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id="mw-head-base" class="noprint"></div> <div id="content" class="mw-body" role="main"> <a id="top"></a> <div id="siteNotice"></div> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading" lang="en">Iran</h1> <div id="bodyContent" class="mw-body-content"> <div id="siteSub">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> <div id="contentSub"></div> <div id="jump-to-nav" class="mw-jump"> Jump to: <a href="#mw-head">navigation</a>, <a href="#p-search">search</a> </div> <div id="mw-content-text" lang="en" dir="ltr" class="mw-content-ltr"><div class="hatnote">"Persia" redirects here. For other uses, see <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persia_(disambiguation)" title="Persia (disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig">Persia (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <div class="hatnote">This article is about the modern nation. For other uses, see <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_(disambiguation)" title="Iran (disambiguation)" class="mw-disambig">Iran (disambiguation)</a>.</div> <div class="metadata topicon nopopups" id="protected-icon" style="display:none;right:55px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Protection_policy#semi" title="This article is semi-protected."><img alt="Page semi-protected" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Padlock-silver.svg/20px-Padlock-silver.svg.png" width="20" height="20" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Padlock-silver.svg/30px-Padlock-silver.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Padlock-silver.svg/40px-Padlock-silver.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="128" data-file-height="128"/></a></div> <table class="infobox geography vcard" style="width:22em; font-size:88%;"> <tr class="adr"> <th colspan="3" align="center" class="mergedtoprow" style="padding:0.25em 0.33em 0.33em;line-height:1.2em;font-size:1.25em;">Islamic Republic of Iran <div style="padding-top:0.25em;"> <div class="plainlist"> <ul> <li><span class="Nastaliq" title="Persian Nastaliq" style="font-size: 125%; font-family: 'IranNastaliq', 'Urdu Emad Nastaleeq', 'Urdu Typesetting', 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq', 'Hussaini Nastaleeq', 'AlQalam Taj Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq v1.01', Nafees, 'Pak Nastaleeq', 'PDMS_Jauhar', 'Alvi Lahori Nastaleeq';">جمهوری اسلامی ایران</li> <li>Jomhuri-ye Eslāmi-ye Irān</li> </ul> </div> </div> </th> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <td class="maptable" colspan="3" align="center" style="padding:0.5em 0;"> <table align="center" style="width:100%;background:none;"> <tr> <td align="center" style="width:58%; vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Iran.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Iran"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/125px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="125" height="71" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/188px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/250px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/></a></td> <td align="center" style="width:auto;vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Emblem_of_Iran.svg" class="image" title="Emblem of Iran"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Emblem_of_Iran.svg/85px-Emblem_of_Iran.svg.png" width="85" height="83" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Emblem_of_Iran.svg/128px-Emblem_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Emblem_of_Iran.svg/170px-Emblem_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="418" data-file-height="410"/></a></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center" style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_Iran" title="Flag of Iran">Flag</a></td> <td align="center" style="font-size:85%;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emblem_of_Iran" title="Emblem of Iran">Emblem</a></td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;">Motto:  <div class="plainlist"> <ul> <li><span class="Nastaliq" title="Persian Nastaliq" style="font-size: 125%; font-family: 'IranNastaliq', 'Urdu Emad Nastaleeq', 'Urdu Typesetting', 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq', 'Hussaini Nastaleeq', 'AlQalam Taj Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq v1.01', Nafees, 'Pak Nastaleeq', 'PDMS_Jauhar', 'Alvi Lahori Nastaleeq';">استقلال. آزادی. جمهوری اسلامی</li> </ul> </div> "Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic." (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto" title="De facto">de facto</a>)<a href="#cite_note-Temperman2010-1">[1]</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="anthem" colspan="3" style="text-align:center;line-height:1.2em;">Anthem: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Mehre Khâvarân</a> <div class="plainlist"> <ul> <li><span class="Nastaliq" title="Persian Nastaliq" style="font-size: 125%; font-family: 'IranNastaliq', 'Urdu Emad Nastaleeq', 'Urdu Typesetting', 'Jameel Noori Nastaleeq', 'Hussaini Nastaleeq', 'AlQalam Taj Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq', 'Nafees Nastaleeq v1.01', Nafees, 'Pak Nastaleeq', 'PDMS_Jauhar', 'Alvi Lahori Nastaleeq';">مهر خاوران "The Eastern Sun"</li> <li> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"> <div class="mediaContainer" style="position:relative;display:block;width:220px"><audio id="mwe_player_0" style="width:220px" poster="//bits.wikimedia.org/static-1.25wmf20/resources/assets/file-type-icons/fileicon-ogg.png" controls="" preload="none" class="kskin" data-durationhint="61.701224489796" data-startoffset="0" data-mwtitle="National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons"><source src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg" type="audio/ogg; codecs="vorbis"" data-title="Original Ogg file (147 kbps)" data-shorttitle="Ogg source" data-width="0" data-height="0" data-bandwidth="146959"></source><track kind="subtitles" data-mwtitle="TimedText:National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg.en.srt" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" type="text/x-srt" src="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=:National+Anthem+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran.ogg.en.srt&action=raw&ctype=text%2Fx-srt" srclang="en" data-dir="ltr" label="English (en) subtitles"></track><track kind="subtitles" data-mwtitle="TimedText:National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg.fa.srt" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" type="text/x-srt" src="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=:National+Anthem+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran.ogg.fa.srt&action=raw&ctype=text%2Fx-srt" srclang="fa" data-dir="rtl" label="فارسی (fa) subtitles"></track><track kind="subtitles" data-mwtitle="TimedText:National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg.la.srt" data-mwprovider="wikimediacommons" type="text/x-srt" src="//commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=:National+Anthem+of+the+Islamic+Republic+of+Iran.ogg.la.srt&action=raw&ctype=text%2Fx-srt" srclang="la" data-dir="ltr" label="Latina (la) subtitles"></track>Sorry, your browser either has JavaScript disabled or does not have any supported player. You can <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/National_Anthem_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran.ogg">download the clip</a> or <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Special:MyLanguage/Extension:TimedMediaHandler/Client_download">download a player</a> to play the clip in your browser.</audio></div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="padding:0.6em 0 0.3em;text-align:center;"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_(orthographic_projection).svg" class="image" title="Location of Iran"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/250px-Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png" width="250" height="250" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/375px-Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/500px-Iran_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="553" data-file-height="553"/></a></div> </div> <div style="padding:0.3em;line-height:1.2em;font-size:85%;"></div> </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <td colspan="2">Capital and largest city</td> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a> <a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Iran&params=35_41_N_51_25_E_type:country">35°41′N 51°25′E / 35.683°N 51.417°E / 35.683; 51.417</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="white-space:nowrap;">Official languages</th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="white-space:nowrap;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoken_language" title="Spoken language">Spoken languages</a><a href="#cite_note-2">[2]</a></th> <td> <div class="hlist"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_language" title="Azerbaijani language">Azeri</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language" title="Kurdish language" class="mw-redirect">Kurdish</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luri_Language" title="Luri Language" class="mw-redirect">Lurish</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semnani_languages" title="Semnani languages">Semnani</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilaki_language" title="Gilaki language">Gilaki</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazandarani_language" title="Mazandarani language" class="mw-redirect">Mazandarani</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmen_language" title="Turkmen language">Turkmen</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_language" title="Baloch language" class="mw-redirect">Baloch</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_language" title="Georgian language">Georgian</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_language" title="Armenian language">Armenian</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_Neo-Aramaic_language" title="Assyrian Neo-Aramaic language" class="mw-redirect">Neo-Aramaic</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Religion</th> <td style="vertical-align:middle;">Official: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam" title="Shia Islam">Shia Islam</a> Other recognized religions: <div class="hlist"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Islam" title="Sunni Islam">Sunni Islam</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christianity</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonym" title="Demonym">Demonym</a></th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Iranian</a>, Persian</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Iran" title="Politics of Iran">Government</a></th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitary_state" title="Unitary state">Unitary</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy#Iran" title="Theocracy">theocratic</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system" title="Presidential system">presidential republic</a></td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran" title="Supreme Leader of Iran">Supreme Leader</a></td> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khamenei" title="Ali Khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a></td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Iran" title="President of Iran">President</a></td> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Rouhani" title="Hassan Rouhani">Hassan Rouhani</a></td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vice_President_of_Iran" title="Vice President of Iran">Vice President</a></td> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eshaq_Jahangiri" title="Eshaq Jahangiri">Eshaq Jahangiri</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Legislature</th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Consultative_Assembly" title="Islamic Consultative Assembly">Islamic Consultative Assembly</a></td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <th colspan="3">Unification<a href="#cite_note-Encyclop.C3.A6dia_Britannica_Encyclopedia_Article:_Media_ancient_region.2C_Iran-3">[3]</a></th> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_Empire" title="Median Empire" class="mw-redirect">Median Empire</a></td> <td>c. 678 BC </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empire</a></td> <td>550 BC </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" title="Sassanid Empire" class="mw-redirect">Sassanid Empire</a><a href="#cite_note-AlirezaShahbazi-4">[4]</a></td> <td>224 AD </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_Empire" title="Safavid Empire" class="mw-redirect">Safavid Empire</a></td> <td>1501<a href="#cite_note-Andrew_J._Newman_2006-5">[5]</a> </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic" title="Islamic Republic" class="mw-redirect">Islamic Republic</a></td> <td>1 April 1979 </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Current constitution</a></td> <td>24 October 1979 </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_constitutional_referendum,_1989" title="Iranian constitutional referendum, 1989">Constitution amendment</a></td> <td>28 July 1989 </td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <th colspan="3"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran" title="Geography of Iran">Area</a></th> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Total</td> <td>1,648,195 km2 (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area" title="List of countries and dependencies by area">18th</a>) 636,372 sq mi</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Water (%)</td> <td>0.7</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <th colspan="3"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Population</a></th> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">2013 estimate</td> <td>78,192,200 <a href="#cite_note-6">[6]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_population" title="List of countries by population" class="mw-redirect">17th</a>)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Density</td> <td>48/km2 (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states_and_dependent_territories_by_population_density" title="List of sovereign states and dependent territories by population density">162rd</a>) 124/sq mi</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <td colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product" title="Gross domestic product">GDP</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity" title="Purchasing power parity">PPP</a>)</td> <td>2014 estimate</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Total</td> <td>$1.284 trillion<a href="#cite_note-imf1-7">[7]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)" title="List of countries by GDP (PPP)">17th</a>)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Per capita</td> <td>$16,463<a href="#cite_note-imf1-7">[7]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita" title="List of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita">72nd</a>)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <td colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product" title="Gross domestic product">GDP</a> (nominal)</td> <td>2014 estimate</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Total</td> <td>$402.700 billion<a href="#cite_note-imf1-7">[7]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)" title="List of countries by GDP (nominal)">20th</a>)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Per capita</td> <td>$5,165<a href="#cite_note-imf1-7">[7]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita" title="List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita">98th</a>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gini_coefficient" title="Gini coefficient">Gini</a> (2010)</td> <td>38<a href="#cite_note-TT5-8">[8]</a> medium</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index" title="Human Development Index">HDI</a> (2013)</td> <td><img alt="Decrease" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Decrease2.svg/11px-Decrease2.svg.png" width="11" height="11" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Decrease2.svg/17px-Decrease2.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Decrease2.svg/22px-Decrease2.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="300"/> 0.749<a href="#cite_note-HDI-9">[9]</a> high · <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index" title="List of countries by Human Development Index">75th</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="vertical-align:middle;">Currency</th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_rial" title="Iranian rial">Rial</a> (﷼) (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_4217" title="ISO 4217">IRR</a>)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedtoprow"> <th colspan="2">Time zone</th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Standard_Time" title="Iran Standard Time">IRST</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" title="Coordinated Universal Time">UTC</a>+3:30)</td> </tr> <tr class="mergedbottomrow"> <td style="width:1.0em;padding:0 0 0 0.6em;"> - </td> <td style="padding-left:0;">Summer (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time" title="Daylight saving time">DST</a>)</td> <td>IRDT (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coordinated_Universal_Time" title="Coordinated Universal Time">UTC</a>+4:30)</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Date format</th> <td>yyyy/mm/dd (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_Hijri_calendar" title="Solar Hijri calendar">SH</a>)</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2">Drives on the</th> <td>right</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Iran" title="Telephone numbers in Iran">Calling code</a></th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Iran" title="Telephone numbers in Iran">+98</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="white-space:nowrap;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166" title="ISO 3166">ISO 3166 code</a></th> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_3166-2:IR" title="ISO 3166-2:IR">IR</a></td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_code_top-level_domain" title="Country code top-level domain">Internet TLD</a></th> <td> <div class="plainlist"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.ir" title=".ir">.ir</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86." title="ایران." class="mw-redirect">ایران.</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="metadata mbox-small noprint selfref" style="border:1px solid #aaa;background-color:#f9f9f9;width: 22em;"> <tr> <td class="mbox-image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Farsi.svg/40px-Farsi.svg.png" width="40" height="29" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Farsi.svg/60px-Farsi.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a2/Farsi.svg/80px-Farsi.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="323" data-file-height="235"/></td> <td class="mbox-text plainlist" style="vertical-align:middle; font-size:95%;">You may need <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Arabic" title="Help:Arabic">rendering support</a> to display the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_alphabet" title="Persian alphabet">Persian text</a> in this article correctly.</td> </tr> </table> Iran (<a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/En-us-Iran.ogg" title="Listen"><img alt="Listen" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Speakerlink-new.svg/11px-Speakerlink-new.svg.png" width="11" height="11" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Speakerlink-new.svg/17px-Speakerlink-new.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Speakerlink-new.svg/22px-Speakerlink-new.