Name of Nation: The Imperial State of Iran

Territories: Iran

Government Type: Parliamentary Monarchy

Military: The Iranian military is based on an American strategy involving use of highly mobile brigade combat teams instead of rigidly-organized setpiece theater divisions, allowing for a rapidly-deployed and maneuvered military force. Military capabilities span the entirety of the spectrum with up-to-date weaponry and combat systems manufactured by local industries.

Economy: Oil and other natural resources (minerals, etc.), energy (in the form of natural gas, electricity, and others), information, electronics, manufacturing (heavy and light), farming and other foodstuffs, armaments.

Foreign Policy: Iran uses a newly-instituted policy of neutrality and cordiality to apologize for its past behavior, but with increasing amounts of police actions and peackeeping operations in neighboring countries.

History: Following the election of moderate Hassan Rouhani in 2013, Iran had been undergoing reforms well into the 2020s. Their economy was modernizing and improving across the board, while the standards of living grew. Restrictions on society were eased as Iran prepared to transition onto the global stage. Foreign corporations were allowed to work and invest in Iran, and the country flourished with the extra funding. Relationships with the weakening West were repaired as the moderate leadership was willing to extend their arms and ease the tensions. A golden age of sorts occurred between 2020 and 2030, while Iran focused on stabilizing itself both domestically and on the world stage. The people became used to liberalism and the benefits that it brought. It seemed like Iran had finally been brought out of its shell.

In 2035, however, the Ayatollah was not pleased. Reforms had gone too far for the new Ayatollah - a veteran clergyman who took Ali Khameni's place after his death in 2029. Even with constant arguments and bickering, the two could not budge. While the Ayatollah wished for the reforms to end peaceably, he had no choice but to end them swiftly and authoritatively in 2036. Almost immediately, the progress had been halted. Islamic fundamentalism was brought back in force, leading to heavily-repressed riots. While the country threatened to tear itself into chaos, the former Iranian Royal Family watched from afar in America. As refugees streamed into the country after leaving the Ayatollah's repression and persecution, the CIA approached him. They were to conduct an operation to remove the Ayatollah and the new President and reinstate the rightful Imperial government. Although parallels with Kennedy's Bay of Pigs Invasion could be seen, the Family agreed. They selected Ali Pahlavi - the twenty-nine year old heir - to lead the invasion.

In 2037, the Invasion began with a force of 5,000 refugees storming the beaches of Bandar Abbas. They brought with them the tenets of liberalism that the populace had grown accustomed to, and they successful incited a revolt. A week later, Tehran's palace was stormed and the Ayatollah killed as he attempted to escape via helicopter. The Pahlavis had won, and Ali was formally instated as Emperor in August of that same year. The next two years were spent hunting down and securing the Islamic fundamentalists in the country while Ali repealed almost all of the Ayatollah's laws. The regime had changed, and the new Emperor made every attempt to promise the Iranians that he would not repeat the mistakes of his predecessor in the 1970s. They were entering a whole new era that he could secure without intervention of an Ayatollah. It was during this time, however, that the War was ongoing. The upheavals in Iran had left them unable to fight in the conflict, remaining as neutral as they could while they sorted out domestic issues. This left them fairly untouched after the conflict, appearing on the world stage in 2039 as a regional - and perhaps a world - leader.

Ali's government is focused on returning moderatism to the society of Iran further strengthening it. In addition, he is attempting to bring the security to his neighbors to stabilize the region and prevent insecurity like what was seen at the end of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries. Iranian military servicemen (and women) were now obligated to keep the peace instead of fight with the West. A highly-publicized mission in Turkmenistan that led to secure elections in early 2040 was seen as an astounding success: both PR and militarily. Now, plans have been drawn up to head into Iraq to secure the highly unstable region there. Iran is now a country dedicated, so it seems, to peace in the aftermath of the most destructive conflict on the planet.

Foes: Not many, although relationships with some countries are frosty. Iran maintains a security pact with several neighbors and actively heads peackeeping operations in the Arabian theater.

Demographics: 170 million people, mostly of Iranian descent but with Arabs, Turks, Armenians, Azeris, Afghans, Indians, Southeast Asian nationals (Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia), Chinese, and Russians thrown in. Most of the population is younger, within the 20-40 range following a baby boom in the 2010s.

Other: N/A