ODUMUNC 2021 Crisis Brief

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

by Sophia Marie Porter ODU United Nations Society

Introduction The United States has always been in the way of

Iranian relations and development. The state is

fully aware of the power Iran possesses as it

grows into an influential state in its region and

overseas; threatening America’s security

interests and challenging its dwindling economy.

It is noticeable worldwide that the Middle East

struggles with security from time to time relating

to economic, political, and humanitarian issues,

but the causes do not come from Middle Eastern

countries.

For Iranian leaders, the current issues within the

region are the faults of the West who play games

of hegemonic destruction and invasion in the

Middle East with no regard for the innocent

lives who must endure the hardship and pain of

conflict, not to mention the blatant disregard and

violation of state sovereignty. Tensions between

Iran and the United States are high. Neither side

shows any willingness to surrender to the others,

or rely on diplomacy.

Meanwhile, other states in the region are circling

against Iran, including Saudi Arabia, which

could develop nuclear weapons, and Israel,

which continues to oppose the just rights of the

Palestinian people—who’s cause is Iran’s

cause—and most recently won diplomatic

recognition from the traitorous regime of the

United Arab Emirates (UAE).1

1 Jeremy Bowen, ‘Five reasons why Israel's peace

deals with the UAE and Bahrain matter’, BBC News,

14 September 2020,

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-

54151712

To convey Iranian frustration and power, the

Iran armed forces and the Iranian Revolutionary

Guard Corps (IRGC) are authorized to use

weapons and military assistance with third

parties to oppose American forces. Rockets have

been fired countless times near American bases

and airports, mostly fired by Iraqi Shi’ite

militias, but sometimes from Iran itself.

Although the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of

Action (JCPoA, or the Iran Deal), ended Iran’s

ability to acquire nuclear weapons in the short

term, the United States walked out of the

agreement on 8 July 2018.2 Iran has continued to

adhere to much of the agreement anyway. It still

does not have nuclear weapons, but it has

gradually accelerated its program to create

fissile, low-enriched Uranium that can be used

2 Kelsey Davenport, ‘The Joint Comprehensive Plan

of Action (JCPOA) at a Glance’, Arms Control

Association, October, 2020,

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/JCPOA-at-a-

glance

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

to make nuclear weapons quickly. And Iranian

leaders feel increasing pressure to act in

response to American pressure.

Time is limited for Iran to respond to the

situation. This council must act quickly and

decisively to make the needed changes in order

to rise. Relations with Iraq, Lebanon and Syria

are beneficial to Iranian success, but other

regional actors, including allies of Washington,

like Saudi Arabia, Israel, Jordan and the United

Arab Emirates stand in the way unless this

Council can convince their governments or their

peoples otherwise.3

This session starts on 3 February 2020, a month

after the death of the beloved martyr of the

Iranian Revolution, IRGC General Qasem

Soleimani, assassinated by the United States.4

History The Islamic Republic of Iran has a beautiful and

enriched history dating all the way to 8000 BC.

Agriculture and domestication of animals

flourished in Iran due to the geographical

location while supporting the development of

society and interaction with other neighboring

spurs. Shifts of relations and trade brought

wisdom to Iran and bestowed the Islamic

religion to grace its followers. With strict

practice, the evolution of Islam and government

soon took hold of one another while battling

human behavior that goes against Islamic

beliefs. Empires expanded to and from Iran, but

globalization soon came into play and indirectly

changed course for the state.5

3 Indra Ekmanis, “Escalating Conflict with Iran:

What's Happening?,” PRI, January 6, 2020,

https://www.pri.org/stories/2020-01-06/escalating-

conflict-iran-whats-happening. 4 Karen Zraick, ‘What to Know About the Death of

Iranian General Suleimani’, New York Times, 9 July

2020,

Iran’s martyred hero, IRGC General Qasem Soleimani in

2018

The Buildup to the Iranian

Revolution

In the early twentieth century, Iranians from

almost all social classes united to demand the

end of the royal corruption from the Persian

Empire during the Qajar dynasty as well as the

invasion from foreign nations who sought

economic relations to keep the empire intact.

