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Profiles Iranian president Mohammed Khatami. Effect of his personality on his office; The president's support for democracy; Religious issues in Iran; Changes in the most freely elected parliament in the history of Iran; Supporters of his politics; The power of the revolutionary Guards; Plans to loosen press restrictions; Information about the economic conditions in the country; Comments from Ibrahim Yazdi of the Iran Freedom Movement. INSET: Parsing the Words of God.

The article reports on the ouster of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979 after 37 years on the throne in Iran . It mentions that after the departure of the monarch and his wife Empress Farah, the people shouted with a feeling of great joy in Tehran where they danced in streets, army troops embraced and garlanded their wind-shield wipers with flowers. Exiled leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini became the father of the Iranian revolution and marked his name in almost every corner of the city. It also notes that Khomeini and his supporters knew that their victory is only a sign of a new chapter of their struggle against the shaky government of Prime Minister Shahpour Bakhtiar and the foreign domination.

The article examines the geopolitics of Iran. The country is considered to be the center of the arc of crisis that stretches along the shores of Indian Ocean. Iran is seen as the world's fourth largest oil producer and the fortress of the military and economic strength of the U.S. in the Middle East. It states that the crisis area is vast and it reaches out to India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. It mentions the reign of Shah Mohammed Roza Pahlavi that is about to end with increasing civil unrest and revolution.

Looks at the reforms in Iran under President Mohammed Khatami as of July 6, 1998. Movement toward greater freedom and a better relationship with the United States; Resistance to reform from the old-line mullahs, led by the Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei; Fundamentalist control of the Iranian Parliament; Cultural changes in Iran; Founding of newspapers; Unbanning of books; Permission to protest granted.

The article reports on the issues regarding political violence in Iran after the former prime minister fled and appointed Shahpour Bakhtiar as his successor. It states that Bakhtiar has planned to meet with the revolutionary leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini as a move to stop the impasse. It says that Khomeini agreed with the plan although he did not make a compromise with the Iranian leader on the structure of the new government. However, it reveals that the government changed its decision to let Khomeini return to the capital city Tehran for the fear of further violence upon his arrival and has ordered the army to take over the major airports in the country. Meanwhile, it tells the story of the Mokhtari family, a peasant family who aired their concerns regarding the Sha's government.

This article focuses on Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme religious leader and, as the Supreme Leader of Iran, the ultimate political authority in Iran. Khamenei keeps a low profile and an apparently humble life despite his power. Though Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has agitated the world with provocative rhetoric, it is Khamenei, in whom the Iranian Constitution grants veto power over any of Ahmadinejad's decisions, who would ultimately decide if Iran goes to war with the U.S. or resolves the existing nuclear arms dispute peacefully.

Explains how today's Iranis are indifferent about the values of the revolution and how corruption permeates Iranian society. Schism between core of loyal revolutionaries and the rest of Iranian society; Nearly $40 billion accumulated in foreign debt; Weakness of President Rafsanjani and his allies; Viewed by the United States and Israel as a rogue state that seeks to export terror and sabotage the Middle East peace process.

The article reports on the struggles of the new Iranian leaders headed by Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan to merge their control over the country. It mentions that a leftist rally at the Tehran University aiming for a bigger voice in the post-Sha government has reflected the challenges that the new administration is facing. Moreover, it says that Ayatullah Khomeini, leader of Islamic Revolutionary Council has lavishly welcomed the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat to the capital Tehran which is said to be the first diplomatic achievement of the new regime. Meanwhile, it mentions the role of Bazargan government on the release of Sergeant Kenneth Kraus, the marine who has been alleged of shooting three Iranian soldiers during an attack at the U.S. embassy in Tehran.

The article looks into the political conditions in Iran wherein Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi decided to left Tehran due to political unrest, and ordered Premier-designate Shahpour Bakhtiar to form a civilian government while his away. It notes that Bakhtiar will set up and head a Regency Council which will keep the country a constitutional monarchy, a move that will reduce the powers of the Shah. Meanwhile, it also says that the protests against Pahlavi are gaining momentum with every strike and riot, eroding his personal power. It also provides information on some of the actions undertaken by Bakhtiar who promised to end martial law, to restore human rights, and to release all political prisoners.

The article focuses on the possible repercussions of the takeover of the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran by radicals. It highlights the prediction of some of Middle East experts that Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini's outrageous violation of international custom would brand him as a pariah in the Islamic World. It states that majority of Khomeini's neighboring rulers disapprove the embassy invasion and holding of diplomatic hostages, fearing that this kind of revolution could take root in their nations, especially Saudi Arabia. It comments that the collapse of Iran and the decline of the U.S. influence in the Middle East will trigger the Soviets to gain access to the Persian Gulf for their enlarged navy

The article reports on political and civil conflicts in Iran brought by the refusal of Kurdish minority and leftist groups to comply with the government of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1979. Khomeini stressed that his government had committed a mistake when it expressed tolerance over the activities of dissident groups in Iran. He also criticized the ineffectiveness of the government in controlling the situation. It tells that the government has closed the office of the political opposition People's Mujahedin and outlawed the Kurdish Democratic Party. On the other hand, it says that the government purchased 1.5 billion barrels of oil from the U.S. and had requested military assistance. U.S. President Jimmy Carter defended his decision as he claimed that Iran is in great need of oil.

