Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Western Asia. It borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Turkey, and has coastlines on the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Its capital and largest city is Tehran.
Iran is historically associated with Persia and with a long cultural tradition that includes ancient empires, Persian literature, Islamic scholarship, architecture, poetry, carpets, music and cinema. Since the 1979 revolution, it has been governed as an Islamic republic with a political system combining elected institutions and religious authority.
Geography
Iran covers about 1.65 million square kilometres, making it one of the largest countries in Asia. Its landscape includes mountain ranges, deserts, plateaus, forests near the Caspian Sea and coastal regions along the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.
The Zagros Mountains run through western Iran, while the Alborz Mountains lie near the south of the Caspian Sea. Large arid and semi-arid areas dominate the interior, including desert regions such as Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut.
History
Iran's recorded history includes Elamite, Median, Achaemenid, Parthian and Sasanian periods before the Islamic conquest. The Achaemenid Empire, founded by Cyrus the Great in the sixth century BCE, became one of the major empires of the ancient world.
After the Arab Muslim conquest, Persian language and culture remained influential. Later dynasties, including the Safavids, shaped Iran's religious and political identity. The Safavid period is especially important because Twelver Shia Islam became the state religion.
The Qajar and Pahlavi periods saw foreign pressure, constitutional politics, modern state-building, oil politics and social change. In 1979, the Iranian Revolution overthrew Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic.
Government
Iran's political system includes an elected president and parliament, but ultimate authority is held by the Supreme Leader. The Guardian Council, judiciary, military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also play important roles in the state structure.
Elections take place, but candidate vetting and restrictions on political activity limit the range of permitted competition. Iran's political life is shaped by disputes over religion, state power, sanctions, civil liberties, regional security and economic management.
Population and Language
Iran has a population of roughly 90 million people. Persians are the largest ethnic group, but the country is ethnically and linguistically diverse. Azeris, Kurds, Lurs, Arabs, Baloch, Turkmen and other communities are part of Iranian society.
Persian, also called Farsi, is the official language. Other languages, including Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Arabic, Luri, Balochi and Turkmen, are spoken by communities across the country.
Religion
Most Iranians are Shia Muslims, and Twelver Shia Islam has a central place in the state's identity. Sunni Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha'is and other religious communities also exist in Iran, though minority communities face different legal and social positions.
Economy
Iran has major oil and natural-gas resources. Energy exports, state-linked industry, agriculture, manufacturing and services all contribute to the economy.
International sanctions have had a major effect on trade, banking, investment and access to technology. Inflation, currency pressure, unemployment and restrictions on global markets remain important economic issues.
Culture
Iranian culture has a long literary and artistic history. Persian poetry, including writers such as Ferdowsi, Hafez, Saadi and Rumi, is central to the wider Persian cultural world.
Iran is also known for architecture, carpets, calligraphy, miniature painting, gardens, cuisine and cinema. Sites such as Persepolis, Isfahan, Yazd and ancient desert settlements are important parts of the country's historical identity.
See Also
References
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