This six-year revolution became known as the

Constitutional Revolution (1905-1911)6 which

succeeded in exposing the acquisitiveness of the

shah and fellow aristocrats who used their status

to deepen their pockets and deprived the public

and environment of resources. Iranians

exclaimed how the shah has become a hypocrite

to his people and that the monarchy will be

replaced by another form of government.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/world/middlee

ast/suleimani-dead.html 5 “Iran 8000-2000 B.C.,” metmuseum.org, accessed

September 3, 2020,

https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/02/wai.html. 6 Electricpulp.com, “Encyclopædia Iranica,” 2011,

https://iranicaonline.org/articles/constitutional-

revolution-i.

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1953. Iran’s first,

brief experiment with democracy: Prime Minister

Mohammad Mosaddegh, overthrown in a coup organized

by the United Kingdom and United States in 1953.

After the Constitutional Revolution, waves of

political reformation and styles of government

were attempted to be made permanent by

different political parties, but these changes were

difficult to uphold due to the consistent

intervention from other nations. The United

Kingdom, United States, and Russia all

interfered with Iran’s political challenges to

pursue their dominance and influence over the

oil rich state for economic power. The constant

interference from the West and Orthodox East

soon led to the United Kingdom supporting Iran

to return to the monarchy and assisted the shah

to the throne in 1921. 7

7 Electricpulp.com, “Encyclopædia Iranica,” 2011,

https://iranicaonline.org/articles/constitutional-

revolution-i.

After further political controversies and

uprisings, as the Iran leaders tried to reassert

control of the country, in 1941 the United

Kingdom returned from exile Mohammad Reza

Pahlavi, son of the previous shah, who was

installed as shah in 1941. The modernizing

(Westernizing) shah was greatly resented as he

tried to force his will on the conservative society

he inherited.

In 1951-53 a democratic revolution swept Iran,

which elected its first democratic parliament,

and chose as its first democratic Prime Minister

Mohammad Mosaddegh. When Mosaddegh

tried to nationalize control of Iran’s oil

industry—then controlled by the British—the

US Central Intelligence Agency and the UK

Secret Intelligence Service organized a coup to

remove Mosaddegh.

The coup led to a revolutionary that forever

changed Iranian society. The restored Shah

Pahlavi disbanded the Iranian Parliament,

forcing tens of thousands of Iranian intellectuals,

nationalists and religious leaders to flee the

country as refugees. His rule was unpopular, but

stabilized by the internal security services,

which used force, imprisonment and torture to

suppress dissent.

To replace the Parliament, Pahlavi organized the

White Revolution. The purpose for those in the

White Revolution was to accelerate the

development of urbanization and westernization

for the state of Iran while pretending to care

about democracy and human rights to please the

West. The White Revolution was triumphant in

enhancing the urbanization of the state and

ignoring the violation of human rights as the

public suffered from quick cultural changes that

only those living in major cities would see. The

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

combination of economic success and poor

social conditions in the state led to inflation and

anger amongst Iranians. With about a decade of

unstable living conditions the opposition to the

monarchy expanded.

Friend of America and the British, enemy of Iranian

religious leaders: Mohammad Reza Pahlavi (1919-80), last

Shah (King) of Iran, 16 September 1941 to 11 February

1979.

By the 1970s, Pahlavi made political

participation from any party or group nearly

impossible as he censored any opinion that did

not praise him or the work he had done. He

authorized cruel punishment to those who

exhibited any type of opposition to his

government, thus infuriating the majority even

more.

Among those who were severely affected were

Islamic religious leaders, all belonging to the

majority-Iranian Shi’ite sect. They were led by

Ayatollah (Shi’ite religious leaders) Ruhollah

Khomeini, a professor from the Iranian religious

center of Qom, grew in popularity because of his

argument that with the help of the Ulema, the

shah will be overthrown. Forced into exile, first

in Turkey, then Paris, Khomeini preached of

Pahlavi’s failure and urged his overthrow.

Cassette audio recordings of his speech were

secretly sent into Iran and shared with

commoners to ignite the fire within them and

come to the realization that Pahlavi is ruining

their livelihoods. Supported by the United States

and Israel, Pahlavi believed he could handle an

outbreak from citizens revolting in mass

quantities thinking that the two states would step

in and back up his forces.

Overthrowing the Shah and completing the Islamic

Revolution; the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returns from

exile in 1979.