The article focuses on the decision of several Iranian students who are studying in the U.S. not to return to their country despite the collapse of the government of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. It points out that the new government is not what the students expect when they demanded for a new regime. It states that several Iranian students believe that the revolution has replaced one tyrant with another in the form of Ayatullah Khomeini. It also points out that another reason why the students decided to remain in the U.S. is the fact that their financial difficulties have eased.

The article reports on the plea of Iranian Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan for peace and unity among the Iranians. It reveals that the Bazargan's call stemmed from several reasons including the assassination of a former military chief of staff and the capture of two armed men which might have been an attempt against his life. It adds that the ruler has also reshuffled his Cabinet and called for the reduction in the power of revolutionary komitehs. Meanwhile, it states that the possible visit of Shah, the exiled predecessor of Bazargan, has worried the U.S. government for possible threats to the security of the country. It mentions Foreign Minister Ibrahim Yazdi who was thought by Washington analysts as a bridge between Iran's Western-educated elite and the forces of religion and nationalism.

The article presents an overview of the petroleum industry in Iran. It mentions the delayed crude oil exports that spoils the coming-out party for the reborn oil industry and emphasizes the dangers of counting on anything that were planned by the Iranian government. It also states the threats of the oil industry, which include inflation and the prospects of the production cutbacks by the Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries (OPEC) members. It highlights the possible impact of the crude-oil price increase on the economic growth, world inflation and monetary stability. Projections from Paine Webber Inc. on the profits of Ashland Oil were also noted.

The article focuses on the flagrant comments of Shi'ite Leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini on Iranian Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan. Khomeini, who once lavishly praised Bazargan for his confidence in the holy writ of Islam and his past records in the national and Islamic struggle lambasted Bazargan and his 17-member Cabinet on a speaking engagement to theological students at his headquarters in the holy city of Oum. On the other hand, Islamic Revolutionary Courts, controlled by the Komiteh tightened their grip on legal system wherein executions for persons with nonpolitical charges were noted.

The article focuses on the political situation in Iran following the return of Shi'ite leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini in February 1979 from his exile since 1963. It states that Khomeini declared to reshape Iran into an Islamic Republic that is free from Western influence. It says that his intentions not only serve as a pivotal element of a revolution to oust the Shah but also threaten the government of Prime Minister Mehdi Bazargan. It relates that Bazargan charged Komiteh, a group of 80 Iranians controlled by Khomeini, of interfering with his government and tainting the revolution. It mentions that a rising number of Iranians worry that Khomeini's revolution might lead to an Islamic dictatorship. It adds that a referendum to create a new government will be held on March 30, 1979.

Looks at the reforms in Iran under President Mohammed Khatami as of July 6, 1998. Movement toward greater freedom and a better relationship with the United States; Resistance to reform from the old-line mullahs, led by the Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei; Fundamentalist control of the Iranian Parliament; Cultural changes in Iran; Founding of newspapers; Unbanning of books; Permission to protest granted.

States that initial indications are that the decision by the Iranian government to disown the death sentence that was issued against novelist Salman Rushdie in 1989 is backed by both the competing moderate and hard-line factions in Iran. Reaction from Iran's President Mohammed Khatami; The report of the news by Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ali Khamenei from New York City.

Discusses issues surrounding the shutdown of the Iranian newspaper called `Tous' by President Mohammed Khatami's conservative opponents in the judiciary in September 1998. Mention of Khatami's pledge of greater freedom; Suggestion that Khatami's visit to the United Nations in New York City should provide another example of how the moderate former philosophy professor is trying to open Iran to the world.

Focuses on Reza Pahlavi, the exiled Shah of Iran, who hopes to return to his native land to take the Peacock Throne. Attempts to establish a constitutional democracy in Iran; How he has fought the current regime from outside the country.

The article offers information on the thoughts and reflections of Shah, the reportedly deposed monarch of Iran, regarding the events in his country as well as his own future course during the second week of his vacation which was expected by many people to become a permanent exile. It reports that the Shah has changed his decision of visiting the U.S. despite the special security measures arranged for him in California. It mentions several reasons for the change of plans such as the Sha's desire to stay near Iran until the events in his country are settled, his fear of being treated in the U.S. as a rich refugee rather than a visiting head of state, and his feeling of betrayal to the administration of U.S. President Jimmy Carter which he believed to have contributed to his abdication.

The article reports on the criticisms of faculty members of some state universities in the U.S. and members of the Columbia Journalism Review concerning the manner of reporting the political activities in Iran by the U.S. press in 1979. Sandy Socolow, producer of the CBS Evening News, says that the articles published by Professor William A. Dorman are a kind of verbal attack in the press. Moreover, Stan Winston, vice president of the Associated Press (AP) calls Mansour Farhan a "cheap shot" for hiding behind a fake name. It also mentions that journalists in the U.S. reassured the public that they are cautious not to tolerate senationalisms in political issues.

