| A | B |
| Shah | Persian Title for king |
| Reza Khan | Became Shah in 1921 |
| Mohammad Reza Khan | Took control of Iran in 1941 |
| CIA | Central Intellegence Agency |
| White Revolution | Process of westernizing |
| Sharia | Islamic Law |
| Iran Contra Scandal | Trading of US hostages for weapons |
| Ayatollah Khomeini | Assumed power in 1979 |
| Ayatollah Ali Khamenei | Current Supreme leader of Iran |
| Mahmoud Ahmadinejad | Current Iranian President |
| Shatt Al Arab | Important waterway that started Iran Iraq war |
| Supreme leader | Has power over the military and judiciary |
| Council of Experts | comprised of clerics, or religions leaders |
| Council of Guardians | Can veto legislation |
| National Assemble | Elected officials who write legislation |
| Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. | Responsible for upholding Islamic Law |
| Regular Army | Responsible for protecting the country |
| SAVAK | Secret police under the Shah |