Iranian Revolution

With decades of corruption and economic

inequality, Iranians were becoming restless with

the state of their environment. Although there

have been many call outs and protests against

the shah before, opposition to the shah was

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

dangerous, led entirely from exile. But

opposition by religious leaders gained

legitimacy and acceptance through the 1970s. In

January of 1978 thousands of Iranian madrasah

(religious school) students publically protested

against the shah and in support of the Ayatollah

Khomeini.8 Soon opposition became a massive

populist revolt. Religious students were joined

by pious congregants, rural, working class and

unemployed Iranians. Only the middle classes

and professionals supported the shah, and their

numbers were limited. Worrying for his safety,

Pahlavi suspected these protesters to be part of

an international force attempting to remove him

from power, thus he allowed his forces to

murder the innocent protestors.

Being a Shi’ite country, the death of the Iranian

protestors were properly followed by the public

to remember those who have passed since

martyrdom is a foundational part of religious

practice. Unfortunately, those who abided by the

religious practice for the forty-day period were

also murdered by Pahlavi’s forces thus restarting

the cycle of duly obeying Shi’ite law. This cycle

of violence escalated with each death of Iranian

brothers and sisters. After a few months of these

protests, the shah’s regime authorized martial

law on 8 September 1979. This led the military

to open fire upon protests in Tehran killing

hundreds. In the following months, government

officials and workers began boycotting and

striking against the regime; most notably the

workers in the oil industry. With no fear of

death, pious Iranians marched courageously

together gaining attention worldwide.

While in exile, the brilliant Ayatollah Khomeini

orchestrated his plan to rid the shah of power

permanently. The following year, the shah and

his family announced that they would take a

8 Janet Afary, “Iranian Revolution,” March 25, 2020,

https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-

Revolution.

vacation and immediately left Iran and

appointed Prime Minister Shahpur Bakhtiar and

the Regency Council to take charge in times of

his cowardly absence. Bakhtiar and the council

failed in gaining the cooperation of the public;

the popularity for Khomeini was unmatched and

the people viewed him to be the one who would

save them from the shah. On 1 February,

Khomeini returned to Iran, welcomed with

public rejoicing. Ten days later the shah’s

security services declared themselves neutral,

leading Bakhtiar and other shah-backed political

officials to be exiled.

Khomeini declared Iran to be the Islamic

Revolutionary State of Iran two months after his

return. Exhilarated with the removal of the shah

and replacement by Ayatollah Khomeini

himself, anti-American and anti-West sentiment

began to spring up to further demonstrate the

fury Iranians have had due to their unneeded

involvement. The new parliament, the Majles-e

Khobregān, or Assembly of Experts, wrote a

new constitution that was heavily influenced by

Khomeini’s vision and led to Iran becoming a

religious government. The new government

practices conservative ideals, nationalist

fundamentals, and economic power through the

world’s most crucial resource, oil, and soon to

be nuclear energy. Ayatollah Khomeini died in

June 1989 and was succeeded by Ayatollah Ali

Khameini, who remains to this day as supreme

leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran.9

Iran’s Nuclear Energy

Iran began its nuclear program under the

disgraced shah. It’s first nuclear reactor was

purchased with the support of the United States;

the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR) in 1967.

The TRR is a small research reactor, operating

9 Janet Afary, “Iranian Revolution,” March 25, 2020,

https://www.britannica.com/event/Iranian-

Revolution.

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

with highly-enriched (bomb fuel level) uranium

up to 93 percent purity. In the early 1970s, the

Iranian ratified the Nuclear Nonproliferation

Treaty (NPT), the international agreement under

which Iran agreed not to acquire nuclear

weapons, and calling for Iran to pursue only

“peaceful nuclear programs for power

generation”.10

Iranian civilian power generation reactors at Bushehr

From there, the shah created the Atomic Energy

Association of Iran (AEOI), to fulfill his plans of

constructing multiple nuclear plants and a

nuclear fuel cycle. His plans were paused by the

Iranian Revolution. Nuclear plans halted,

including the end of construction of German-

design civilian power generation reactors at

Bushehr. After German withdrew from the

project, those reactors were completed with help

from Russia. Fueling the TRR and Bushehr

reactors is a justification for Iran’s subsequent

development of nuclear enrichment capability.