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="11" data-file-height="11"/></a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:En-us-Iran.ogg" title="File:En-us-Iran.ogg">i</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ɪ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ˈ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">r</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ɑː</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">n</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="#cite_note-10">[10]</a> or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">aɪ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ˈ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">r</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">æ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">n</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a>;<a href="#cite_note-AHD-11">[11]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a>: ایران‎ <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Persian" title="Help:IPA for Persian">[ʔiːˈɾɑn]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:IranPronunciationFarsi.ogg" title="File:IranPronunciationFarsi.ogg"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/13px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png" width="13" height="13" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/20px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Speaker_Icon.svg/26px-Speaker_Icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="500"/></a> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/54/IranPronunciationFarsi.ogg" class="internal" title="IranPronunciationFarsi.ogg">listen</a>)), also known as Persia (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ˈ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">p</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ɜr</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ʒ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ə</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a> or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ˈ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">p</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ɜr</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ʃ</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key" title="Help:IPA for English">ə</a><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English" title="Help:IPA for English">/</a>),<a href="#cite_note-AHD-11">[11]</a><a href="#cite_note-Iranicaonline.org-12">[12]</a> officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country" title="Country">country</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Asia" title="Western Asia">Western Asia</a>.<a href="#cite_note-BBC-13">[13]</a><a href="#cite_note-14">[14]</a><a href="#cite_note-15">[15]</a> It is bordered to the northwest by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a>, the de facto <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independence" title="Independence">independent</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagorno-Karabakh_Republic" title="Nagorno-Karabakh Republic">Nagorno-Karabakh Republic</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a>; with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a> across the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea" title="Caspian Sea">Caspian Sea</a>; to the northeast by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a>; to the east by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a>; to the south by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Oman" title="Gulf of Oman">Gulf of Oman</a>; and to the west by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>. Comprising a land area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi), it is the second-largest nation in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East" title="Middle East">Middle East</a> and the 18th-largest in the world; with 78.4 million inhabitants, Iran is the world's 17th most populous nation.<a href="#cite_note-BBC-13">[13]</a><a href="#cite_note-britannica1-16">[16]</a> It is the only country that has both a Caspian Sea and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Ocean" title="Indian Ocean">Indian Ocean</a> coastline. Iran has been of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geostrategic" title="Geostrategic" class="mw-redirect">geostrategic</a> importance because of its central location in Eurasia and Western Asia and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz" title="Strait of Hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a>. Iran is home to one of the world's oldest <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilizations" title="Civilizations" class="mw-redirect">civilizations</a>,<a href="#cite_note-17">[17]</a><a href="#cite_note-18">[18]</a> beginning with the formation of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Elamite" title="Proto-Elamite">Proto-Elamite</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam" title="Elam">Elamite</a> kingdom in 3200–2800 BC. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_peoples" title="Iranian peoples">Iranian</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes" title="Medes">Medes</a> unified the country into the first of many empires in 625 BC, after which it became the dominant cultural and political power in the region.<a href="#cite_note-Encyclop.C3.A6dia_Britannica_Encyclopedia_Article:_Media_ancient_region.2C_Iran-3">[3]</a> Iran reached the pinnacle of its power during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empire</a> (First Persian Empire) founded by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great" title="Cyrus the Great">Cyrus the Great</a> in 550 BC, which at its greatest extent comprised major portions of the ancient world, stretching from parts of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkans" title="Balkans">Balkans</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria" title="Bulgaria">Bulgaria</a>-<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pannonia" title="Pannonia" class="mw-redirect">Pannonia</a>) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrace" title="Thrace">Thrace</a>-<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(region)" title="Macedonia (region)">Macedonia</a> in the west, to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_Valley" title="Indus Valley" class="mw-redirect">Indus Valley</a> in the east, making it the largest empire the world had yet seen.<a href="#cite_note-book-19">[19]</a> The empire collapsed in 330 BC following the conquests of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great" title="Alexander the Great">Alexander the Great</a>. The area eventually regained influence under the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire" title="Parthian Empire">Parthian Empire</a> and rose to prominence once more after the establishment of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sasanian dynasty</a> (Neo-Persian empire) in 224 AD, under which Iran again became one of the leading powers in the world along with the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empire" title="Byzantine Empire">Byzantine Empire</a> for the next four centuries.<a href="#cite_note-20">[20]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manichaeism" title="Manichaeism">Manichaeism</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a> were largely replaced after <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_conquest_of_the_Sassanian_Empire" title="Rashidun conquest of the Sassanian Empire" class="mw-redirect">Rashidun Muslims invaded Persia</a> in 633 AD, and conquered it by 651 AD.<a href="#cite_note-Levy2009-21">[21]</a> Iran thereafter played a vital role in the subsequent <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age" title="Islamic Golden Age">Islamic Golden Age</a>, producing numerous influential scientists, scholars, artists, and thinkers. The emergence in 1501 of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_dynasty" title="Safavid dynasty">Safavid dynasty</a>, which promoted the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelver" title="Twelver">Twelver</a> school of thought as the official religion, marked one of the most important turning points in Iranian and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_history" title="Muslim history" class="mw-redirect">Muslim history</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Andrew_J._Newman_2006-5">[5]</a><a href="#cite_note-savoryeiref-22">[22]</a><a href="#cite_note-islamic1600-23">[23]</a> It also culminated into tensions, which in 1514 led to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Chaldiran" title="Battle of Chaldiran">Battle of Chaldiran</a>. Starting in 1736 under <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nader_Shah" title="Nader Shah">Nader Shah</a>, Iran would once again reach high prominence, reaching its greatest territorial extent since the Sassanid Empire, and briefly possessing what was arguably the most powerful empire in the world.<a href="#cite_note-books.google.nl-24">[24]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Constitutional_Revolution" title="Persian Constitutional Revolution">Persian Constitutional Revolution</a> of 1906 established the nation's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majles" title="Majles" class="mw-redirect">first parliament</a>, which operated within a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy" title="Constitutional monarchy">constitutional monarchy</a>. Following a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" title="1953 Iranian coup d'état">coup d'état instigated by the UK and the US</a> in 1953, Iran gradually became autocratic. Growing dissent against foreign influence and political repression culminated in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution" title="Iranian Revolution">Iranian Revolution</a>, which led to the establishment of an <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_republic" title="Islamic republic">Islamic republic</a> on 1 April 1979.<a href="#cite_note-britannica1-16">[16]</a><a href="#cite_note-Britannica-25">[25]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a> is the capital and largest city, serving as the cultural, commercial, and industrial center of the nation. Iran is a major <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_power" title="Regional power">regional</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_power" title="Middle power">middle power</a>,<a href="#cite_note-parliament-26">[26]</a><a href="#cite_note-petro-hunt-27">[27]</a> exerting considerable influence in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_superpower#Iran" title="Energy superpower">international energy security</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)" title="List of countries by GDP (PPP)">world economy</a> through its large reserves of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuels" title="Fossil fuels" class="mw-redirect">fossil fuels</a>, which include the largest <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas_reserves_in_Iran" title="Natural gas reserves in Iran">natural gas supply</a> in the world and the 4th-largest proven <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves" title="Oil reserves">oil reserves</a>.<a href="#cite_note-wsjgas-28">[28]</a><a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a> It hosts Asia's 4th-largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.<a href="#cite_note-30">[30]</a> Iran is a founding member of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">UN</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement" title="Non-Aligned Movement">NAM</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">OIC</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC" title="OPEC">OPEC</a>. Its unique <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Iran" title="Politics of Iran">political system</a>, based on the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran">1979 constitution</a>, combines elements of a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliamentary_democracy" title="Parliamentary democracy" class="mw-redirect">parliamentary democracy</a> with a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theocracy" title="Theocracy">religious theocracy</a> run by the country's clergy, wherein the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran" title="Supreme Leader of Iran">Supreme Leader</a> wields significant influence. A <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demography_of_Iran" title="Demography of Iran" class="mw-redirect">multicultural nation</a> comprising numerous ethnic and linguistic groups, most inhabitants are <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam" title="Shia Islam">Shi'ites</a>, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_rial" title="Iranian rial">Iranian rial</a> is its currency, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a> is the official language.<a href="#cite_note-31">[31]</a> <div id="toc" class="toc"> <div id="toctitle"> <h2>Contents</h2> </div> <ul> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-1"><a href="#Etymology">1 Etymology</a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-2"><a href="#History">2 History</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-3"><a href="#Early_history_in_Iran">2.1 Early history in Iran</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-4"><a href="#Classical_Era">2.2 Classical Era</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-5"><a href="#Middle_Ages_.28652.E2.80.931501.29">2.3 Middle Ages (652–1501)</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-6"><a href="#Dynasties_.281501.E2.80.931979.29">2.4 Dynasties (1501–1979)</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-7"><a href="#After_the_Iranian_Revolution_.281979.E2.80.93.29">2.5 After the Iranian Revolution (1979–)</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-8"><a href="#Geography">3 Geography</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-9"><a href="#Climate">3.1 Climate</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-10"><a href="#Fauna">3.2 Fauna</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-11"><a href="#Regions.2C_provinces_and_cities">3.3 Regions, provinces and cities</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-12"><a href="#Government_and_politics">4 Government and politics</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-13"><a href="#Law">4.1 Law</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-14"><a href="#Foreign_relations">4.2 Foreign relations</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-15"><a href="#Military">4.3 Military</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-16"><a href="#Economy">5 Economy</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-17"><a href="#Tourism">5.1 Tourism</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-18"><a href="#Energy">5.2 Energy</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-19"><a href="#Education_and_science">5.3 Education and science</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-20"><a href="#Demographics">6 Demographics</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-21"><a href="#Languages">6.1 Languages</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-22"><a href="#Ethnic_groups">6.2 Ethnic groups</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-23"><a href="#Religion">6.3 Religion</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-24"><a href="#Culture">7 Culture</a> <ul> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-25"><a href="#Art">7.1 Art</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-26"><a href="#Architecture">7.2 Architecture</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-27"><a href="#Literature">7.3 Literature</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-28"><a href="#Philosophy">7.4 Philosophy</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-29"><a href="#Mythology">7.5 Mythology</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-30"><a href="#Observances">7.6 Observances</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-31"><a href="#Theater">7.7 Theater</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-32"><a href="#Music">7.8 Music</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-33"><a href="#Cinema_and_animation">7.9 Cinema and animation</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-34"><a href="#Cuisine">7.10 Cuisine</a></li> <li class="toclevel-2 tocsection-35"><a href="#Sports">7.11 Sports</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-36"><a href="#See_also">8 See also</a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-37"><a href="#Bibliography">9 Bibliography</a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-38"><a href="#References">10 References</a></li> <li class="toclevel-1 tocsection-39"><a href="#External_links">11 External links</a></li> </ul> </div> <h2>Etymology</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Name_of_Iran" title="Name of Iran">Name of Iran</a></div> The name of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_(word)" title="Iran (word)">Iran</a> (ایران) is the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Persian" title="Modern Persian" class="mw-redirect">Modern Persian</a> derivative from the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Iranian" title="Proto-Iranian" class="mw-redirect">Proto-Iranian</a> term Aryānā, meaning "Land of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan" title="Aryan">Aryans</a>", first attested in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a>'s <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avesta" title="Avesta">Avesta</a> tradition.<a href="#cite_note-hinduwebsite-32">[32]</a><a href="#cite_note-wiscper-33">[33]</a><a href="#cite_note-about.com-34">[34]</a><a href="#cite_note-Bailey_Arya-35">[35]</a> The term Ērān is found to refer to Iran in a 3rd-century <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" title="Sassanid Empire" class="mw-redirect">Sassanid</a> inscription, and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_language" title="Parthian language">Parthian</a> inscription that accompanies it uses the Parthian term "aryān" in reference to Iranians.<a href="#cite_note-MacKenzie-36">[36]</a> Historically Iran has been referred to as "Persia" or similar (La Perse, Persien, Perzië, etc.) by the Western world, mainly due to the writings of Greek historians who called Iran Persis (Περσίς), meaning land of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persians</a>. As the most extensive and close interaction the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greeks" title="Ancient Greeks" class="mw-redirect">Ancient Greeks</a> ever had with any outsider was that with the Persians, the term became coined forever, even long after the Persian rule in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greece" title="Ancient Greece">Ancient Greece</a> and beyond had ended and other dynasties were now ruling the regions. In 1935 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rez%C4%81_Sh%C4%81h" title="Rezā Shāh">Rezā Shāh</a> requested that the international community refer to the country as Iran. Opposition to the name change led to the reversal of the decision, and in 1959 both names were to be used interchangeably.<a href="#cite_note-37">[37]</a> Today both "Persia" and "Iran" are used interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, "Iran" is the name used officially in political contexts.<a href="#cite_note-artarena-38">[38]</a> The historical and cultural wider usage of "Iran" is not restricted to the modern state proper.