Official Name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Iran One of the world's most mountainous countries, Iran contains

 Mount Damavand, the highest peak in Asia west of the Himalayas. 

The country’s population, while ethnically and linguistically diverse,

 is almost entirely Muslim. For centuries, the region has been

 the center of the Shia branch of Islam (see Shiites). Iran ranks

 among the world’s leaders in its reserves of oil and natural gas.

 As is the case in other countries in the petroleum-rich Persian 

Gulf region, the export of oil has dominated 

Iran’s economy since the early 20th century.

Geography:

 Iran Lies in the Middle East. The country is bordered
 
• On the north by Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, and Turkmenistan
• On the east by Afghanistan and Pakistan
• On the south by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Persian Gulf
• On the west by Iraq and Turkey

Total Area: 1.6 million sq. km. (636, 294 sq. mi.)

Cities:

Iran’s capital and largest city 

   is Tehran, located in the northern part of the country.

Other cities

•  Isfahan
•  Tabriz
•  Mashhad
•  Shiraz.
  
  

Climate: Semiarid; subtropical along the Caspian coast.

 Nationality: Iranian's

Population: 65 million (appox)

Annual growth rate: 3.0 - 4.0%

Ethnic groups 

• Persian
• Azeri Turks
• Kurds
• Arabs Turkomans
• Baluchis
• Lur
• Bakhtiari
• Qashqai tribes
  
  Religions:

•  Shi'a Muslim 95%
•  Sunni Muslim 4%
•  Zoroastrian
•  Jewish
•  Christian
•  Baha'i 1%
  
  Languages:

• Persian
• Turkish dialects
• Kurdish
• Luri
• Gilaki
• Arabic
  

 Literacy Rate Is 50%

Government Type: Islamic republic

Constitution: Ratified December 1979, revised 1989.


Economy:

GDP (est.): $90 billion.

Annual growth rate (est.): 5%.

Per capita income (est.): $1,500.

Natural resources:

•  Petroleum
•  Natural gas
•  Some mineral deposits

Agriculture: Principal products

•  Wheat
•  Rice
•  Other grains
•  Sugar
•  Beets
•  Fruits
•  Nuts
•  Cotton
•  Dairy products
•  Wool
•  Caviar
•  Not self-sufficient in food
  
  Main Industry Types

•  Petroleum
•  Petrochemicals
•  Textiles
•  Cement and building materials 
•  Food processing 
•  Metal fabricating (steel and copper).
  
  

Exports Is $18 billion

•  Petroleum 90%
•  Carpets
•  Fruits
•  Nuts
•  Hides

 Imports IS $28 billion 

•  Food
•  Machinery
•  And medical products

 
Major markets/suppliers:

•   Germany
•  Japan
•  Italy
•  U.K.
•  France