With no support from the international

community and changes in Iranian leadership,

nuclear engineering and development were

difficult to continue. Iran did receive some help

10 “Iran and the NPT,” The Iran Primer, January 22,

2020,

https://iranprimer.usip.org/blog/2020/jan/22/iran-and-

npt.

from smaller states, such as Argentina,

throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and from

Russia and China in the early 2000s. To add to

the difficulty of picking up nuclear plans and

international relations with the other nations, the

United States Congress passed laws and

sanctions that prohibited Middle Eastern

neighbors and energy companies from trading

with Iran if the goods were to go to Iranian

energy development. The international

harassment continued until Iranian officials

reaffirmed their willingness to cooperate with

the International Atomic Energy Agency

(IAEA), as required by the NPT. Agreement

with the IAEA in late-2003 made nuclear

activity in Iran conditional on allowing IAEA

inspectors full access to inspect current and

future nuclear sites.

Frustrated by the abuse of power from the

Western world, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary

Government continued to expand its nuclear

production capabilities, although it did not build

actual nuclear weapons. Soon, Iran and Russia

concurred in an energy supply agreement that

allowed Iran to develop hexafluoride, a feed

stock for enriching the purity of Uranium. This

step, and reports of extensive nuclear and

missile cooperation with Pakistan and North

Korea, led the UN Security Council to focus on

Iranian capabilities and programs.11

A few months later, the UN Security Council

unanimously passed Resolution 1737 which

“imposes sanctions on Iran for failing to stop its

uranium enrichment programme… imposes a

ban the supply of nuclear-related technology and

materials and imposes assets freeze on key

individuals and companies related to the

11 “Fact Sheets & Briefs,” Timeline of Nuclear

Diplomacy With Iran | Arms Control Association,

July 2020,

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/Timeline-of-

Nuclear-Diplomacy-With-Iran.

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

enrichment programme”.12 This was the first of

many resolutions to pass that targeted Iran and

their continuation of nuclear activity.

In the following years, Israel and the United

states would share classified information about

Iranian nuclear development and successes with

the public to once more push a false image of

Iran’s nuclear power. Sanctions continued to

decrease economic growth for Iran specifically

in its nuclear energy department. However, the

intelligence and hard work of the Iranian

scientists in the nuclear energy field did not stop

the country from accumulating weaponry and

use for nuclear energy. These triumphant

moments startled the five permanent members

(the P5: China, France, Russia, the UK and US)

of the UN Security Council, leading to more

attempts to limit Iranian nuclear development.

Current Situation Beginning in 2013 and continuing through 2015,

Iranian officials met with foreign powers to

negotiate a new arrangement, whereby Iran

would agree to restrict its nuclear program in

exchange for relief from foreign trade sanctions.

These negotiations were between Tehran and the

so-called P5+1 (China, France, Russia, the UK

and US, plus Germany, with the European

Union also heavily engaged).

In July of 2015, Iranian leaders met with the

P5+1 negotiators in Vienna where they agreed to

accept the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action

(the JCPoA, or the Iran Deal). This agreement

ensures “Iran’s compliance with the nuclear-

related provisions will be verified by the

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

according to certain requirements set forth in the

agreement”.13 Reluctantly, the Islamic State of

12 “S/RES/1737 (2006) Security Council,” United

Nations (United Nations), accessed September 3,

2020, https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/s/res/1737-

(2006).

Iran accepted this plan. The JCPoA is not a

treaty—it was not formally signed or ratified.

Rather, the parties agree to coordinate their

domestic policies, with the understanding that

any violation will result in unliteral reactions by

other parties.

Iranian ballistic missiles on public display in Tehran, ready

to defend the Islamic Revolution.

Loosely following the agreement, Iranian

officials encouraged nuclear scientists and

engineers to continue developing nuclear energy

while creating precautions so that other states

and international organizations are unaware of

their actions. Suspicions were growing from

outside sources of these developments, but

disloyalty to the state was taken seriously and

swiftly. The state cannot fall behind in nuclear

development in any form, but the prejudice from

the West and their allies are interfering with

Iran’s right to sovereignty and jurisdiction.

Unknown to the West, certain ministries are on

the verge of breakthrough with nuclear energy

development that could make Iran a leading

force. Key ministers hold the intelligence over

the development while others run the funding

and support.

13 Kelsey Davenport, “Fact Sheets & Briefs,” Arms

Control Association, May 2018,

https://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/JCPOA-at-a-

glance

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

Issues Facing the Council

This international agreement and many other

factors dare to limit Iran’s true potential. The

consistent spying, physical torture, and

economic sanctions have made life harder than it

has to be for all Iranians. The JCPoA and

infiltration of the IAEA must be dealt with in a

way that this council decides to benefit the state.