<a href="#cite_note-39">[39]</a><a href="#cite_note-40">[40]</a><a href="#cite_note-41">[41]</a> Irānshahr<a href="#cite_note-42">[42]</a> or Irānzamīn (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran" title="Greater Iran">Greater Iran</a>)<a href="#cite_note-43">[43]</a> corresponded to territories of Iranian cultural or linguistic zones. Besides modern Iran, it included portions of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus">Caucasus</a>, Mesopotamia, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatolia" title="Anatolia">Anatolia</a>, and Central Asia.<a href="#cite_note-44">[44]</a> <h2>History</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran" title="History of Iran">History of Iran</a></div> <h3>Early history in Iran</h3> <div class="hatnote">Further information: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeological_sites_in_Iran" title="Archaeological sites in Iran">Archaeological sites in Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Elamite" title="Proto-Elamite">Proto-Elamite</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiroft_culture" title="Jiroft culture">Jiroft culture</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepe_Sialk" title="Tepe Sialk">Tepe Sialk</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahr-e_Sukhteh" title="Shahr-e Sukhteh">Shahr-e Sukhteh</a></div> The earliest archaeological artifacts in Iran, like those excavated at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashafrud" title="Kashafrud">Kashafrud</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganj_Par" title="Ganj Par">Ganj Par</a> sites, attest to a human presence in Iran since the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lower_Paleolithic" title="Lower Paleolithic">Lower Paleolithic</a> era.<a href="#cite_note-45">[45]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal" title="Neanderthal">Neanderthal</a> artifacts dating back to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Paleolithic" title="Middle Paleolithic">Middle Paleolithic</a> period have been found mainly in the Zagros region at sites such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warwasi" title="Warwasi">Warwasi</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yafteh" title="Yafteh">Yafteh</a> Cave.<a href="#cite_note-Museum-46">[46]</a><a href="#cite_note-47">[47]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">page needed</a>] Early agricultural communities such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chogha_Golan&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Chogha Golan (page does not exist)">Chogha Golan</a> in 10,000 BC<a href="#cite_note-48">[48]</a><a href="#cite_note-49">[49]</a> began to flourish in Iran along with settlements such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chogha_Bonut" title="Chogha Bonut">Chogha Bonut</a> in 8000 BC,<a href="#cite_note-50">[50]</a><a href="#cite_note-51">[51]</a> as well as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susa" title="Susa">Susa</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chogha_Mish" title="Chogha Mish">Chogha Mish</a> developing in and around the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagros_mountains" title="Zagros mountains" class="mw-redirect">Zagros</a> region.<a href="#cite_note-52">[52]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">page needed</a>]<a href="#cite_note-53">[53]</a><a href="#cite_note-xinhuaciv-54">[54]</a> The emergence of Susa as a city is determined by C14 dating as early as 4395 BC.<a href="#cite_note-55">[55]</a> There are dozens of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory" title="Prehistory">pre-historic</a> sites across the Iranian plateau pointing to the existence of ancient cultures and urban settlements in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4th_millennium_BC" title="4th millennium BC">4th millennium BC</a>E.<a href="#cite_note-xinhuaciv-54">[54]</a><a href="#cite_note-iran-daily-56">[56]</a><a href="#cite_note-iranian.ws-57">[57]</a> During the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_age" title="Bronze age" class="mw-redirect">Bronze age</a> Iran was home to several civilisations such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam" title="Elam">Elam</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiroft_civilisation" title="Jiroft civilisation" class="mw-redirect">Jiroft</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zayandeh_River_Culture" title="Zayandeh River Culture">Zayandeh Rud civilisations</a>. Elam, the most prominent of these civilisations developed in the southwest of Iran alongside those in Mesopotamia. The development of writing in Elam in 4th millennium BC paralleled that in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumer" title="Sumer">Sumer</a>.<a href="#cite_note-58">[58]</a> The Elamite kingdom continued its existence until the emergence of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes" title="Medes">Median</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empires</a>. <h3>Classical Era</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes" title="Medes">Medes</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empire</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire" title="Seleucid Empire">Seleucid Empire</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire" title="Parthian Empire">Parthian Empire</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" title="Sassanid Empire" class="mw-redirect">Sassanid Empire</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg/170px-Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg" width="170" height="227" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg/255px-Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg/340px-Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2448" data-file-height="3264"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Persepolis_24.11.2009_11-49-59.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Ruins of the Achaemenid palace of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis" title="Persepolis">Persepolis</a>, now a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO_World_Heritage_Site" title="UNESCO World Heritage Site" class="mw-redirect">UNESCO World Heritage Site</a><a href="#cite_note-59">[59]</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cylinder_Seal,_Achaemenid,_modern_impression_05.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg/220px-Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg" width="220" height="131" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg/330px-Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg/440px-Cylinder_Seal%2C_Achaemenid%2C_modern_impression_05.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1493" data-file-height="891"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cylinder_Seal,_Achaemenid,_modern_impression_05.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Modern impression of Achaemenid <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_seal" title="Cylinder seal">cylinder seal</a>, 5th century BC. A winged solar disc legitimises the Persian king who subdues two rampant Mesopotamian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamassu" title="Lamassu">lamassu</a> figures.</div> </div> </div> During the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_millennium_BC" title="2nd millennium BC">2nd millennium BC</a>E, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Iranian_peoples" title="Ancient Iranian peoples" class="mw-redirect">Proto-Iranian</a> tribes arrived in Iran from the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_steppes" title="Eurasian steppes" class="mw-redirect">Eurasian steppes</a>,<a href="#cite_note-60">[60]</a> rivaling the native settlers of the country.<a href="#cite_note-Panshin-61">[61]</a><a href="#cite_note-62">[62]</a> As <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_peoples" title="Iranian peoples">these tribes</a> dispersed into the wider area of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran" title="Greater Iran">Greater Iran</a> and beyond, the boundaries of modern Iran were dominated by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persian</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthia" title="Parthia">Parthian</a>, and Median tribes. From the late 10th to late 7th centuries BC, these Iranian peoples, together with the pre Iranian kingdoms, fell under the domination of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrian_Empire" title="Assyrian Empire" class="mw-redirect">Assyrian Empire</a>, based in northern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesopotamia" title="Mesopotamia">Mesopotamia</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Georges_Roux_-_Ancient_Iraq-63">[63]</a> Under king <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyaxares" title="Cyaxares">Cyaxares</a>, the Medes and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persians</a> entered into an alliance with Nabopolassar of Babylon, as well as the Scythians and the Cimmerians and together they attacked the Assyrian Empire. The civil war ravaged Assyrian Empire between 616 BC and 605 BC, thus freeing their respective peoples from three centuries of Assyrian rule.<a href="#cite_note-Georges_Roux_-_Ancient_Iraq-63">[63]</a> The unification of the Median tribes under <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deioces" title="Deioces">a single ruler</a> in 728 BC led to the creation of a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Median_empire" title="Median empire" class="mw-redirect">Median empire</a> which, by 612 BC, controlled the whole of Iran as well as eastern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anatolia" title="Anatolia">Anatolia</a>.<a href="#cite_note-64">[64]</a> In 550 BC, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyrus_the_Great" title="Cyrus the Great">Cyrus the Great</a> from the state of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anshan_(Persia)" title="Anshan (Persia)">Anshan</a> took over the Median empire, and founded the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_empire" title="Achaemenid empire" class="mw-redirect">Achaemenid empire</a> by unifying other city states. The conquest of Media was a result of what is called the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Revolt" title="Persian Revolt">Persian revolt</a>; the brouhaha was initially triggered by the actions of the Median ruler <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astyages" title="Astyages">Astyages</a> and quickly spread to other provinces as they allied with the Persians. Later conquests under Cyrus and his successors expanded the empire to include <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia" title="Lydia">Lydia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon" title="Babylon">Babylon</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">Egypt</a>, and the lands to the west of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indus_River" title="Indus River">Indus</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxus_River" title="Oxus River" class="mw-redirect">Oxus</a> rivers. At its greatest extent, the empire included the modern territories of Iran, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestine" title="Palestine">Palestine</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a>, all significant population centers of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egypt" title="Ancient Egypt">ancient Egypt</a> as far west as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrace" title="Thrace">Thrace</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macedonia_(region)" title="Macedonia (region)">Macedonia</a>, much of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea" title="Black Sea">Black Sea</a> coastal regions, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a>, much of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia">Central Asia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a>, northern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a>, and parts of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UAE" title="UAE" class="mw-redirect">UAE</a>, making it the first world empire.<a href="#cite_note-livius.org-65">[65]</a> Conflict on the western borders began with the famous <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Persian_Wars" title="Greco-Persian Wars">Greco-Persian Wars</a> which continued through the first half of the 5th century BC and ended with the Persian withdrawal from all of their European territories.<a href="#cite_note-66">[66]</a> The empire had a centralised, bureaucratic administration under the Emperor and a large professional army and civil services, inspiring similar developments in later empires.<a href="#cite_note-67">[67]</a> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png/220px-Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png" width="220" height="114" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png/330px-Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png/440px-Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png 2x" data-file-width="1676" data-file-height="869"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_achaemenid_empire_en.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Achaemenid Empire around the time of Darius the Great and Xerxes.</div> </div> </div> In 334 BC, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great" title="Alexander the Great">Alexander the Great</a> invaded the Achaemenid Empire, defeating the last Achaemenid Emperor <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darius_III" title="Darius III">Darius III</a> at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Issus" title="Battle of Issus">Battle of Issus</a> in 333 BC. Following the premature death of Alexander, Iran came under the control of Hellenistic <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire" title="Seleucid Empire">Seleucid Empire</a>. In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire" title="Parthian Empire">Parthian Empire</a> rose to become the main power in Iran and continued as a feudal monarchy for nearly five centuries until 224 CE, when it was succeeded by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_Empire" title="Sassanid Empire" class="mw-redirect">Sassanid Empire</a>.<a href="#cite_note-68">[68]</a> The Sassanids established an empire roughly within the frontiers achieved by the Achaemenids, with the capital at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ctesiphon" title="Ctesiphon">Ctesiphon</a>, Tisfoon, and were alongside the Byzantines the two most dominant powers in the world for nearly four centuries.<a href="#cite_note-69">[69]</a> Most of the period of the Parthian and Sassanid Empires were overshadowed by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman-Persian_Wars" title="Roman-Persian Wars" class="mw-redirect">Roman-Persian Wars</a>, which raged on their western borders for over 700 years. These wars exhausted both Romans and Sassanids, which arguably led to the defeat of both at the hands of the invading Muslim Arabs. <h3>Middle Ages (652–1501)</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Persia" title="Muslim conquest of Persia">Muslim conquest of Persia</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran#Medieval_Iran" title="History of Iran">Medieval Iran</a></div> The prolonged Byzantine-Persian wars, as well as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_of_the_Sassanid_Empire#Social_problems" title="Fall of the Sassanid Empire" class="mw-redirect">social conflict within the Empire</a> opened the way for an Arab invasion of Iran in the 7th century.<a href="#cite_note-70">[70]</a><a href="#cite_note-71">[71]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundeshapur" title="Gundeshapur">Gundeshapur</a> was the most important medical centre of the ancient world at the time of the Islamic conquest.<a href="#cite_note-rnfrye-72">[72]</a> Initially defeated by the Arab <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate" title="Rashidun Caliphate">Rashidun Caliphate</a>, Iran later came under the rule of their successors the Arab <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummayad_Caliphate" title="Ummayad Caliphate" class="mw-redirect">Ummayad</a> and Arab <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate" title="Abbasid Caliphate">Abbasid Caliphates</a>. The process of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamization_of_Iran" title="Islamization of Iran">conversion of Iranians</a> to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam" title="Islam">Islam</a> which followed was prolonged and gradual. Under the new Arab elite of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate" title="Rashidun Caliphate">Rashidun</a> and later Ummayad Caliphates Iranians, both Muslim (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mawali" title="Mawali">mawali</a>) and non-Muslim (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhimmi" title="Dhimmi">Dhimmi</a>), were discriminated against, being excluded from government and military, and having to pay a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jizya" title="Jizya">special tax</a>.<a href="#cite_note-73">[73]</a><a href="#cite_note-74">[74]</a> In 750 the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasids" title="Abbasids" class="mw-redirect">Abbasids</a> succeeded in overthrowing the Ummayad Caliphate, mainly due to the support from dissatisfied Iranian mawali.<a href="#cite_note-75">[75]</a> The mawali formed the majority of the rebel army, which was led by the Iranian general <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Muslim" title="Abu Muslim">Abu Muslim</a>.<a href="#cite_note-wsu-76">[76]</a><a href="#cite_note-77">[77]</a><a href="#cite_note-78">[78]</a> After two centuries of Arab rule semi-independent and independent Iranian kingdoms (such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahirids" title="Tahirids" class="mw-redirect">Tahirids</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffarids" title="Saffarids" class="mw-redirect">Saffarids</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanids" title="Samanids" class="mw-redirect">Samanids</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyids" title="Buyids" class="mw-redirect">Buyids</a>) began to appear on the fringes of the declining Abbasid Caliphate. By the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanid" title="Samanid" class="mw-redirect">Samanid</a> era in the 9th and 10th centuries Iran's efforts to regain its independence had been well solidified.<a href="#cite_note-79">[79]</a> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg/220px-Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg" width="220" height="369" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg/330px-Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg 2x" data-file-width="430" data-file-height="722"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Timur_defeats_the_sultan_of_Delhi.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_miniature" title="Persian miniature">Persian miniature</a> depicting <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur" title="Timur">Timur</a>'s campaign in India</div> </div> </div> The arrival of the Abbasid Caliphs saw a revival of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_culture" title="Persian culture" class="mw-redirect">Persian culture</a> and influence, and a move away from Arabic culture. The role of the old Arab aristocracy was slowly replaced by a Persian bureaucracy.<a href="#cite_note-AHGC-80">[80]</a> The blossoming <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_literature" title="Persian literature">Persian literature</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_philosophy" title="Iranian philosophy">philosophy</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Iran" title="Science and technology in Iran">medicine</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_art" title="Persian art" class="mw-redirect">art</a> became major elements in the forming of a Muslim civilization during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Golden_Age" title="Islamic Golden Age">Islamic Golden Age</a>.