Scientific life. Congresses, conferences, and symposia On May 26, 2003, the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences held a scientific conference "Russia and Iran", where more than 20 reports and presentations on various aspects of relations between Russia and Iran were heard. It was attended by scientists from academic and educational institutions, representatives of the Foreign Ministries of the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. The main attention was paid to the assessment of the political and economic situation in Iran, the directions of its foreign policy, and the prospects for developing relations with the United States. N. M. Mammadova's speech (IB RAS) was devoted to the analysis of the political situation and disagreements in the political elite of Iran. She noted that these differences are based on elements of the contradictory state structure of Iran as a theocratic republic. The contradictions lie in the structure of state power: along with the highest bodies representing the interests of the clergy and elected mainly by high-ranking clergy, there are republican institutions of power. At the same time, the President of the country as the head of the executive branch and the Mejlis as the highest body of legislative power are elected by direct elections, i.e. they are more legitimate. So far, the official policy of Iran, which is presented by the republican structures of power, especially in relations with foreign countries, may not coincide with the actions taken by the regime on behalf of the highest Islamic structures. The most striking manifestation of this inconsistency may be Iran's position on Islamist organizations, primarily Hezbollah. So, we can talk about the presence of official contacts with them, but not military - economic ones. Contradictions are inherent in the nature of relations between Shiism and the authorities, as well as in the lack of organizational unity of the Shiite clergy. The principl ... Read more