Other focuses for the members of the council is

the withdrawal of the United States from JCPoA

and their close relationship with Israel. And

finally, this council has the choice to share or

withhold information about the state’s nuclear

development and achievements.14

In light of recent events, General Qasem

Soleimani was murdered by American forces

and tensions between the states are higher than

ever. Does this council have the faith in Allah

and one another to take on the United States or

are there more secrets to be dealt with before

enacting a counterattack? Time will only tell.

Fate now rests in the hands of Ayatollah and this

council. God is greatest, Allahu Akbar!

Members of the Iranian

Cabinet

Meeting of the Iranian Guardian Council

14 Paul K Kerr and Kenneth Katzman, “Iran Nuclear

Agreement and U.S Exit” (Congressional Research

Each member of this council has been selected

because of their loyalty to the state as well as

intelligence and role in their respective fields

and ministries. The fate of Iran depends their

wits and successes. They will cooperate with

one another to devise plans that protect Iran’s

national interests and more importantly the

interests of the previous Supreme Leader

Ayatollah whom they all diligently serve.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (not to be

confused with his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah

Khomeini).

Ayatollah Ali Khameini - the current Supreme

Leader of the Islamic republic of Iran.

Supervises cabinet and guides the Republic to

greatness.

President Hassan Rouhani - (Crisis Chair).

Rouhani is an Iranian politician and cleric who

was elected president of Iran in 2013. His

religious title is Hojatoleslam, a middle rank in

the Shi’ite religious hierarchy. He was arrested

Service , July 20, 2018),

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/R43333.pdf

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

many times in the 1960s and 1970s as a follower

of Ayatollah Khomeini. Iranian media refers to

Rouhani as the "diplomat sheik." President

Rouhani is keen to see the nuclear deal survive -

even though US President Donald Trump and

opponents of the deal in the United States

Congress are looking for ways to put further

pressure on Iran, or even scrap the deal. Widely

considered a moderate, Rouhani also promised

to revive the sluggish economy, to extend

individual and political freedoms, to steer the

country away from the extremist ideas of the

hardliners, to ensure equality for men and

women, to extend access to internet and

generally work for moderations and an outward-

looking Iran. He was re-elected in May 2017.

Ali Akbar Salehi, Vice President and Head of

the Atomic Energy Organization- A leader

unlike any other, Salehi has had the experience

of being a diplomat and scientist of Iran for over

35 years. Earning his undergraduate at American

University of Beirut in physics and a PhD in

nuclear engineering at Massachusetts Institute of

15 “Dr. Ali Akbar Salehi,” 2020,

https://aeoi.org.ir/EN/portal/home/ 16 “Who Is Hossein Dehghan, Hassan Rouhani's

Choice for Defense Minister,” NCRI (NCRI Foreign

Affairs Committee , August 13, 2013),

Technology, Salehi is a leading figure for the

Atomic Energy Organization. Fluent in English,

Arabic, and Farsi Salehi has been able to

represent Iran on the international stage, but

some loyal followers of Ayatollah fear that his

time in America makes his diplomatic decisions

and AEO choices biased and unfair to the state.