The article reports on the alleged establishment of spy stations and intelligence-gathering network in Iran by the Soviet Union. It mentions that the Soviet Union have been supplying the country with arms for its war in Iraq while KGB experts are helping Iran's revolutionary government create an intelligence and security force. It also notes, however, that what had been mistaken for a spy installation was actually a radio transmitter.

The article reports on a shootout that happened in Tehran, Iran wherein Mousa Khiabani, the operational commander of the leftist guerilla organization known as Mujahedin-e Khalq, and 21 other members were caught dead. Mujahedin Leader Massoud Rajavi who was in Paris, France where he had been exile after fleeing Iran with former President Abolhassan Banisadr vowed to continue the battle for freedom and democracy. Mujahedin was also responsible for the overthrow of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi.

The article focuses on the election of Mohammed Ali Raja'i as Iran's prime minister. It reports the lack of political experience of Raja'i and states the he was elected by the parliament due to his attachment to fundamentalist views of Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini. It also discusses the initial opposition of president Abolhassan Banisadr to Raja'i's nomination, and mentions critics views on his election.

The article discusses the political situation in Iran. It is reported that in Tehran, Iran, right-wing Muslim fanatics attacked a rally of leftist Mujahidin near the U.S. embassy which left one dead and 300 injured. It is reported the country's Supreme Leader Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini has expressed his displeasure over the power struggle between President Abolhassan Banisadr and Ayatullah Seyyed Mohammed Beheshti, leader of country's Islamic Republic Party.

The article focuses on the approval of the constitution of Iran. It mentions that the constitution declares that the country has cleansed itself of despotism and an alien culture and mode of thought. It reveals that it hands all power to a Faqih or supreme religious leader, who is Ayatollah Khomeini. It also points out that the approval of the constitution signifies that Iran became the only theocratic nation in the 20th century.

The article focuses on the involvement of students in the hostage crisis in Iran. It reveals that the 200 young men and women who are inside the U.S. embassy are legitimate students. It notes that one faction of the student radicals are seminarians from the theological college at Qum. Teachers from Tehran University and Melli University also disclose that some of their students took part in the takeover of the embassy. Meanwhile, it discusses the presence of politics in the universities in the country and enumerates political groups who made it possible including the Mujahedin, the Pishgam and the Hezbollahis.

The article offers information related to the Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran. It reports on the production of a 280-page book by the Shah, while he was in exile in Mexico, describing the events that led to his overthrow. It describes the Shah's reaction based on his writings that the U.S. conspired against him, which overthrew and exiled him. He believes, after learning that U.S. Air Force General Robert Huyser had been to Iran, that Huyser's mission was to neutralize the Iranian army when demonstrations turned violent. According to his writings, the Shah is not at all angry to all Americans, in which he regarded Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon as friends, during their visit in his exile in Mexico.

The article focuses on the benefits enjoyed by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini of Iran from the U.S. mass media. It cites the observation of former president Richard Nixon about the move of Khomeini to manipulate the media to his advantage. It also discusses the significant contribution of television coverage of Iran to Khomeini. It points out that the media coverage of the situation in Iran is disadvantageous to Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. It reveals that Khomeini is using the mass media to spread his message around the world.

The article focuses on the issues concerning a new policy which aimed to address the secular individuals in Iran. It mentions that Ayatullah Ruhollah Khomeini warns the visiting delegation of air force officers that he will take actions on individuals or groups who will interfere in his campaign for a constitution that would free the country from foreign influence, as well as to several policies including the ban for alcohol and pop music broadcast, minimization of prostitution and drugs, and closure of selected publications. Meanwhile, it mentions that the Assembly of Experts is forming a draft constitution that would represent these issues. However, several unnamed senior civil servants insist the negative economic impact once this draft constitution was implemented.

The article focuses on the political conditions in Iran following the revolution. It mentions the prevalence of summary trials and executions which include businessmen Habib Elghanian and Rahim Ali Khorram who do not have official positions in the regime of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. It points out the worsening conflict between the ruling Islamic conservatives and the left as both the government and religious leaders direct the blame to the Communists for the assassination of Morteza Motahari, an Ayatullah. It also reveals the plan of Ayatullah Khomeini to appoint the revolutionary militias called the Guardians to deter attempts on the leadership of the revolution.

Reports on the release from house arrest of Ayatullah Hossein Ali Montazeri in Qum, Iran. Comments from Montazeri; How Montazeri fell out of favor with the Iranian government; Year in which Montazeri was placed in house arrest for questioning the hard line religious government under the leadership of Ayatullah Ali Khameni; Brief biography of Montazeri who helped topple the Shah.

Examines why University of Tehran professor Abdelkarim Soroush is seen as Iran's most dangerous dissident. His challenge of Islamic republic's religious establishment of the late Ayatullah Khomeini; Soroush as being persecuted for questioning establishment's tenets; Newly elected President Mohammed Katami's promise of openness and freedom; Soroush's dismissal in April 1997 from the university; His followers seeing him as a Muslim folk hero; His view of the clerical establishment.