<a href="#cite_note-81">[81]</a><a href="#cite_note-82">[82]</a> The Islamic Golden Age reached its peak in the 10th and 11th centuries, during which Persia was the main theatre of scientific activity.<a href="#cite_note-rnfrye-72">[72]</a> After the 10th century, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a>, alongside <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a>, was used for scientific, philosophical, historical, mathematical, musical, and medical works, as important Iranian writers such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasir_al-Din_al-Tusi" title="Nasir al-Din al-Tusi">Nasir al-Din al-Tusi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicenna" title="Avicenna">Avicenna</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qotb_al-Din_Shirazi" title="Qotb al-Din Shirazi" class="mw-redirect">Qotb al-Din Shirazi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naser_Khusraw" title="Naser Khusraw" class="mw-redirect">Naser Khusraw</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biruni" title="Biruni" class="mw-redirect">Biruni</a> made contributions to Persian scientific writing. The cultural revival that began in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid" title="Abbasid" class="mw-redirect">Abbasid</a> period led to a resurfacing of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_nationalism" title="Iranian nationalism">Iranian national identity</a>, and so earlier attempts of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabization" title="Arabization">Arabization</a> never succeeded in Iran. The Iranian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuubiyah" title="Shuubiyah" class="mw-redirect">Shuubiyah</a> movement became a catalyst for Iranians to regain their independence in their relations with the Arab invaders.<a href="#cite_note-83">[83]</a> The most notable effect of the movement was the continuation of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian language</a> attested to the epic poet <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi" title="Ferdowsi">Ferdowsi</a>, now regarded as the most important figure in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_literature" title="Persian literature">Persian literature</a>. The 10th century saw a mass migration of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkic_tribes" title="Turkic tribes" class="mw-redirect">Turkic tribes</a> from <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia">Central Asia</a> into the Iranian plateau.<a href="#cite_note-thePersians-84">[84]</a> Turkic tribesmen were first used in the Abbasid army as slave-warriors (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamluks" title="Mamluks" class="mw-redirect">Mamluks</a>), replacing Persian and Arab elements within the army.<a href="#cite_note-wsu-76">[76]</a> As a result the Mamluks gained significant political power. In 999, large parts of Iran came briefly under the rule of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghaznavid_dynasty" title="Ghaznavid dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Ghaznavid dynasty</a>, whose rulers were of Mamluk Turk origin, and longer subsequently under the Turkish <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seljuk_Empire" title="Seljuk Empire">Seljuk</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwarezmian_Empire" title="Khwarezmian Empire" class="mw-redirect">Khwarezmian Empires</a>. These Turks had been fully <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persianisation" title="Persianisation" class="mw-redirect">Persianised</a> and had adopted Persian models of administration and rulership.<a href="#cite_note-thePersians-84">[84]</a> The result of the adoption and patronage of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_culture" title="Persian culture" class="mw-redirect">Persian culture</a> by Turkish rulers was the development of a distinct <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turko-Persian_tradition" title="Turko-Persian tradition">Turko-Persian tradition</a>. In 1219–21 the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwarezmian_Empire" title="Khwarezmian Empire" class="mw-redirect">Khwarezmian Empire</a> suffered a devastating <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invasion" title="Invasion">invasion</a> by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan" title="Genghis Khan">Genghis Khan</a>'s Mongol army. According to Steven R. Ward, "<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_conquests" title="Mongol conquests" class="mw-redirect">Mongol</a> violence and depredations killed up to three-fourths of the population of the Iranian Plateau, possibly 10 to 15 million people. Some historians have estimated that Iran's population did not again reach its pre-Mongol levels until the mid-20th century."<a href="#cite_note-Immortal-85">[85]</a> Following the fracture of the Mongol Empire in 1256 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulagu_Khan" title="Hulagu Khan">Hulagu Khan</a>, Genghis Khan's grandson, established the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkhanate" title="Ilkhanate">Ilkhanate</a> dynasty in Iran. In 1370 yet another conqueror, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur" title="Timur">Timur</a>, commonly known as Tamerlane in the West, followed <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulagu" title="Hulagu" class="mw-redirect">Hulagu</a>'s example, establishing the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timurid_Dynasty" title="Timurid Dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Timurid Dynasty</a> which lasted for another 156 years. In 1387, Timur ordered the complete massacre of Isfahan, reportedly killing 70,000 citizens.<a href="#cite_note-86">[86]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hulagu_Khan" title="Hulagu Khan">Hulagu</a>, Timur and their successors soon came to adopt the ways and customs of the Persians, choosing to surround themselves with a culture that was distinctively Persian.<a href="#cite_note-87">[87]</a> <h3>Dynasties (1501–1979)</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_Dynasty" title="Safavid Dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Safavid Dynasty</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afsharid_dynasty" title="Afsharid dynasty">Afsharid dynasty</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zand_dynasty" title="Zand dynasty">Zand dynasty</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_dynasty" title="Qajar dynasty">Qajar dynasty</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynasty" title="Pahlavi dynasty">Pahlavi dynasty</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shah_Ismail_I.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Shah_Ismail_I.jpg/170px-Shah_Ismail_I.jpg" width="170" height="218" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Shah_Ismail_I.jpg/255px-Shah_Ismail_I.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/Shah_Ismail_I.jpg/340px-Shah_Ismail_I.jpg 2x" data-file-width="776" data-file-height="993"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shah_Ismail_I.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Ismail_I" title="Shah Ismail I" class="mw-redirect">Shah Ismail I</a>, the founder of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_Dynasty" title="Safavid Dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Safavid Dynasty</a> (1501–1736)</div> </div> </div> At the start of the 1500s, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Ismail_I" title="Shah Ismail I" class="mw-redirect">Shah Ismail I</a> established the Safavid Dynasty in western Persia and Azerbaijan.<a href="#cite_note-thePersians-84">[84]</a> He subsequently extended his authority over all of Persia, and established intermittent Persian hegemony over vast nearby regions which would last for many centuries onwards. Ismail instigated a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_conversion_of_Iran_from_Sunnism_to_Shiism" title="Safavid conversion of Iran from Sunnism to Shiism" class="mw-redirect">forced conversion</a> from <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni" title="Sunni" class="mw-redirect">Sunni</a> to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi%27a_Islam" title="Shi'a Islam" class="mw-redirect">Shi'a Islam</a>.<a href="#cite_note-BBCReligion-88">[88]</a> The rivalry between Safavid Persia and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empire" title="Ottoman Empire">Ottoman Empire</a> led to numerous <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman%E2%80%93Persian_Wars" title="Ottoman–Persian Wars">Ottoman–Persian Wars</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Immortal-85">[85]</a> The Safavid era peaked in the reign of the brilliant soldier, statesman and administrator <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Abbas_I" title="Shah Abbas I" class="mw-redirect">Shah Abbas I</a> (1587–1629),<a href="#cite_note-islamic1600-23">[23]</a><a href="#cite_note-Immortal-85">[85]</a> surpassing their Ottoman arch rivals in strength, and making the empire a leading hub in Western Eurasia for the sciences and arts. The Safavid era also saw the start of the creation of new layers in Persian society, composed of hundreds of thousands of ethnic <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgians" title="Georgians">Georgians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians" title="Circassians">Circassians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians" title="Armenians">Armenians</a>, and other <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peoples_of_the_Caucasus" title="Peoples of the Caucasus">peoples of the Caucasus</a>. Following a slow decline in the late 1600s and early 1700s by internal strife, royal intrigues, continuous wars between them and their Ottoman arch rivals, and foreign interference (most notably by the Russians) the Safavid dynasty was ended by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotaki_dynasty" title="Hotaki dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Pashtun rebels</a> who besieged <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a> and defeated <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soltan_Hosein" title="Soltan Hosein" class="mw-redirect">Soltan Hosein</a> in 1722. <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nadir_Shah_at_the_sack_of_Delhi_-_Battle_scene_with_Nader_Shah_on_horseback,_possibly_by_Muhammad_Ali_ibn_Abd_al-Bayg_ign_Ali_Quli_Jabbadar,_mid-18th_century,_Museum_of_Fine_Arts,_Boston.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Nadir_Shah_at_the_sack_of_Delhi_-_Battle_scene_with_Nader_Shah_on_horseback%2C_possibly_by_Muhammad_Ali_ibn_Abd_al-Bayg_ign_Ali_Quli_Jabbadar%2C_mid-18th_century%2C_Museum_of_Fine_Arts%2C_Boston.jpg/170px-thumbnail.jpg" width="170" height="233" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Nadir_Shah_at_the_sack_of_Delhi_-_Battle_scene_with_Nader_Shah_on_horseback%2C_possibly_by_Muhammad_Ali_ibn_Abd_al-Bayg_ign_Ali_Quli_Jabbadar%2C_mid-18th_century%2C_Museum_of_Fine_Arts%2C_Boston.jpg/255px-thumbnail.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Nadir_Shah_at_the_sack_of_Delhi_-_Battle_scene_with_Nader_Shah_on_horseback%2C_possibly_by_Muhammad_Ali_ibn_Abd_al-Bayg_ign_Ali_Quli_Jabbadar%2C_mid-18th_century%2C_Museum_of_Fine_Arts%2C_Boston.jpg/340px-thumbnail.jpg 2x" data-file-width="898" data-file-height="1229"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nadir_Shah_at_the_sack_of_Delhi_-_Battle_scene_with_Nader_Shah_on_horseback,_possibly_by_Muhammad_Ali_ibn_Abd_al-Bayg_ign_Ali_Quli_Jabbadar,_mid-18th_century,_Museum_of_Fine_Arts,_Boston.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadir_Shah" title="Nadir Shah" class="mw-redirect">Nadir Shah</a> was the founder of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afsharid_dynasty" title="Afsharid dynasty">Afsharid dynasty</a>.<a href="#cite_note-89">[89]</a></div> </div> </div> In 1729, an Iranian Khorasan chieftain and military genius, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nader_Shah" title="Nader Shah">Nader Shah</a>, successfully drove out, then conquered the Pashtun invaders. During Nader Shah's reign, Iran reached its greatest extent since the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanian_Empire" title="Sassanian Empire" class="mw-redirect">Sassanian Empire</a>, reestablishing Persian hegemony over all of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus">Caucasus</a>, other major parts of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Asia" title="West Asia" class="mw-redirect">West Asia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia">Central Asia</a> and parts of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Asia" title="South Asia">South Asia</a>, and briefly possessing what was arguably the most powerful empire in the world.<a href="#cite_note-books.google.nl-24">[24]</a> In 1738-39, he <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Delhi" title="Sack of Delhi" class="mw-redirect">invaded India and sacked Delhi</a>, bringing great loot back to Persia. Nader Shah's assassination sparked a brief period of civil war and turmoil, after which <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karim_Khan" title="Karim Khan">Karim Khan</a> came to power in 1750, bringing a period of relative peace and prosperity.<a href="#cite_note-Immortal-85">[85]</a> Another civil war ensued after Karim Khan's death in 1779, out of which <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Khan_Qajar" title="Mohammad Khan Qajar">Aga Muhammad Khan</a> emerged victorious, founding the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar" title="Qajar" class="mw-redirect">Qajar Dynasty</a> in 1794. In 1795, following the disobedience of their <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgians" title="Georgians">Georgian</a> subjects and their alliance with the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians" title="Russians">Russians</a>, the Qajars <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Krtsanisi" title="Battle of Krtsanisi">sacked and ravaged Tblisi</a>, and drove the Russians out of the entire Caucasus, reestablishing Persian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzerainty" title="Suzerainty">suzerainty</a> over the region. However reestablishment of Persian control was short-lived, and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Persian_War_(1804%E2%80%9313)" title="Russo-Persian War (1804–13)">Russo-Persian War (1804–13)</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Persian_War_(1826%E2%80%9328)" title="Russo-Persian War (1826–28)">Russo-Persian War (1826–28)</a> resulted in large irrevocable territorial losses for Persia but substantial gains for the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire" title="Russian Empire">Russian Empire</a> which took over the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus">Caucasus</a> (modern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dagestan" title="Dagestan">Dagestan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_(country)" title="Georgia (country)">Georgia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a>) from Iran as a result of the treaties of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Gulistan" title="Treaty of Gulistan">Gulistan</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Turkmenchay" title="Treaty of Turkmenchay">Turkmenchay</a>.<a href="#cite_note-90">[90]</a> Apart from Agha Mohammad Khan rule, Qajar rule is characterised as a century of misrule.<a href="#cite_note-thePersians-84">[84]</a> Around 1.5 million people, or 20–25% of Persia's population, died as a result of the Great <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Persian_Famine_of_1870%E2%80%931871&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="Persian Famine of 1870–1871 (page does not exist)">Persian Famine of 1870–1871</a>.<a href="#cite_note-91">[91]</a> Whilst resisting efforts to be colonised, Iran lost lands in the 1800s as a result of Russian and British empire-building, known as '<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Game" title="The Great Game">The Great Game</a>', losing much of its territory in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Persian_Wars" title="Russo-Persian Wars">Russo-Persian</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Persian_War" title="Anglo-Persian War">Anglo-Persian Wars</a>. A series of protests took place in response to the sale of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concession_(contract)" title="Concession (contract)">concessions</a> to foreigners by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasser_al-Din_Shah" title="Nasser al-Din Shah" class="mw-redirect">Nasser al-Din Shah</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozaffar_ad-Din_Shah" title="Mozaffar ad-Din Shah" class="mw-redirect">Mozaffar ad-Din Shah</a> between 1872 and 1905, the last of which resulted in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Constitutional_Revolution" title="Iranian Constitutional Revolution" class="mw-redirect">Iranian Constitutional Revolution</a> and establishment of Iran's first <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majles" title="Majles" class="mw-redirect">national parliament</a> in 1906, which was abolished in 1908. The struggle continued until 1911, when Mohammad Ali was defeated and forced to abdicate. On the pretext of restoring order, the Russians occupied northern Iran in 1911. During <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I" title="World War I">World War I</a>, the British occupied much of western Iran, not fully withdrawing until 1921. <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mossadeghmohammad.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Mossadeghmohammad.jpg/170px-Mossadeghmohammad.jpg" width="170" height="218" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Mossadeghmohammad.jpg/255px-Mossadeghmohammad.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e9/Mossadeghmohammad.jpg 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="384"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mossadeghmohammad.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Mosaddegh" title="Mohammad Mosaddegh">Mohammad Mosaddegh</a>, democracy advocate and deposed <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Iran" title="Prime Minister of Iran">Prime Minister of Iran</a></div> </div> </div> In 1921, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Shah" title="Reza Shah" class="mw-redirect">Reza Khan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Iran" title="List of Prime Ministers of Iran">Prime Minister of Iran</a> and former general of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Cossack_Brigade" title="Persian Cossack Brigade">Persian Cossack Brigade</a>, overthrew the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_Dynasty" title="Qajar Dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Qajar Dynasty</a> and became <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah" title="Shah">Shah</a>. In 1941 he was forced to abdicate in favour of his son, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi" title="Mohammad Reza Pahlavi">Mohammad Reza Pahlavi</a>, after Iran came under British and Russian occupation following the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Soviet_invasion_of_Iran" title="Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran">Anglo-Soviet invasion</a> that established the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Corridor" title="Persian Corridor">Persian Corridor</a> and would last until 1946. <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg/220px-Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg" width="220" height="294" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg 2x" data-file-width="329" data-file-height="440"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mohammad_Pahlavi_Coronation.