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This course provides a basis for understanding the political, economic and security dimensions of Iran’s politics and the country’s role in World politics. It will discuss the Islamic Republic of Iran's complicated political system and its international politics. A significant and geostrategically situated country, Iran is where Islamic ideology first attained power in form a major social revolution. The unfolding of that revolution has shaped the Middle East, and has posed one of the most important challenges to American foreign policy. As a revolutionary Islamic State Iran experienced a unique path to development and state-building. This course will introduce the students to the main ideological currents and political trends in Iranian politics. It will discuss the structure of its theocracy, and the working of its politics and economy. The course will also examine Iran’s foreign policy posture, with focus on U.S.-Iran relations, quest for nuclear power, and Iran's regional policy.