Answer to Question 1
D
Answer to Question 2
Iran has been a disruptive political force in the region since the shift in government in 1978, when Shiite Muslim clerics overthrew the Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, a ruler friendly to the U.S. but autocratic and authoritarian. It has threatened the state of Israel repeatedly and is considered a destabilizing force by many Arab states. There are varied cultural and political impulses within Iran. Recent elections put into office a more moderate president. Many urban and young Iranians would like the country's isolation to end. The desire of the Iranian government to develop nuclear technology also remains a contentious regional and global issue. Finally, there is still a very influential set of hard-line religious extremists within the country who hold control of key positions.