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the Imperial Family, Coronation of the Shah of Iran in 1967.</div> </div> </div> In 1951 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Mosaddegh" title="Mohammad Mosaddegh">Mohammad Mosaddegh</a> was elected <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Iran" title="Prime Minister of Iran">prime minister</a>. He became enormously popular in Iran after he <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalize" title="Nationalize" class="mw-redirect">nationalized</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry_in_Iran" title="Petroleum industry in Iran">Iran's petroleum industry</a> and oil reserves. He was deposed in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" title="1953 Iranian coup d'état">1953 Iranian coup d'état</a>, an Anglo-American covert operation that marked the first time the US had overthrown a foreign government during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War" title="Cold War">Cold War</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Kinzer2011-92">[92]</a> After the coup, the Shah became increasingly <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autocracy" title="Autocracy">autocratic</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultanism" title="Sultanism">Sultanistic</a>. Arbitrary arrests and torture by his secret police, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAVAK" title="SAVAK">SAVAK</a>, were used to crush all forms of political opposition. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayatollah" title="Ayatollah">Ayatollah</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhollah_Khomeini" title="Ruhollah Khomeini">Ruhollah Khomeini</a> became an active critic of the Shah's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Revolution" title="White Revolution">White Revolution</a> and publicly denounced the government. Khomeini was arrested and imprisoned for 18 months. After his release in 1964, Khomeini publicly criticized the United States government. The Shah sent him into exile. He went first to Turkey, then to Iraq and finally to France. Due to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_oil_crisis" title="1973 oil crisis">1973 spike in oil prices</a> Iran’s economy was flooded with foreign currency which caused <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inflation" title="Inflation">inflation</a>. By 1974 Iran’s economy was experiencing double digit inflation and despite many large projects to modernize the country corruption was rampant and caused <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Background_and_causes_of_the_Iranian_Revolution#1970.E2.80.931975" title="Background and causes of the Iranian Revolution">large amounts of waste</a>. By 1975 and 1976 an <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_recession" title="Economic recession" class="mw-redirect">economic recession</a> led to increased unemployment, especially among millions of young men who had migrated to Iran’s cities looking for construction jobs during the boom years of the early 1970s. By 1977 many of these men opposed the shah’s regime and began to organize and join protests against it.<a href="#cite_note-93">[93]</a> <h3>After the Iranian Revolution (1979–)</h3> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution" title="Iranian Revolution">Iranian Revolution</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="History of the Islamic Republic of Iran">History of the Islamic Republic of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg/170px-Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg" width="170" height="224" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg/255px-Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg/340px-Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg 2x" data-file-width="573" data-file-height="755"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Imam_Khomeini_in_Mehrabad.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayatollah_Khomeini" title="Ayatollah Khomeini" class="mw-redirect">Ayatollah Khomeini</a> returns to Iran after 14 years exile on 1 February 1979.</div> </div> </div> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution" title="Iranian Revolution">Iranian Revolution</a>, later known as the Islamic Revolution,<a href="#cite_note-94">[94]</a><a href="#cite_note-95">[95]</a><a href="#cite_note-96">[96]</a> began in January 1978 with the first major demonstrations against the Shah.<a href="#cite_note-97">[97]</a> After a year of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution#General_strike.2C_increasing_opposition.2C_and_military_government" title="Iranian Revolution">strikes</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution#Renewed_protests" title="Iranian Revolution">demonstrations</a> paralyzed the country and its economy <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution#The_Shah.27s_exile_and_Khomeini.27s_return" title="Iranian Revolution">the Shah fled the country and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returned</a> from exile to Tehran in February 1979.<a href="#cite_note-BBC_this_day-98">[98]</a> A new government was formed and in April 1979 Iran officially became an Islamic Republic, after its establishment was supported in a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Islamic_Republic_referendum,_March_1979" title="Iranian Islamic Republic referendum, March 1979">referendum</a>.<a href="#cite_note-britannica1-16">[16]</a><a href="#cite_note-Britannica-25">[25]</a> A second <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_constitutional_referendum,_December_1979" title="Iranian constitutional referendum, December 1979">referendum</a> in December 1979 approved a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran">theocratic constitution</a>.<a href="#cite_note-99">[99]</a> Almost immediately nationwide uprisings against the new regime began in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Kurdish_rebellion_in_Iran" title="1979 Kurdish rebellion in Iran">Iranian Kurdistan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Khuzestan_uprising" title="1979 Khuzestan uprising">Khuzestan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochistan" title="Balochistan">Balochistan</a> and other areas. Over the next several years these uprisings were subdued in a violent manner by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidation_of_the_Iranian_Revolution" title="Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution">the new Islamic government</a>. The new government went about <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidation_of_the_Iranian_Revolution#Suppression_of_opposition" title="Consolidation of the Iranian Revolution">purging itself of the non-Islamist political opposition</a> (e.g. although both nationalists and Marxists had initially joined with Islamists to overthrow the Shah, tens of thousands were executed by the Islamic regime afterward).<a href="#cite_note-Benard-100">[100]</a> On March 8, 1979, coinciding with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Women%27s_Day" title="International Women's Day">International Women's Day</a>, many Iranian women demonstrated against perceived reductions to the status and rights of women, especially with regard to family law and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hijab_by_country#Iran" title="Hijab by country">mandatory veiling</a>.<a href="#cite_note-isw206-101">[101]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Cultural_Revolution" title="Iranian Cultural Revolution">Iranian Cultural Revolution</a> began in 1980 and universities were closed by the theocratic regime. <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg/220px-Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg" width="220" height="154" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg/330px-Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg/440px-Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg 2x" data-file-width="735" data-file-height="515"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Resistance_of_Khorramshahr_6.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iranian soldiers in Khorramshahr during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War" title="Iran-Iraq War" class="mw-redirect">Iran-Iraq War</a>.</div> </div> </div> On 4 November 1979, a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_Student_Followers_of_the_Imam%27s_Line" title="Muslim Student Followers of the Imam's Line">group of Iranian students</a> seized the U.S. embassay and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis" title="Iran hostage crisis">took 52 US citizens and embassy personnel hostage</a><a href="#cite_note-carterpbs-102">[102]</a> after the US refused to return the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Reza_Pahlavi" title="Mohammad Reza Pahlavi">former Shah</a> to Iran to face trial and execution. Attempts by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter" title="Jimmy Carter">Jimmy Carter</a> administration to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis_negotiations" title="Iran hostage crisis negotiations">negotiate for the release of the hostages</a> and a failed <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw" title="Operation Eagle Claw">rescue attempt</a> helped force Carter out of office and brought <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan" title="Ronald Reagan">Ronald Reagan</a> to power. On Jimmy Carter's final day in office the last hostages were finally set free as a result of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algiers_Accords" title="Algiers Accords">Algiers Accords</a>. On 22 September 1980 the Iraqi army <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War#1980:_Iraqi_invasion" title="Iran-Iraq War" class="mw-redirect">invaded Iranian Khuzestan</a>, precipitating the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War" title="Iran–Iraq War">Iran–Iraq War</a>. Although Saddam Hussein's forces made several early advances, by 1982 the Iranian forces successfully managed to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran-Iraq_War#1982:_Iraqi_retreat.2C_Iranian_offensive" title="Iran-Iraq War" class="mw-redirect">drive the Iraqi army back</a> into Iraq. Despite receiving large amounts of foreign financial and military aid, all of Saddam's subsequent offensives were thrown back. The war continued until 1988, when Khomeini accepted a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_598" title="United Nations Security Council Resolution 598">truce mediated by the UN</a>. The total Iranian casualties in the war were estimated to be 123,220–160,000 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killed_in_action" title="Killed in action">KIA</a>, 60,711 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_in_action" title="Missing in action">MIA</a> and 11,000-16,000 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civilian_casualties" title="Civilian casualties">civilians killed</a>.<a href="#cite_note-103">[103]</a><a href="#cite_note-104">[104]</a> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg/220px-6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg" width="220" height="146" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg/330px-6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg/440px-6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2128" data-file-height="1416"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:6th_Day_-_Green_Condolence.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Silent demonstration during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Iranian_election_protests" title="2009–10 Iranian election protests" class="mw-redirect">2009–10 Iranian election protests</a>.</div> </div> </div> Following the Iran–Iraq War, President <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akbar_Hashemi_Rafsanjani" title="Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani">Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani</a> and his administration (1989-1997) concentrated on a pragmatic pro-business policy of rebuilding and strengthening the economy without making any dramatic break with the ideology of the revolution. Rafsanjani was succeeded by the moderate <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_reform_movement" title="Iranian reform movement">reformist</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Khatami" title="Mohammad Khatami">Mohammad Khatami</a> whose government (1997-2005) attempted, unsuccessfully, to make the country more free and democratic.<a href="#cite_note-autogenerated3-105">[105]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2005" title="Iranian presidential election, 2005">2005 presidential election</a> brought the conservative populist candidate, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad" title="Mahmoud Ahmadinejad">Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a>, to power.<a href="#cite_note-106">[106]</a> During the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2009" title="Iranian presidential election, 2009">2009 Iranian presidential election</a> the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Interior_(Iran)" title="Ministry of Interior (Iran)">Interior Ministry</a> announced incumbent president Ahmadinejad had won 62.63% of the vote, while <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mir-Hossein_Mousavi" title="Mir-Hossein Mousavi">Mir-Hossein Mousavi</a> had come in second place with 33.75%.<a href="#cite_note-107">[107]</a><a href="#cite_note-108">[108]</a> Allegations of large irregularities and fraud provoked the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_Iranian_presidential_election_protests" title="2009 Iranian presidential election protests">2009 Iranian presidential election protests</a> both within Iran and in major cites outside the country.<a href="#cite_note-109">[109]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Rouhani" title="Hassan Rouhani">Hassan Rouhani</a> was elected as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Iran" title="President of Iran">President of Iran</a> on 15 June 2013, defeating <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammad_Bagher_Ghalibaf" title="Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf">Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf</a> and four other candidates.<a href="#cite_note-BBCannouncedwinner-110">[110]</a><a href="#cite_note-WSJannouncedwinner-111">[111]</a> The electoral victory of new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has improved Iran's relations with other countries.<a href="#cite_note-112">[112]</a> <h2>Geography</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran" title="Geography of Iran">Geography of Iran</a></div> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Iran" title="Agriculture in Iran">Agriculture in Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Iran" title="Wildlife of Iran">Wildlife of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_topo_en.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Iran_topo_en.jpg/220px-Iran_topo_en.jpg" width="220" height="203" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Iran_topo_en.jpg/330px-Iran_topo_en.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/99/Iran_topo_en.jpg/440px-Iran_topo_en.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1400" data-file-height="1291"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_topo_en.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Topography of Iran</div> </div> </div> Iran is the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_area" title="List of countries and dependencies by area">18th largest country</a> in the world, with an area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi).<a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a> Its area roughly equals that of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany combined, or somewhat more than the US state of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska" title="Alaska">Alaska</a>.<a href="#cite_note-113">[113]</a> Iran lies between latitudes <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24th_parallel_north" title="24th parallel north">24°</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/40th_parallel_north" title="40th parallel north">40° N</a>, and longitudes <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/44th_meridian_east" title="44th meridian east">44°</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64th_meridian_east" title="64th meridian east">64° E</a>. Its borders are with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a> (611 km (380 mi)) (with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakhchivan_Autonomous_Republic" title="Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic">Azerbaijan-Naxcivan</a> exclave (179 km (111 mi) ))<a href="#cite_note-114">[114]</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a> (35 km (22 mi)) to the north-west; the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea" title="Caspian Sea">Caspian Sea</a> to the north; <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a> (992 km (616 mi)) to the north-east; <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a> (909 km (565 mi)) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a> (936 km (582 mi)) to the east; <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a> (499 km (310 mi)) and Iraq (1,458 km (906 mi)) to the west; and finally the waters of the Persian Gulf and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Oman" title="Gulf of Oman">Gulf of Oman</a> to the south. <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Damavand3.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Damavand3.jpg/220px-Damavand3.jpg" width="220" height="223" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/Damavand3.jpg/330px-Damavand3.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Damavand3.jpg 2x" data-file-width="355" data-file-height="360"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Damavand3.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Damavand" title="Mount Damavand">Mount Damavand</a>, Iran's highest point, is located in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amol_County" title="Amol County">Amol County</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazanderan" title="Mazanderan" class="mw-redirect">Mazanderan</a>.</div> </div> </div> Iran consists of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Plateau" title="Iranian Plateau">Iranian Plateau</a> with the exception of the coasts of the Caspian Sea and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestan_Province" title="Khuzestan Province">Khuzestan Province</a>. It is one of the world's most mountainous countries, its landscape dominated by rugged <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_range" title="Mountain range">mountain ranges</a> that separate various <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drainage_basin" title="Drainage basin">basins</a> or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plateau" title="Plateau">plateaux</a> from one another. The populous western part is the most mountainous, with ranges such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus_Mountains" title="Caucasus Mountains">Caucasus</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagros_Mountains" title="Zagros Mountains">Zagros</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborz" title="Alborz">Alborz</a> Mountains; the last contains Iran's highest point, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Damavand" title="Mount Damavand">Mount Damavand</a> at 5,610 m (18,406 ft), which is also the highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_Kush" title="Hindu Kush">Hindu Kush</a>.