Political parties constitute one of the principal mechanisms linking society and the state. In Iran, however, party politics—particularly during the first decade following the Islamic Revolution—faced significant structural, political, and security-related challenges. This study examines the relationship between political parties and groups active in East Azerbaijan Province and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from 1979 to 1989. Adopting a qualitative historical-analytical approach, the study draws on library sources, archival documents, newspapers, and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that the province’s political parties can be classified into three main currents: Islamist, leftist, and nationalist. The Islamic Republican Party demonstrated the greatest degree of alignment with the central government, whereas some leftist groups adopted radical and armed confrontational strategies. Nationalist parties also failed to gain broad public support because of their focus on non-local priorities and their secular orientations. Following the dissolution of the Islamic Republican Party and the weakening of influential political figures, no effective nationwide or regional party emerged. Consequently, organized party participation declined, while political participation continued primarily through elections, social mobilization, and public support for the political system. The findings highlight the need to strengthen institutionalized partisan and non-partisan mechanisms to enhance East Azerbaijan’s effective participation in national politics.