| INTRODUCTION BackgroundSince the turn of the century, Iran has emerged as the paramount power in the Near East and Central Asia. A beacon of prosperity, knowledge and military might, its great power status enables it immense sway over its neighbours and its actions affect even faraway states.
GOVERNMENT Type of Government Unitary Imperial Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State His Imperial Majesty King of Kings ARDESHIR SHAH
Head of Government His Excellency Prime Minister MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD
Capital City
Legislature Royal Court (Upper) Majles (Lower)
National Values Patriotism National Unity Independence Resistance Protection of the Marginalized | ㅤ | GEOGRAPHY LocationBounded to the north by Georgia, Russia, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea, to the east by Pakistan and Afghanistan, to the south by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, and to the west by Turkey and Iraq.
Climate Climate varies between provinces with hot desert being the norm; Average temperatures range from 30 and 36 °C in summer to 1 to 8 °C in winter, though these temperatures often vary by region.
Terrain High, rugged mountains create a barrier with Iran's neighbors in the west, and the eastern region is covered by a barren, salty desert. In Iran's north, a narrow, fertile strip borders the Caspian Sea, and in the south, lowlands rim the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.
Area Total: XXX,XXX km2 Land: XXX,XXX km2 Water: X,XXX km2
Land Usage Agricultural land: XX% Arable land: XX% Permanent crops: XX% Permanent pasture: XX% Forest: XX% Other: XX%
Natural Resources
Natural Hazards Iran is located in a disaster-prone region, and faces many natural disasters every year; from storms and floods to earthquakes. In recent years, climate change has increased the probability, frequency and intensity of these disasters; tropical storms in Sistan and Baluchestan and floods and sand and dust storms in other parts of the country are just some examples. |
| ECONOMY Economic OverviewThe economy of Iran is a mixed economy with a large state-owned sector and is the largest in the Middle East in terms of nominal GDP. It is the world's 17th largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). Some 60% of Iran's economy is centrally planned. It is dominated by oil and gas production, although over 40 industries are directly involved in the Tehran Stock Exchange. The stock exchange has been one of the best performing exchanges in the world over the past decade. With 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas reserves, Iran is considered an "energy superpower".
Currency Iranian Rial (﷼) 1 ﷼ IRR = $0.27 USD
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP (nominal): $2.06 trillion GDP (nominal) per capita: $34,878
Unemployment
Agricultural Products Fresh & Dried Fruits, Nuts, Animal Hides, Processed Foods, Caviar, Spices, Pistachios, Raisins, Dates, Saffron
Industries
Exports & Imports Exports: Petroleum Oil, Chemical & Petrochemical Products, Automobiles, Fruits & Nuts, Carpets, Arms & Weapons Imports: Industrial Raw Materials & Intermediate Goods, Capital Goods, Foodstuffs & other Consumer Goods, Technical Services
Partners Türkiye, Qatar, China, Russia, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Iraq, Syria, Japan, South Korea | ㅤ | PEOPLE & SOCIETY Native PopulationsIran is formed by various ethnic groups – including Arab, Armenian, Azeri, Baluch, Gilaki, Kurd, Lur, Persian, and Turkman – with significant diversity in culture, language, religions, and traditions.
Religions Almost all Iranians as Muslim, with 90–95% thought to associate themselves with the official state religion – Shia Islam – and about 5–10% with the Sunni and Sufi branches of Islam. Christianity is the second biggest religions, followed by Judaism and Zoroastrianism.
Society
Arts The arts of Iran are one of the richest art heritages in world history and encompasses many traditional disciplines including architecture, painting, literature, music, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stonemasonry. There is also a very vibrant Iranian modern and contemporary art scene, as well as cinema and photography.
Architecture
Clothing Traditional Persian clothing can be seen in Persian miniature paintings, employ both vivid and muted colors for clothing, although the colors of paint pigment often do not match the colors of dyes.The clothing of ancient Iran took an advanced form, and the fabric and color of clothing became very important. Depending on the social status, eminence, climate of the region and the season, Persian clothing during the Achaemenian period took various forms. The philosophy used in Persian clothing was that, in addition to being functional, it also had to be of aesthetic value. Traditional Persian clothing, although seldom worn in urban areas in modern times, has been well preserved in texts and paintings throughout history.
Cuisine A typical breakfast consists of flatbreads smeared with butter, cheese, sarshir (thick cream often mixed with honey), and a variety of jams and spreads. Typical Iranian lunch and dinners will be a well-balanced mix of meat, beans, vegetables, herbs, dairy, nuts, and fruits served with rice or bread. The most common animal proteins are poultry, beef, lamb, and fish. Stew over rice is probably the most popular dish throughout the country, but soups, kebabs, and rice dishes are also staple meals.
Popular Culture |
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