<a href="#cite_note-115">[115]</a> The northern part of Iran is covered by dense rain forests called <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Hyrcanian_mixed_forests" title="Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests">Shomal</a> or the Jungles of Iran. The eastern part consists mostly of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert" title="Desert">desert</a> basins such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasht-e_Kavir" title="Dasht-e Kavir">Dasht-e Kavir</a>, Iran's largest desert, in the north-central portion of the country, and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasht-e_Lut" title="Dasht-e Lut">Dasht-e Lut</a>, in the east, as well as some <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_lake" title="Salt lake">salt lakes</a>. This is because the mountain ranges are too high for rain clouds to reach these regions. The only large <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plain" title="Plain">plains</a> are found along the coast of the Caspian Sea and at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, where Iran borders the mouth of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatt_al-Arab" title="Shatt al-Arab">Arvand river</a>. Smaller, discontinuous plains are found along the remaining coast of the Persian Gulf, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strait_of_Hormuz" title="Strait of Hormuz">Strait of Hormuz</a> and the Gulf of Oman. <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-packed"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG/240px-Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG/360px-Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG/480px-Aerial_View_of_Damavand_26.11.2008_04-25-38.JPG 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1536"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> Aerial view of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Damavand" title="Mount Damavand">Mount Damavand</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Namarestagh.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Namarestagh.jpg/240px-Namarestagh.jpg" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Namarestagh.jpg/360px-Namarestagh.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Namarestagh.jpg/480px-Namarestagh.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3072" data-file-height="2304"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namarestagh" title="Namarestagh">Namarestagh</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 92px"> <div style="width: 92px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 90px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg/135px-Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg" width="90" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg/202px-Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg/270px-Badab-e_Surt_Samaee.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="3456"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badab-e_Surt" title="Badab-e Surt">Badab-e Surt</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LATON14.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/LATON14.jpg/240px-LATON14.jpg" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/LATON14.jpg/360px-LATON14.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/LATON14.jpg/480px-LATON14.jpg 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="600"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laton_Waterfall" title="Laton Waterfall">Laton Jungle</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilan" title="Gilan" class="mw-redirect">Gilan</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Haraz_river.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Haraz_river.jpg/270px-Haraz_river.jpg" width="180" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Haraz_river.jpg/405px-Haraz_river.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Haraz_river.jpg/540px-Haraz_river.jpg 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="500"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> Haraz River in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amol" title="Amol">Amol</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg/240px-Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg/360px-Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/40/Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg/480px-Bandar-e_Anzali_coast.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="768"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandar-e_Anzali" title="Bandar-e Anzali">Bandar-e Anzali</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 157.33333333333px"> <div style="width: 157.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 155.33333333333px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg/233px-Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg" width="156" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg/349px-Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg/466px-Sand_dunes_of_Maranjab_Desert_in_Kavir_National_Park.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1594" data-file-height="1232"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maranjab_Desert" title="Maranjab Desert">Maranjab Desert</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zayandehroud.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Zayandehroud.jpg/240px-Zayandehroud.jpg" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Zayandehroud.jpg/360px-Zayandehroud.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Zayandehroud.jpg/480px-Zayandehroud.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4000" data-file-height="3000"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zayanderud" title="Zayanderud">Zayanderud</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khajoo_Bridge" title="Khajoo Bridge" class="mw-redirect">Khajoo Bridge</a> over it in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan City</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kaluts,_Iran_(5072510138).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg/270px-Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg" width="180" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg/405px-Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg/540px-Kaluts%2C_Iran_%285072510138%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3888" data-file-height="2592"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dasht-e_Lut" title="Dasht-e Lut">Lut Desert</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 152px"> <div style="width: 152px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alvand1.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Alvand1.jpg/225px-Alvand1.jpg" width="150" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Alvand1.jpg/337px-Alvand1.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Alvand1.jpg/450px-Alvand1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1798" data-file-height="1439"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alvand" title="Alvand">Alvand</a> peak </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg/270px-Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg" width="180" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg/405px-Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg/540px-Oshtoran_kuhj.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5616" data-file-height="3744"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepiddasht" title="Sepiddasht">Sepiddasht</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorestan_Province" title="Lorestan Province">Lorestan Province</a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <h3>Climate</h3> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Iran" title="Environmental issues in Iran">Environmental issues in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Climate_maps_of_Iran_(K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger).png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png/220px-Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png" width="220" height="196" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png/330px-Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png/440px-Climate_maps_of_Iran_%28K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger%29.png 2x" data-file-width="2000" data-file-height="1785"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Climate_maps_of_Iran_(K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger).png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Climate map of Iran (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen-Geiger" title="Köppen-Geiger" class="mw-redirect">Köppen-Geiger</a>) <table style="width:100%;"> <tr> <td valign="top"> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_desert_climate" title="Hot desert climate" class="mw-redirect">Hot desert climate</a></div> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_desert_climate" title="Cold desert climate" class="mw-redirect">Cold desert climate</a></div> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_semi-arid_climate" title="Hot semi-arid climate" class="mw-redirect">Hot semi-arid climate</a></div> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_semi-arid_climate" title="Cold semi-arid climate" class="mw-redirect">Cold semi-arid climate</a></div> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot-summer_Mediterranean_climate" title="Hot-summer Mediterranean climate" class="mw-redirect">Hot-summer Mediterranean climate</a></div> <div class="legend">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_Mediterranean_climate" title="Continental Mediterranean climate" class="mw-redirect">Continental Mediterranean climate</a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </div> </div> Iran's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate" title="Climate">climate</a> ranges from <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_climate" title="Desert climate">arid</a> or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semiarid" title="Semiarid" class="mw-redirect">semiarid</a>, to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical" title="Subtropical" class="mw-redirect">subtropical</a> along the Caspian coast and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jungles_of_Iran" title="Jungles of Iran" class="mw-redirect">northern forests</a>. On the northern edge of the country (the Caspian coastal plain) temperatures rarely fall below freezing and the area remains humid for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 29 °C (84.2 °F).<a href="#cite_note-116">[116]</a><a href="#cite_note-simmons-117">[117]</a> Annual precipitation is 680 mm (26.8 in) in the eastern part of the plain and more than 1,700 mm (66.9 in) in the western part. United Nations Resident Coordinator for Iran Gary Lewis has said that "Water scarcity poses the most severe human security challenge in Iran today".<a href="#cite_note-118">[118]</a> To the west, settlements in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zagros_Mountains" title="Zagros Mountains">Zagros</a> basin experience lower temperatures, severe winters with below zero average daily temperatures and heavy snowfall. The eastern and central basins are arid, with less than 200 mm (7.9 in) of rain, and have occasional deserts.<a href="#cite_note-simmons-117">[117]</a> Average summer temperatures exceed 38 °C (100.4 °F). The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Oman" title="Gulf of Oman">Gulf of Oman</a> in southern Iran have mild winters, and very humid and hot summers. The annual precipitation ranges from 135 to 355 mm (5.3 to 14.0 in).<a href="#cite_note-simmons-117">[117]</a> <h3>Fauna</h3> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Iran" title="Wildlife of Iran">Wildlife of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg/220px-Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg" width="220" height="165" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg/330px-Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7d/Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg/440px-Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2592" data-file-height="1944"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Persian_Leopard_sitting.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Leopard" title="Persian Leopard" class="mw-redirect">Persian Leopard</a> is an <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_species" title="Endangered species">endangered species</a> living primarily in Iran.</div> </div> </div> Iran's wildlife is composed of several animal species including bears, gazelles, wild pigs, wolves, jackals, panthers, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_lynx" title="Eurasian lynx">Eurasian lynx</a>, and foxes. Domestic animals include, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep" title="Sheep">sheep</a>, goats, cattle, horses, water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. The pheasant, partridge, stork, eagles and falcon are also native to Iran. One of the most famous members of Iranian wildlife is the critically endangered <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Cheetah" title="Asiatic Cheetah" class="mw-redirect">Asiatic cheetah</a>, also known as the Iranian Cheetah, whose numbers were greatly reduced after the Iranian Revolution. Today there are ongoing efforts to increase its population and introduce it back in India. Iran had lost all its <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lion" title="Asiatic Lion" class="mw-redirect">Asiatic Lion</a> and the now extinct <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Tiger" title="Caspian Tiger" class="mw-redirect">Caspian Tigers</a> by the earlier part of the 20th century.<a href="#cite_note-119">[119]</a> <h3>Regions, provinces and cities</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Iran" title="Regions of Iran">Regions of Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Iran" title="Provinces of Iran">Provinces of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counties_of_Iran" title="Counties of Iran">Counties of Iran</a></div> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_cities_by_population" title="List of Iranian cities by population">List of Iranian cities by population</a></div> <div style="width: 450px; float: right; margin: none; padding: none; border: none; clear: right; background-color: #ffffff; position: relative;"> <div style="background-color: ;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG/450px-Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG" width="450" height="414" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG/675px-Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Blank-Map-Iran-With-Water-Bodies.PNG 2x" data-file-width="895" data-file-height="823"/></a></div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:129px;top:109px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborz_Province" title="Alborz Province">Alborz</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:73.2px;top:37.9px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardabil_Province" title="Ardabil Province">Ardabil</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:141.15px;top:308.8px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushehr_Province" title="Bushehr Province">Bushehr</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:106.95px;top:211.15px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaharmahal_and_Bakhtiari_Province" title="Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province">Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:157.8px;top:180.1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan_Province" title="Isfahan Province">Isfahan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:183.9px;top:288.1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fars_Province" title="Fars Province">Fars</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:102.9px;top:73px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilan_Province" title="Gilan Province">Gilan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:211.8px;top:82px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golestan_Province" title="Golestan Province">Golestan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:73.2px;top:131.95px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamadan_Province" title="Hamadan Province">Hamadan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:244.2px;top:343px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormozgan_Province" title="Hormozgan Province">Hormozgan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:42.15px;top:184.15px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilam_Province" title="Ilam Province">Ilam</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:273px;top:271px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerman_Province" title="Kerman Province">Kerman</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:5.25px;top:145.9px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermanshah_Province" title="Kermanshah Province">Kermanshah</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:71.85px;top:234.1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestan_Province" title="Khuzestan Province">Khuzestan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:102.9px;top:248.05px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohgiluyeh_and_Boyer-Ahmad_Province" title="Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province">Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:39px;top:113.95px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Province" title="Kurdistan Province">Kurdistan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:70.05px;top:177.85px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luristan_Province" title="Luristan Province" class="mw-redirect">Luristan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:103.8px;top:163.9px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markazi_Province" title="Markazi Province">Markazi</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:156px;top:99.1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazandaran_Province" title="Mazandaran Province">Mazandaran</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:102.45px;top:100px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qazvin_Province" title="Qazvin Province">Qazvin</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:139.8px;top:144.1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qom_Province" title="Qom Province">Qom</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:304.05px;top:109px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razavi_Khorasan_Province" title="Razavi Khorasan Province">Razavi Khorasan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:210px;top:125.2px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semnan_Province" title="Semnan Province">Semnan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:354.9px;top:325px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistan_and_Baluchestan_Province" title="Sistan and Baluchestan Province">Sistan and Baluchestan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:151.05px;top:119.8px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Province" title="Tehran Province">Tehran</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:224.85px;top:212.05px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazd_Province" title="Yazd Province">Yazd</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:75px;top:86.5px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanjan_Province" title="Zanjan Province">Zanjan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:264px;top:65.8px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Khorasan_Province" title="North Khorasan Province">North Khorasan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:313.95px;top:194.95px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Khorasan_Province" title="South Khorasan Province">South Khorasan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:11.1px;top:74.8px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Azerbaijan_Province" title="West Azerbaijan Province">West Azerbaijan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:33.15px;top:46.9px"> <center><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Azerbaijan_Province" title="East Azerbaijan Province" class="mw-redirect">East Azerbaijan</a></center> </div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:129px;top:37px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea" title="Caspian Sea">Caspian Sea</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:140.25px;top:374.5px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:354px;top:37px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:385.5px;top:172px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:399px;top:289px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:61.5px;top:1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:12px;top:1px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:-1.5px;top:14.5px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">T u r k e y</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:16.5px;top:217px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:39px;top:289px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a></div> </div> <div style="font-size: smaller; line-height: 10px;"> <div style="position:absolute;text-align:center;left:16.5px;top:352px"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></div> </div> </div> Iran is divided into five <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regions_of_Iran" title="Regions of Iran">regions</a> with thirty one <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Iran" title="Provinces of Iran">provinces</a> (ostān),<a href="#cite_note-120">[120]</a> each governed by an appointed governor (استاندار, ostāndār). The provinces are divided into counties (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counties_of_Iran" title="Counties of Iran">shahrestān</a>), and subdivided into districts (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakhsh" title="Bakhsh">bakhsh</a>) and sub-districts (dehestān). Iran has one of the highest urban growth rates in the world. From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of the population increased from 27% to 60%.