Learning about Iran

St. Pete for Peace (Florida) 

Iran Has a Government, Not a “Regime”

In discussions of Iran, the word “regime” is almost always used by U.S. officials, media outlets, and in everyday conversation—a word that implies illegitimacy or dictatorship. Calling Iran a regime makes it easier to present U.S. military involvement as justified—and easier for people to go along with it. That framing is inaccurate and intentionally misleading, and obscures an important reality: Iran functions as a government with institutions, systems, and a society of about 90 million people.

Iran Holds Elections and Has a Constitution

    Iran holds national elections on a regular cycle: presidential elections every 4 years and parliamentary elections every 4 years.

•     The Parliament (Majles) has 290 elected members, representing districts across the country.
•     Iran has dozens of political groupings and parties, generally organized into coalitions.
•     Presidential elections typically feature about 4–6 candidates on the final ballot.
•     Voter participation ranges from ~50% to over 80%, compared to ~60–66% in recent U.S. elections.
•     Iran has a written constitution adopted in 1979 and amended in 1989.
•     National referendums are provided for and have been used, including in 1979.
•     Iran has a judiciary headed by a chief justice and a Supreme Court with multiple judges.

    Unlike the U.S., Iran does not have a large, institutionalized system of corporate lobbying or PAC-driven campaign financing.

Healthcare System

•     Iran has a government-supported healthcare system with over 90% of the population insured.
•     Healthcare costs are a fraction of those in the U.S. (hundreds per person vs. $13,000+), though patients pay a portion out-of-pocket.

Education System

•     Iran has a nationwide public education system with literacy rates above 85–90%, including near-universal literacy among younger generations.
•     Education is free and compulsory through primary and lower secondary school, with broad access across the country.
•     Iran also has an extensive university system with millions of students enrolled, and a rapidly expanding educated population—while a smaller share of adults hold college degrees than in the United States, access to higher education has grown significantly in recent decades.
•     University education in Iran is heavily subsidized, with many students paying little or no tuition and minimal debt, while in the U.S. graduates typically carry around $30,000 in student loan debt.
•     Women make up about 60% of university students.

Public Services and Infrastructure 

•     Iran maintains nationwide infrastructure including roads, transportation, electricity, water, and telecommunications.
•     The government provides subsidies for fuel, electricity, and basic goods.
•     Social programs support retirees, lower-income families, and vulnerable populations.

A Society of 90 Million Human Beings 

•     The country is ethnically diverse: ~60% Persian, with large Azeri, Kurdish, Arab, and Baloch populations.
•     About 99% of the population is Muslim, primarily Shia (90–95%).
•     Iran has more than twice the population of California and about four times its land area.
•     It is a country with the scale, complexity, and institutions of a modern state—not simply a label.

It would be more accurate to apply the term “regime” to many U.S. allies in the region, including countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Jordan—many of which are monarchies without national elections.