have been built or are under construction in Iran, which are of great importance for strengthening the national. independent economy and creation of our own industry. Railway length lines - 5.2 thousand km, highways - 43.3 thousand km, including asphalted - 12.5 thousand km. The monetary unit is the rial. 100 riyals = 0.91 rubles. (February 1980). Export goods - oil, cotton, carpets, metal ores, etc .; imported - machinery and equipment, vehicles, metals, chemicals, etc. There are 3 million unemployed in the country, inflation reaches 50%. The government is taking measures to improve the situation of workers: unemployed people are paid benefits, cheap dwellings are being built for the “disadvantaged,” and significant loans are being allocated from the state budget to maintain affordable food chains.
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