<a href="#cite_note-payvand2-121">[121]</a> The United Nations predicts that by 2030, 80% of the population will be urban.<a href="#cite_note-sci.org.ir-122">[122]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">not in citation given</a>] Most internal migrants have settled near the cities of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahvaz" title="Ahvaz">Ahvaz</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qom" title="Qom">Qom</a>. The listed populations are from the 2006/07 (1385 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_calendars" title="Iranian calendars">AP</a>) census.<a href="#cite_note-123">[123]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability" title="Wikipedia:Verifiability">not in citation given</a>] Tehran, with a population of 7,705,036, is the largest city in Iran and is the capital. Tehran, like many big cities, suffers from severe <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran#Air_pollution" title="Tehran">air pollution</a>. It is the hub of the country's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Iran" title="Communications in Iran">communication</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Iran" title="Transport in Iran">transport</a> network. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad" title="Mashhad">Mashhad</a>, with a population of 2,410,800, is the second largest Iranian city and the centre of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razavi_Khorasan_Province" title="Razavi Khorasan Province">Razavi Khorasan Province</a>. Mashhad is one of the holiest <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia" title="Shia" class="mw-redirect">Shia</a> cities in the world as it is the site of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Reza_shrine" title="Imam Reza shrine">Imam Reza shrine</a>. It is the centre of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Iran" title="Tourism in Iran">tourism in Iran</a>, and between 15 and 20 million pilgrims go to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imam_Reza" title="Imam Reza" class="mw-redirect">Imam Reza</a>'s shrine every year.<a href="#cite_note-124">[124]</a><a href="#cite_note-125">[125]</a> Another major Iranian city is Isfahan (population 1,583,609), which is the capital of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan_Province" title="Isfahan Province">Isfahan Province</a>. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsh-e_Jahan_Square" title="Naqsh-e Jahan Square">Naqsh-e Jahan Square</a> in Isfahan has been designated by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a> as a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Site</a>. The city contains a wide variety of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture" title="Islamic architecture">Islamic architectural</a> sites ranging from the 11th to the 19th century. The growth of the suburban area around the city has turned Isfahan into Iran's second most populous metropolitan area (3,430,353).<a href="#cite_note-126">[126]</a> The fourth major city of Iran is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabriz" title="Tabriz">Tabriz</a> (population 1,378,935), the capital of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Azerbaijan_Province" title="East Azerbaijan Province" class="mw-redirect">East Azerbaijan Province</a>. It is also the second industrial city of Iran after Tehran. Tabriz had been the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s and one of its former capitals and residence of the crown prince under the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_dynasty" title="Qajar dynasty">Qajar dynasty</a>. The city has proven extremely influential in the country’s recent history. The fifth major city is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaj" title="Karaj">Karaj</a> (population 1,377,450), located in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborz_Province" title="Alborz Province">Alborz Province</a> and situated 20 km west of Tehran, at the foot of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborz" title="Alborz">Alborz</a> mountains; however, the city is increasingly becoming an extension of metropolitan Tehran. The sixth major Iranian city is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz" title="Shiraz">Shiraz</a> (population 1,214,808); it is the capital of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fars_Province" title="Fars Province">Fars Province</a>. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elamite" title="Elamite" class="mw-redirect">Elamite</a> civilization to the west greatly influenced the area, which soon came to be known as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persis" title="Persis" class="mw-redirect">Persis</a>. The ancient <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persians</a> were present in the region from about the 9th century BC, and became rulers of a large empire under the Achaemenid dynasty in the 6th century BC. The ruins of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis" title="Persepolis">Persepolis</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasargadae" title="Pasargadae">Pasargadae</a>, two of the four capitals of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empire</a>, are located in or near Shiraz. Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and is situated 70 kilometres (43 mi) northeast of modern Shiraz. UNESCO declared the citadel of Persepolis a World Heritage Site in 1979. <table style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 100%; border: 1px solid darkgray; background: #f9f9f9"> <tr> <th colspan="10" style="padding:0.3em 0.75em;"> <div style="float:right; width:6em; height:2.6em"> </div> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini" style="float: left;height:2.6em;"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Largest_cities_of_Iran" title="Template:Largest cities of Iran">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Largest_cities_of_Iran" title="Template talk:Largest cities of Iran">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Largest_cities_of_Iran&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="height:2.6em;line-height:1.3em;">Largest cities or towns in Iran Statistical Center of Iran: Results of national census, 2012<a href="#cite_note-127">[127]</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr> <th></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_cities_by_population" title="List of Iranian cities by population">Rank</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Iran" title="List of cities in Iran">Name</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Iran" title="Provinces of Iran">Province</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_cities_by_population" title="List of Iranian cities by population">Pop.</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_cities_by_population" title="List of Iranian cities by population">Rank</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Iran" title="List of cities in Iran">Name</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Iran" title="Provinces of Iran">Province</a></th> <th><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_cities_by_population" title="List of Iranian cities by population">Pop.</a></th> <th></th> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="11" style="text-align: center"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG" class="image" title="Tehran"><img alt="Tehran" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG/120px-Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG" width="120" height="82" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG/180px-Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3e/Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG/240px-Milad_Tower_At_Night.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1075" data-file-height="737"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ImamRezaHospital.JPG" class="image" title="Mashhad"><img alt="Mashhad" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/49/ImamRezaHospital.JPG/120px-ImamRezaHospital.JPG" width="120" height="96" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/49/ImamRezaHospital.JPG/180px-ImamRezaHospital.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/49/ImamRezaHospital.JPG/240px-ImamRezaHospital.JPG 2x" data-file-width="800" data-file-height="640"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad" title="Mashhad">Mashhad</a></td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">1</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Province" title="Tehran Province">Tehran</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">8,244,759</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">11</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urmia" title="Urmia">Urmia</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Azarbaijan_Province" title="West Azarbaijan Province" class="mw-redirect">West Azarbaijan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">680,228</td> <td rowspan="11" style="text-align: center"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg" class="image" title="Isfahan"><img alt="Isfahan" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg/120px-Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg" width="120" height="84" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg/180px-Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg/240px-Naghshe_Jahan_Square_Isfahan_modified.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2096" data-file-height="1470"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:4karaj.JPG" class="image" title="Karaj"><img alt="Karaj" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/4karaj.JPG/120px-4karaj.JPG" width="120" height="105" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/4karaj.JPG/180px-4karaj.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/4karaj.JPG/240px-4karaj.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1008" data-file-height="878"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaj" title="Karaj">Karaj</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">2</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad" title="Mashhad">Mashhad</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Razavi_Khorasan" title="Razavi Khorasan" class="mw-redirect">Razavi Khorasan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">2,772,287</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">12</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zahedan" title="Zahedan">Zahedan</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistan_and_Baluchestan_Province" title="Sistan and Baluchestan Province">Sistan and Baluchestan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">575,116</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">3</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan_Province" title="Isfahan Province">Isfahan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,978,168</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">13</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazd" title="Yazd">Yazd</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazd_Province" title="Yazd Province">Yazd</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">550,904</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">4</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaj" title="Karaj">Karaj</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alborz_Province" title="Alborz Province">Alborz</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,967,005</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">14</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamadan" title="Hamadan">Hamadan</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamadan_Province" title="Hamadan Province">Hamadan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">548,378</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">5</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz" title="Shiraz">Shiraz</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fars_Province" title="Fars Province">Fars</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,549,453</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">15</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arak,_Iran" title="Arak, Iran">Arak</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markazi_Province" title="Markazi Province">Markazi</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">536,572</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">6</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabriz" title="Tabriz">Tabriz</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Azarbaijan" title="East Azarbaijan" class="mw-redirect">East Azarbaijan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,545,491</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">16</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerman" title="Kerman">Kerman</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerman_Province" title="Kerman Province">Kerman</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">534,441</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">7</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahwaz" title="Ahwaz" class="mw-redirect">Ahwaz</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestan" title="Khuzestan" class="mw-redirect">Khuzestan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,133,003</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">17</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardabil" title="Ardabil">Ardabil</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ardabil_Province" title="Ardabil Province">Ardabil</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">485,153</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">8</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qom" title="Qom">Qom</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qom_Province" title="Qom Province">Qom</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">1,095,871</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">18</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandar_Abbas" title="Bandar Abbas">Bandar Abbas</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hormozgan_Province" title="Hormozgan Province">Hormozgan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">448,861</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">9</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermanshah" title="Kermanshah">Kermanshah</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kermanshah_Province" title="Kermanshah Province">Kermanshah</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">857,048</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">19</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eslamshahr" title="Eslamshahr">Eslamshahr</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Province" title="Tehran Province">Tehran</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">389,102</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">10</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rasht" title="Rasht">Rasht</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilan_Province" title="Gilan Province">Gilan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">698,014</td> <td style="text-align:center;background:#f0f0f0;">20</td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanjan,_Iran" title="Zanjan, Iran">Zanjan</a></td> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zanjan_Province" title="Zanjan Province">Zanjan</a></td> <td style="text-align:right;">388,796</td> </tr> </table> <div style="clear:both;"></div> <h2>Government and politics</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Iran" title="Politics of Iran">Politics of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg/220px-Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg" width="220" height="111" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg/330px-Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg/440px-Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3500" data-file-height="1766"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lula_Khamenei_Teer%C3%A3_2010.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khamenei" title="Ali Khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>, Supreme leader of Iran, talking with former Brazilian president <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luiz_In%C3%A1cio_Lula_da_Silva" title="Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva">Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_gov_power_structure.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Iran_gov_power_structure.svg/220px-Iran_gov_power_structure.svg.png" width="220" height="115" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Iran_gov_power_structure.svg/330px-Iran_gov_power_structure.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Iran_gov_power_structure.svg/440px-Iran_gov_power_structure.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="996" data-file-height="522"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_gov_power_structure.svg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iran's syncretic political system combines elements of a modern Islamic theocracy with democracy.</div> </div> </div> The political system of the Islamic Republic is based on the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran">1979 Constitution</a>, and comprises several intricately connected governing bodies. