The Shiites are about 80% of the population in Iran, and the rulers are Shiite too. This is in marked contrast to the rest of the Arab theocracies where the Sunnis are the majority and are in power. I believe that Iraq is also unusual in that the ruling party is from Sunni stock whereas the Shiites are a majority in the population 9though not as large a majority as in Iran. Different sources put the Shiites as 50-60% and the Sunnis as 30-45%.

Bagpuss