Iran

IR / IRN 32.0°, 53.0°

Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and historically known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. With a population of over 92 million, Iran ranks 17th globally in both geographic size and population. It is divided into five regions with 31 provinces. Tehran is the nation's capital and largest city and serves as its primary economic center.

Read Iran on Wikipedia · Recent news from Iran

You have not been asked about Iran yet.

Capital

Tehran

Population

92,417,700

Area

1,648,195 km2

Climate

Desert or arid

Government

Theocratic republic

Currency

Iranian rial

Languages

Persian Farsi, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani

Sells

plastics, iron ore, alcohols, natural gas

Sells to

China 35%, Turkey 16%, India 8%

Land borders

7: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq ...

Drives on the

right

Calling code

+98

Founded

1979

Hemisphere

Northern

Where it is

Languages

Share of the population that speaks each. Click one to see every country that speaks it.

Persian Farsiofficial

—

Kurdish

—

Gilaki and Mazandarani

—

Luri

—

Balochi

—

What it sells, and to whom

Every line is a thread: click a commodity or a partner to see who else trades in it.

Farms and fisheries

wheat
sugarcane
milk
sugar beets
rice
tomatoes

Largest cities

Tehran capital	7,153,309
Mashhad	2,307,177
Isfahan	1,547,164
Karaj	1,448,075
Tabriz	1,424,641

Wars and conflicts

Click one to see everyone else who fought in it.

Iran-Iraq War1980–1988 Syrian civil war2011–2024 Iran–Iraq War1980–1988 Twelve-Day War2025 Iraqi Civil War of 2014–20172014–2017 Iran–Saudi Arabia proxy conflict Iran–Israel proxy conflict1985–now Iran–Turkey proxy conflict2011–now

Form of government

Theocratic republic.

Islamic Republic Islamic Republic1979–now unitary state islamic theocracy presidential system

Money, belief and alliances

Money

Iranian rial

Belongs to

Non-Aligned Movement United Nations International Development Association Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency UNESCO International Bank for Reconstruction and Development World Health Organization Interpol International Hydrographic Organization BRICS Universal Postal Union World Customs Organization Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Climate and geography

mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Climate zone

Desert or arid

Highest point

Damavand

Landmarks and landscapes

Persepolis Naqsh-e Jahan Square Golestan Palace

Northern hemisphere.

Land borders (7)

Afghanistan

Armenia

Azerbaijan

Iraq

Pakistan

Turkmenistan

Turkey

In charge right now

Mojtaba Khamenei Head of state

Masoud Pezeshkian Head of government

Figures from its history

Ruhollah Khomeini Leader of the 1979 revolution Ruhollah Mostafavi Khomeini was an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the first supreme leader of Iran from 1979 until his death in 1989.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi Last Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was the last Shah of Iran, reigning from 1941 to 1979.

Cyrus the Great Founder of the Persian Empire Cyrus II of Persia, commonly known as Cyrus the Great, was the founder of the Achaemenid Empire.

Mohammad Mosaddegh Prime minister overthrown in 1953 Mohammad Mosaddegh was an Iranian politician, author and lawyer who served as the prime minister of Iran from 1951 to 1953, elected by the 16th Majlis.