http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/nea/index....

The Government is dominated by Shi'a Muslim clergy. The Head of State,
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution and
has direct control of the armed forces, internal security forces, and the
judiciary. Mohammad Khatami was elected to a 4-year term as President in a
popular vote in February 1997. A popularly elected 290-seat unicameral
Islamic Consultative Assembly, or Majles, develops and passes legislation.
All legislation passed by the Majles is reviewed for adherence to Islamic
and constitutional principles by a Council of Guardians, which consists of
six clerical members, who are appointed by the Supreme Leader, and six lay
jurists, who are appointed by the head of the judiciary and approved by the
Majles. The Constitution provides the Council of Guardians with the power
to screen and disqualify candidates for elective offices based on an
ill-defined set of requirements, including the candidates' ideological
beliefs. The judiciary is subject to government and religious influence.

.........
The Government restricts citizens' right to change their government.
Systematic abuses include extrajudicial killings and summary executions;
disappearances; widespread use of torture and other degrading treatment,
reportedly including rape; harsh prison conditions; arbitrary arrest and
detention; and prolonged and incommunicado detention
.....
The Government closed nearly all reform-oriented publications during the
year and brought charges against prominent political figures and members of
the clergy for expressing ideas viewed as contrary to the ruling orthodoxy
........
The selection of candidates for elections effectively is controlled by the
Government
.......
Reformers and moderates won a landslide victory in the February Majles
election, and now constitute a majority of that body; however, the Council
of Guardians and other elements within the Government blocked much of the
early reform legislation passed by the Majles.

"The Constitution provides the
Council of Guardians with the power
to screen and disqualify candidates for
elective offices based on an ill-defined
set of requirements, including the
candidates' ideological beliefs".

the Council
of Guardians and other elements within the Government blocked much of the
early reform legislation passed by the Majles.