Salehi is viewed to be too “Americanized”.15

Hossein Dehghan, Minister of Defense and

Logistics- General Dehghan is a loyalist to the

Islamic Republic of Iran. Dehghan was a

commander in the Revolutionary Guard in 1979

and was one of the highest ranking military

officials under Ayatollah’s command. President

Rouhani appointed Dehghan to General status in

2013 because of his work ethic and pride in his

nation. Along with his natural military wits,

General Dehghan has a PhD in Management

from the University of Tehran. Western critics

and some Iranians do not agree with the ethical

decisions General Dehghan makes, but the

results are nonetheless acquired.16

https://www.ncr-iran.org/en/ncri-statements/who-is-

hossein-dehghan-hassan-rouhani-s-choice-for-

defense-minister/

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

Ali Jannati, Minister of Islamic Guidance and

Culture- Adored and praised across the state,

Ali Jannati is the man many wish to be. As the

son of Ayatollah Ahmed Jannati, the leader of

prayer in Tehran who had personal relations

with Ayatollah Kohmeini, Ali Jannati has high

social status and respect amongst Iranians at all

levels. Serving his country, Jannati was the

Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces

during the Revolution in the Greater Khorason

region. After some time in the military Jannati

then moved on to join the Islamic Republic of

Iran Broadcasting network. Soon, Jannati

became the Iranian Ambassador to Kuwait and

gained connections across industries, mainly oil,

that built up his wealth. Currently, Jannati serves

the highest position in the government regarding

everything relating to Islam. To uphold the

uniqueness and practice of Iran can only be done

by the Ayatollahs and Minister Jannati. Only

they have the true power to question, and more

so ruin, the reputation of any man suspected of

being unloyal to the state.17

17 “Biography of Jannati, Proposed as Minister of

Culture and the Islamic Guidance,” May 8, 2013,

https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001640/http://

www3.sari.irna.ir/en/News/80763648/Politic/Biograp

hy_of_Jannati,_proposed_as_Minister_of_Culture_an

d_the_Islamic_Guidance

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Minister of Foreign

Affairs- Serving as the Minister of Foreign

Affairs, Minister Zarif holds the same

importance and status as Secretary of State in

the United States. Leaving Iran for higher

education in the United States at the age of 17,

Minister Zarif holds a PhD in International Law

and Policy from the University of Denver.

Starting his career as a member of the Iran

Mission to the UN, Minister Zarif has

successfully closed off certain disputes between

Iran and the United States leading him to his

current position. His international relations and

ability to negotiate have resonated with

President Rouhani deeming him a vital intel for

this council. Yet, due to his past and stay in

America, Minister Zarif is viewed by critics to

not be strong enough to stand up to American

diplomats and officials and pursue Iran’s

national interests to the fullest extent. Simply,

critics find him to be too “middleground” and

“Americanized”.18

18 PeoplePill, “About Mohammad Javad Zarif:

Iranian Politician (1960-): Biography, Facts, Career,

Wiki, Life,” PeoplePill, accessed September 17,

2020, https://peoplepill.com/people/mohammad-

javad-zarif/

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

Mohammad Reza Nematzadeh, Minister of

Industries and Business- Minister Nematzadeh

has contributed to Iran’s political and economic

development on more than one occasion. He has

held this title three times dating back to 1980

assisting in trade and international business for

the state. As a successful negotiator of goods for

international partners, Minister Nematzadeh also

contributes and influences the political world of

Iran. Having close ties with President Rouhani

during his Presidential campaign he was able to

expand his relations thus allowing more

influence and intel on current situations and

troubles Iran faces both domestically and

abroad. Since President Rouhani looks so kindly

at Minster Nematzadeh, his skills of negotiation

and business are needed to protect Iran’s

economy from potential sanctions and tariffs.

Mahmoud Alavi, Minister of Intelligence-

Minister Alavi has two PhD’s in Law and

Islamic Studies and holds the religious position

of Hojjatoleslam, an official authority of Islam.

As Minister of Intelligence, Minister Alavi is in

charge of the Ministry of Intelligence of the

Islamic Republic of Iran, also known as VAJA.

With his experience in the Iranian Parliament

and Military, Minister Alavi determines who are

the allies and enemies of the state based upon

evidence and statements that some may find an

invasion of privacy. However, the VAJA has

been granted authority to carry out tasks to

determine the traitors and enemies of the state

by the government, and although this is found to

be unethical from the outside world it is

necessary; putting Minister Alavi responsible for

all actions taken by VAJA.

