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Background:

Historically known as Persia, Iran was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, which was frequently invaded. Iran's hereditary monarch, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, fled the country in 1979 after decades of corrupt and authoritarian rule, and mounting religious and political unrest. Exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned to lead an Islamic revolution and formed the world's first Islamic republic the same year. An eight-year war with Iraq followed.

In the elections of 1992 and 1996, former president Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani's support increased and at the presidential election of 1997 Mohammad Khatami, Rafsanjani's cultural adviser, succeeded him. Khatami promised greater freedom and tolerance and was supported mainly by women, younger voters and intellectuals.

In June 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, former mayor of the capital, Tehran, and famous for his conservative approach and for rolling back reforms put in place by modernists before him was elected president. He has not been shy of confronting the West and has pushed ahead with a national nuclear programme that has brought international condemnation. (Source: IRIN)

border countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan

Official Name: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran short form: Iran int'l long form: Islamic Republic of Iran former: Persia

ISO Country Code: ir

Time: Local Time = UTC +3.5h Actual Time: Tue-Sept-13 12:13 Summer UTC +4.5

Country Calling Code: +98

Capital City: Tehran

Other Cities: Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz.

Government: Type: Islamic republic. Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) Constitution: Ratified December 1979, revised 1989 to expand powers of the presidency and eliminate the prime ministership.

Geography: Location: Middle East bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea. Area: 1.6 million km (636,294 sq. mi.) Terrain: Desert and mountains.

Climate: Semiarid; subtropical along the Caspian coast.

People: Nationality: Iranian(s). Population: 76 million (2012). GNI per capita PPP: $ 8 065 (year) Ethnic groups: Persians 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%. Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%; Sunni Muslim 9%; Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%. Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other. Literacy: 80%

Natural resources: Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur.

Agriculture products: Wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar.

Industries: Petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments.

Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)

Iran in Figures Iran key statistical data.

Read more:
Iran - Country Profile - Islamic Republic of Iran - Persia