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CONFLICTED

How Iran Works

Oct 4, 2023
This episode of Conflicted explores the Iranian system and the future of the country outside of the despotic regime. It discusses the protests, backlash, and rising death toll in Iran, the influence of Shia revolutionaries, the implementation of Sayad Kutub's ideas in the Iranian Revolution, and the powers of the Supreme Leader in Iran. The speaker also advocates for rationality in Iranian decision-making and a potential change in leadership.
58:57

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Iran's political system is dominated by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who holds extensive powers and controls the armed forces and intelligence operations, while the president has limited power in comparison.
  • Sayid Qutb, a prominent leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, had a significant influence on Iran's Islamic Revolution, with his ideas of resisting unjust governments and establishing an Islamic government resonating with Iranian revolutionaries.

Deep dives

The Structure of Iran's Revolutionary System

Iran's political system is dominated by the Supreme Leader, who has extensive powers, including control over the armed forces and intelligence operations. The president, although formally elected, has limited power compared to the Supreme Leader. The Council of Guardians, appointed by the Supreme Leader, has the ability to veto legislation that goes against the revolution's principles. The Assembly of Experts, elected by the public, elects the Supreme Leader. The Expediency Discernment Council acts as a mediator between the Council of Guardians and the Parliament. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a parallel army that defends the revolution and maintains domestic security. It has grown to become a major political, economic, and military power in Iran, exerting influence over various sectors and playing a key role in regional conflicts.

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