Hamid Chitchian, Minister of Energy-

Formerly the head of intelligence, Minister

Chitchian was appointed to Minister of Energy

in 2013. Popular amongst the youth for his

liberal ideologies, Minister Chitchian is in the

public eye for his supporters, critics, and

international intellects as one of the key

individuals behind Iran’s near breakthrough with

nuclear energy. His role is crucial to survey the

power grids throughout Iran while developing

energy solutions that can continue Iran’s

urbanization. However, will his ideologies

become his downfall within this council as the

other members strictly follow the Ayatollah, or

will the popularity amongst the younger

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

generations lead him to a new path and career as

a national leader? 19

Mohammad Ali Jafari, Commander of the

Army of the Guardians of the Islamic

Revolution- The Army of the Guardians of the

Islamic Revolution is the most effective military

group in Iran and Commander Jafari holds the

highest rank as the Major General. Compared to

the German SS, the Army of the Guardian of the

Islamic Revolution is devoted to the Islamic

State of Iran. The men within serve to protect

and preserve the values of Islam within the state

and dennounce any foreign infiltration that

attempt to spread false teachings of Islam in

accordance to the Iranian government. Having

up to date resources, military weaponry, and

more than enough funding, Commander Jafari

and his men are capable of enacting any needed

action to protect and pursue the teachings of

Ayatollah Khamenei as law. Critics find

Commander Jafari to be old schooled, like

General Dehghan, but his loyalty to the state and

Ayatollah are unmatched. Some believe he is

willing to interrogate his own family to the

highest extent possible if it means to gain any

information that will help Iran develop

according to Ayatollah. 20

19 “Biography of Chitchian, Proposed as Minister of

Energy,” IRNA English (IRNA English, August 5,

2013), https://en.irna.ir/news/80763568/Biography-

of-Chitchian-proposed-as-Minister-of-Energy

Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, Head of the

National Iranian Oil Company- Mr. Zangeneh

began his career during the Revolution as a high

advisor for oil companies. He quickly escalated

his career by becoming the Minister of Energy

in 1989. The driving force behind Mr. Zangeneh

was monetary gain within the nation and abroad.

Mr. Zangeneh is known for taking risks and his

risks do prevail. By taking out loans from

foreign aid, he was able to jump start Iran’s oil

industries leading the state to become one of the

main exporters of such a precious commodity.

With his many successes for Iran, Mr. Zangeneh

keeps his personal life private. It has been

rumored he has a net worth of hundreds of

millions and his life is a mystery to most,

including those within this council who are

jealous of his potential hidden wealth.

Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, Minister of the

Interior- An open, honest book, Minister Fazli

is trusted by all and keeps his image in check.

Previously holding the position as President of

the Supreme Audit Court of Iran for five years,

Minister Fazli had the responsibility and access

to critical financial information for all ministries

and did his duty diligently. He did not take any

20 Alireza Nader, “Profile: Revolutionary Guards

Chief Gen. Jafari,” RAND Corporation, January 22,

2013, https://www.rand.org/blog/2013/01/profile-

revolutionary-guards-chief-gen-jafari.html

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

of the information to use against others and was

fair throughout his service. He is a reliable man

who puts the good of the state before others and

himself. Minister Fazli is not afraid to

whistleblow on anyone, no matter the rank,

wealth, or power, in order to protect and pursue

Iranian national interests. His loyalty is

undoubtedly to the state and only the state. In his

current position, Minister Fazli is responsible for

overseeing all aspects of the government, but

most importantly monitoring all elections. Many

find Minister Fazli “incorruptible” among the

public eye and government officials.21

Mohammad Sarafraz, Head of Islamic

Republic of Iran Broadcasting- Working for

the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, IRIB,

for over 25 years Mr. Sarafraz has seen it all.

The responsibility of the IRIB is to share

information throughout the state to remind the

Iranian people the power the government has to

protect all and punish those who threaten their

livelihood. Mr. Sarafraz has come under fire

more than once from the western world for

broadcasting acts of “human rights violations”

against foreigners. He has been tried in

international court for these violations, but has

always managed to get out with the help of other

government officials. Mr. Sarafraz is loyal to the

state and continues to work for the government

and broadcast any message they wish. He is the

one who paints the reality for what the

government seeks their people to believe

through media exposure. 22

Ali Tayebnia, Minister of Economic Affairs

and Finance- It is no secret that Iran has faced

illegal sanctions imposed by the west and their

21 “Biography of Chitchian, Proposed as Minister of

Energy,” IRNA English (IRNA English, August 5,

2013), https://en.irna.ir/news/80763568/Biography-

of-Chitchian-proposed-as-Minister-of-Energy 22 Ifmat Ifmat, “Mohammad Sarafraz,” IFMAT,

April 23, 2020,

https://www.ifmat.org/04/23/mohammad-sarafraz/

puppets from Israel. Some sanctions were able

to remove Iran from SWIFT, making the country

a cash only economy. If it was not for the work

of Minister Tayebnia, the state could have

collapsed. His main duty is to keep the economy

growing no matter what happens with foreign

influences pressuring the economy to fail. If the

economy recedes too far, the state may never be

able to regroup to its original strength again.

