Overview

Background

Iran declared itself an Islamic Republic immediately following the revolution of February 1979, which ousted the pro-Western Shah from his Peacock Throne. Under the leadership of the Ayatollah Khomeini, the new Islamic nation was designated a theocratic government guided by Islamic principles. A new constitution was issued in December 1979, and then revised in 1989 to expand the powers of the presidency and eliminate the post of prime minister.