Current Events Simulation: Country Research Questions

Country Name: Iran

1. Form of government and name of your current leader?

• Form of Government: Islamic republic

• Current Leader: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

2. Type of economy, current level of prosperity?

• Type of Economy: Capitilism

• GDP: $859.7 billion.

• GDP real growth rate: 6.4%

• Trade (2008 est.): Exports--$106.4 billion: petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, carpets, fruits, nuts.

3. Social values/issues: (class; gender roles; family structures; cultural values, etc.)?

• Fundamentalist Muslim

• Follow Islamic Law

4. Major religion(s), with %?

• Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%; Sunni Muslim 9%; Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%.

5. Major ethnic group(s), with %?

• Ethnic groups: Persians 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%.

6. Key events in your 20^th c. history that might affect your policy decisions today, and how?

• Taking 52 hostages in the US Embassy in Iran for 444 days in 1979

• Overthrow and exile of various leaders

• The 1961 “White Revolution” reforms

7. Your key current issues (include detail-you’ll need to refer to these)?

• Uranium Enrichment

• Anti-Israel

• Disputed Elections

• Sponsor of Terrorism

• Tense relationship with the US

8. Membership in major international or regional organizations (i.e. UN, G-12, NATO, EU, Arab League, etc.)?

• UN (United Nations)

• OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries)

• OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference)

9. Military strength? do you have nuclear weapons?

• 3.3% of Iran’s GDP is spent on its military

• Modern army

• Working to get nuclear weapons