Minister Tayebnia is quite popular with the

Majilis for his economic reform practices. With

his educational background from the University

of Tehran in economics and from the London

School of Economics no one else is the perfect

match for this career than he.23

Ali Rabiei, Minister of Cooperatives, Labour,

and Social Welfare- If foreign sanctions were

to be imposed upon Iran, the Ministry of

Cooperatives, Labour, and Social Welfare must

take action immediately. This responsibility

belongs to Minister Rabei, who ensures that the

people are employed and fed. Minister Rabei

and this ministry control the social security

program in Iran for times of need and acceptable

retirement instances. However, in the event of

war, or simply heightened military needs, this

ministry will be one of the few who will face a

reduced amount of funding from the

government. Minster Rabei has worked in

Labour since the Revolution and is not quite

satisfied with this position, but in the name of

Ayatollah he stays to serve his duty. As much as

he would like to try new fields, Minister Rabei

stays to protect the innocent Iranians who suffer

from foreign sanctions and restrictions. 24

23 “Biography of Tayebnia, Proposed as Minister of

Economic Affairs and Finance,” IRNA English

(IRNA English, August 5, 2013),

https://en.irna.ir/news/80763598/Biography-of-

Tayebnia-proposed-as-minister-of-Economic-Affairs 24 “LinkFang,” Ali Rabiei - en.LinkFang.org,

accessed September 19, 2020,

https://en.linkfang.org/wiki/Ali_Rabiei

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

Mostafa Pourmohammadi, Minister of

Justice- Having close ties to Ayatollah

Khomeini and Khamenei , Minister

Pourmohammadi is a loyalist to his nation and

deemed to be untouchable. As Minister of

Justice, he has the duty of determining the final

verdict for all cases brought to the government.

By accumulating his wealth and trusting his

close relations, Minister Pourmohammadi has

completed some gruesome tasks at the request of

the Ayatollahs. It is known that Minister

Pourmohammadi has assassinated several

individuals with the permission from Ayatollah,

but he has also been accused by Reporters

without Borders and the Human Rights watch

for his role in the execution of political prisoners

in 1988. His image has been used by western

media as propaganda for the “ horrors of the

Middle East”.25

Mahmoud Vaezi, Minister of Information

and Communication- Any phone call, text

message, email, or website visit goes through the

Ministry of Information and Communications

and Minister Vaezi has this information in the

palm of his hand. Minister Vaezi has made the

decision to advance online algorithms to

increase surveillance throughout the state.

Starting from a private sector in communication

to his current positions, Minister Vaezi is

innovative with current technology for the

general population. His technology is quite

remarkable that even tech giant China has asked

the Minister for assistance from time to time.

Any form of online activity that goes against the

government or the Ayatollah will immediately

be picked up by the algorithms alerting the

25 7026, “Biography of Mostafa Pourmohammadi,”

IRNA English (IRNA English, August 5, 2013),

https://en.irna.ir/news/80763397/Biography-of-

Mostafa-Pourmohammadi 26 7030, “Biography of Vaezi, Proposed Minister of

Communications and Information Technology,”

necessary authorities to handle the disloyalty of

the guilty individuals.26

Mohammad Farhadi, Minister of Science,

Research, and Technology- The Ministry of

Science, Research and Technology is crucial to

the long term development of Iran by recruiting

the brightest and most creative minds the state

has to offer. With the drive of innovation this

Ministry pushes its members to their greatest

potential in order to pursue Iran's national

interests. Minister Farhadi oversees the entire

ministry, but he also determines which sections

within the ministry are of more importance.

Originally, Minister Farhadi’s focus was on the

development of Iran’s space program, but with

new successes from the nuclear energy field

occuring, he has shifted his attention. Minister

Farhadi is a scientist and has no proper political

experience compared to the other men within

this council. Choosing to live down his personal

life for the sake of his work, his loyalty is to the

scientific community of Iran and the information

that the government determines beneficial. Very

little is known to the public about Minister

Farhadi’s childhood and upbringing, but when

he began studies in Quantum Physics from MIT

to earn his Doctorate, records appeared to place

Minister Farhadi as an assassin in training

throughout his twenties. It is believed that his

training started during the Revolution, and with

the permission of the Ayatollah, he killed

anyone the Ayatollah ordered to; ranking up to

100 bodies within a five year period. When the

Ayatollah passed, Minister Farhadi was cleared

of his actions and celebrated as an Iranian hero

by government officials as he returned back to

his studies.

IRNA English (IRNA English, August 5, 2013),

https://en.irna.ir/news/80763555/Biography-of-

Vaezi-proposed-minister-of-Communications-and-

Information

ODUMUNC 2021 Crisis Brief

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

by Sophia Marie Porter ODU United Nations Society

Cabinet of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2020

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