| Geographical Information |
| Map Location |
Middle East |
| Geographical Location |
32° 00' North Latitude
53° 00' East Longitude |
| Surface Area |
1.648 million sq km |
| Climate |
Mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast |
| Natural Resources |
Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur |
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| Political Information |
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| Country Name |
Islamic Republic of Iran |
| Capital City |
Tehran |
| Government Type |
Theocratic republic |
| Administrative Divisions |
30 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan); Ardabil, Azarbayjan-e Gharbi, Azarbayjan-e Sharqi, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan, Fars, Gilan,
Golestan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Kermanshah, Khorasan-e Janubi, Khorasan-e Razavi, Khorasan-e Shemali, Khuzestan, Kohgiluyeh va Buyer Ahmad,
Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran, Qazvin, Qom, Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan |
| Independence Day |
1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed) |
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| Demographical Information |
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| Population |
68,017,860 (July 2005 est.) |
| Nationality |
Iranian |
| Ethnic Groups |
Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1% |
| Religion |
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 2% |
| Population Growth Rate |
0.86% (2005 est.) |
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| Economical Information |
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| Currency |
Iranian rial (IRR) |
| Industries |
Petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments |
| Labor Force |
23 million (2004 est.) |
| Labor Force by Sectors |
Agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2001 est.) |
| Agriculture Products |
Wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar |
| Export Commodities |
Petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets |
| Export Partners |
Japan 20%, China 9.9%, Italy 6.3%, South Africa 6.3%, Taiwan 4.8%, Turkey 4.7%, South Korea 4.7%, France 4.3%, Netherlands 4.3% (2004) |
| Import Commodities |
Industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies |
| Import Partners |
Germany 13%, France 8.9%, Italy 8%, China 7.7%, UAE 6.4%, South Korea 6.3%, Russia 4.9% (2004) |
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| Transportation |
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| Railways |
7,203 km |
| Highways |
167,157 km |
| Pipelines |
Condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km; oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2004) |
| Airports |
305 (2004 est.) |
| Ports and Harbors |
Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war), Ahvaz, Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni, Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mah Shahr,
Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar, Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr |
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| Communication |
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| Phone Code |
+98 |
| Internet Abbreviation |
.ir |
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| Other |
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| Short History |
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces established a
theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority nominally vested in a learned religious scholar. Iranian-US relations have been strained since a group of Iranian students
seized the US Embassy in Tehran on 4 November 1979 and held it until 20 January 1981. During 1980-88, Iran fought a bloody, indecisive war with Iraq that eventually expanded into the Persian
Gulf and led to clashes between US Navy and Iranian military forces between 1987-1988. Iran has been designated a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the
world and remains subject to US economic sanctions and export controls because of its continued involvement. Following the elections of a reformist president and Majlis in the late 1990s,
attempts to foster political reform in response to popular dissatisfaction have floundered as conservative politicians have prevented reform measures from being enacted, increased repressive measures,
and consolidated their control over the government. |
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