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran" title="Supreme Leader of Iran">The Leader of the Revolution</a> ("Supreme Leader") is responsible for <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardianship_of_the_Islamic_Jurists" title="Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists">delineation and supervision</a> of the general policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran.<a href="#cite_note-leader-128">[128]</a> The Supreme Leader is Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, controls the military intelligence and security operations; and has sole power to declare war or peace.<a href="#cite_note-leader-128">[128]</a> The heads of the judiciary, state radio and television networks, the commanders of the police and military forces and six of the twelve members of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_Council" title="Guardian Council">Guardian Council</a> are appointed by the Supreme Leader.<a href="#cite_note-leader-128">[128]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_Experts" title="Assembly of Experts">Assembly of Experts</a> elects and dismisses the Supreme Leader on the basis of qualifications and popular esteem.<a href="#cite_note-loc-129">[129]</a> After the Supreme Leader, the Constitution defines the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Iran" title="President of Iran">President of Iran</a> as the highest state authority.<a href="#cite_note-leader-128">[128]</a><a href="#cite_note-photius-130">[130]</a> The President is elected by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage" title="Universal suffrage">universal suffrage</a> for a term of four years and can only be re-elected for one term.<a href="#cite_note-photius-130">[130]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Disputed_statement" title="Wikipedia:Disputed statement" class="mw-redirect">dubious</a> – <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Iran#Presidential_Term_Limits" title="Talk:Iran">discuss</a>] Presidential candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council prior to running in order to ensure their allegiance to the ideals of the Islamic revolution.<a href="#cite_note-131">[131]</a> The President is responsible for the implementation of the Constitution and for the exercise of executive powers, except for matters directly related to the Supreme Leader, who has the final say in all matters.<a href="#cite_note-leader-128">[128]</a> The President appoints and supervises the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Minsters_of_Iran" title="Council of Minsters of Iran" class="mw-redirect">Council of Ministers</a>, coordinates government decisions, and selects government policies to be placed before the legislature.<a href="#cite_note-132">[132]</a> Eight Vice-Presidents serve under the President, as well as a cabinet of twenty-two ministers, who must all be approved by the legislature.<a href="#cite_note-133">[133]</a> The legislature of Iran (known in English as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Consultative_Assembly_(Iran)" title="Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iran)" class="mw-redirect">Islamic Consultative Assembly</a>) is a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unicameral" title="Unicameral" class="mw-redirect">unicameral</a> body.<a href="#cite_note-Majlis-134">[134]</a> The Majlis of Iran comprises 290 members elected for four-year terms.<a href="#cite_note-Majlis-134">[134]</a> The Majlis drafts legislation, ratifies international <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaties" title="Treaties" class="mw-redirect">treaties</a>, and approves the national budget. All Majlis candidates and all legislation from the assembly must be approved by the Guardian Council.<a href="#cite_note-135">[135]</a> The Guardian Council comprises twelve jurists including six appointed by the Supreme Leader. The others are elected by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majlis" title="Majlis">Parliament</a> from among the jurists nominated by the Head of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Iran" title="Judicial system of Iran">Judiciary</a>.<a href="#cite_note-autogenerated1-136">[136]</a><a href="#cite_note-137">[137]</a> The Council interprets the constitution and may veto Parliament. If a law is deemed incompatible with the constitution or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharia" title="Sharia">Sharia</a> (Islamic law), it is referred back to Parliament for revision.<a href="#cite_note-photius-130">[130]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expediency_Discernment_Council" title="Expediency Discernment Council">Expediency Council</a> has the authority to mediate disputes between Parliament and the Guardian Council, and serves as an advisory body to the Supreme Leader, making it one of the most powerful governing bodies in the country.<a href="#cite_note-138">[138]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_and_Village_Councils_of_Iran" title="City and Village Councils of Iran">Local city councils</a> are elected by public vote to four-year terms in all cities and villages of Iran. <h3>Law</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Iran" title="Judicial system of Iran">Judicial system of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Iran" title="Media of Iran">Media of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5a/Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg/220px-Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg" width="220" height="109" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5a/Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg/330px-Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5a/Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg/440px-Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2048" data-file-height="1012"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Parliament_of_Iran_2.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> The current building of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Consultative_Assembly" title="Islamic Consultative Assembly">The Iranian Parliament</a></div> </div> </div> The Supreme Leader appoints the head of Iran's judiciary, who in turn appoints the head of the Supreme Court and the chief public prosecutor.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> There are several types of courts including public courts that deal with civil and criminal cases, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Revolutionary_Court" title="Islamic Revolutionary Court">revolutionary courts</a> which deal with certain categories of offenses, including crimes against <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_security" title="National security">national security</a>. The decisions of the revolutionary courts are final and cannot be appealed.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> The Special Clerical Court handles crimes allegedly committed by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleric" title="Cleric" class="mw-redirect">clerics</a>, although it has also taken on cases involving <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lay_people" title="Lay people" class="mw-redirect">lay people</a>. The Special Clerical Court functions independently of the regular judicial framework and is accountable only to the Supreme Leader. The Court's rulings are final and cannot be appealed.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> The Assembly of Experts, which meets for one week annually, comprises 86 "virtuous and learned" clerics elected by adult suffrage for eight-year terms. As with the presidential and parliamentary elections, the Guardian Council determines candidates' eligibility.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> The Assembly elects the Supreme Leader and has the constitutional authority to remove the Supreme Leader from power at any time.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> It has not challenged any of the Supreme Leader's decisions.<a href="#cite_note-Judiciary-139">[139]</a> The state-owned <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunication_Company_of_Iran" title="Telecommunication Company of Iran">Telecommunication Company of Iran</a> handles telecommunications. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Iran" title="Media of Iran">media of Iran</a> is a mixture of private and state-owned, but books and movies must be approved by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Culture_and_Islamic_Guidance" title="Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance" class="mw-redirect">The ministry of Ershaad</a> before being released to the public. Iran originally received access to the internet in 1993, and it has become enormously popular among the Iranian youth. <h3>Foreign relations</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Iran" title="Foreign relations of Iran">Foreign relations of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_(1).jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg/220px-Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg" width="220" height="143" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg/330px-Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg/440px-Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_%281%29.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="780"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hassan_Rouhani_and_Vladimir_Putin_(1).jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iranian President <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hassan_Rouhani" title="Hassan Rouhani">Hassan Rouhani</a> meeting with Russian President <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin" title="Vladimir Putin">Vladimir Putin</a>. Iran and Russia are strategic allies,<a href="#cite_note-140">[140]</a><a href="#cite_note-141">[141]</a><a href="#cite_note-142">[142]</a> and form an axis in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus">Caucasus</a> alongside Armenia.</div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg/220px-Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg" width="220" height="146" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg/330px-Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg/440px-Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2347" data-file-height="1557"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Secretary_Kerry_greets_Iranian_Foreign_Miniser_Zarif.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iranian FM Zarif shakes hand with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kerry" title="John Kerry">John Kerry</a> during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_agreement_on_Iranian_nuclear_program" title="Comprehensive agreement on Iranian nuclear program">Iranian nuclear talks</a>. There is no formal diplomatic relationship between Iran and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USA" title="USA" class="mw-redirect">USA</a>.</div> </div> </div> The Iranian government's officially stated goal is to establish a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_world_order_(politics)" title="New world order (politics)">new world order</a> based on <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_peace" title="World peace">world peace</a>, global <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_security" title="Collective security">collective security</a> and justice<a href="#cite_note-143">[143]</a><a href="#cite_note-144">[144]</a> although the current <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran" title="Supreme Leader of Iran">Supreme Leader of Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Khamenei" title="Ali Khamenei">Ali Khamenei</a>, had stated that these terms should be understood in the context of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam" title="Shia Islam">Shia Islamic</a> belief system.<a href="#cite_note-145">[145]</a> Iran's foreign relations are based on two strategic principles: eliminating outside influences in the region and pursuing extensive diplomatic contacts with developing and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement" title="Non-Aligned Movement">non-aligned countries</a>.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] As of 2009 Iran maintained full diplomatic relations with 99 countries worldwide<a href="#cite_note-146">[146]</a> but not the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S." title="U.S." class="mw-redirect">U.S.</a> or <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a> (which Iran does not officially recognize).<a href="#cite_note-147">[147]</a> Iran is also a member of dozens of international organizations including the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_15" title="Group of 15">G-15</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_24" title="Group of 24">G-24</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_77" title="Group of 77">G-77</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IAEA" title="IAEA" class="mw-redirect">IAEA</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBRD" title="IBRD" class="mw-redirect">IBRD</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Development_Association" title="International Development Association">IDA</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Development_Bank" title="Islamic Development Bank">IDB</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Finance_Corporation" title="International Finance Corporation">IFC</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Labour_Organization" title="International Labour Organization">ILO</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Monetary_Fund" title="International Monetary Fund">IMF</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Maritime_Organization" title="International Maritime Organization">International Maritime Organization</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interpol_(organization)" title="Interpol (organization)" class="mw-redirect">Interpol</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">OIC</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC" title="OPEC">OPEC</a>,<a href="#cite_note-rubin80-148">[148]</a> the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization" title="World Health Organization">WHO</a>, and currently has observer status at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organization" title="World Trade Organization">World Trade Organization</a>. Since 2005, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran" title="Nuclear program of Iran">Iran's nuclear program</a> has become the subject of contention with the international community. Many countries have expressed concern that <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran" title="Nuclear program of Iran">Iran's nuclear program</a> could divert civilian nuclear technology into a weapons program. This has led the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UN_Security_Council" title="UN Security Council" class="mw-redirect">UN Security Council</a> to impose <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctions_against_Iran" title="Sanctions against Iran">sanctions against Iran</a> which has further isolated Iran politically, economically and socially from the rest of the global community. Following the departure of Iranian President <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahmoud_Ahmadinejad" title="Mahmoud Ahmadinejad">Mahmoud Ahmadinejad</a> from power the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva_interim_agreement_on_the_Iranian_nuclear_program" title="Geneva interim agreement on the Iranian nuclear program">2013 Geneva Agreement</a> was signed and provided for a temporary lifting of some sanctions but as of September 2014 a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comprehensive_agreement_on_Iranian_nuclear_program" title="Comprehensive agreement on Iranian nuclear program">comprehensive agreement</a> is still being negotiated. <h3>Military</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_industry_of_Iran" title="Defense industry of Iran">Defense industry of Iran</a></div> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Iran" title="Military history of Iran">Military history of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_equipment_manufactured_in_Iran" title="List of military equipment manufactured in Iran">List of military equipment manufactured in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fotros_drone.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Fotros_drone.jpg/220px-Fotros_drone.jpg" width="220" height="147" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Fotros_drone.jpg/330px-Fotros_drone.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/18/Fotros_drone.jpg/440px-Fotros_drone.jpg 2x" data-file-width="512" data-file-height="342"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fotros_drone.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fotros_(UCAV)" title="Fotros (UCAV)" class="mw-redirect">Fotros (UCAV)</a> is considered the largest in Iran's arsenal of unmanned aerial vehicles. Iran has made several <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle" title="Unmanned aerial vehicle">UAVs</a> indigenously</div> </div> </div> The Islamic Republic of Iran has two types of armed forces: the regular forces <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Army">Islamic Republic of Iran Army</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force">Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Navy">Islamic Republic of Iran Navy</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Army_of_the_Guardians_of_the_Islamic_Revolution" title="Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution">Revolutionary Guards</a>, totaling about 545,000 active troops. Iran also has around 350,000 Reserve Force totaling around 900,000 trained troops.<a href="#cite_note-149">[149]</a> Iran has a paramilitary, volunteer militia force within the IRGC, called the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basij" title="Basij">Basij</a>, which includes about 90,000 full-time, active-duty uniformed members. Up to 11 million men and women are members of the Basij who could potentially be called up for service; GlobalSecurity.org estimates Iran could mobilize "up to one million men". This would be among the largest troop mobilizations in the world.<a href="#cite_note-150">[150]</a> In 2007, Iran's military spending represented 2.6% of the GDP or $102 per capita, the lowest figure of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a> nations.<a href="#cite_note-151">[151]</a> Iran's military doctrine is based on <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deterrence_theory" title="Deterrence theory">deterrence</a>.<a href="#cite_note-152">[152]</a> Since the Iranian Revolution, to overcome foreign embargo, Iran has developed its own military industry, produced its own <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanks" title="Tanks" class="mw-redirect">tanks</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armored_personnel_carriers" title="Armored personnel carriers" class="mw-redirect">armored personnel carriers</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guided_missile" title="Guided missile" class="mw-redirect">guided missiles</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine" title="Submarine">submarines</a>, military vessels, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_destroyer_Jamaran" title="Iranian destroyer Jamaran" class="mw-redirect">guided missile destroyer</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar" title="Radar">radar</a> systems, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopters" title="Helicopters" class="mw-redirect">helicopters</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighter_planes" title="Fighter planes" class="mw-redirect">fighter planes</a>.<a href="#cite_note-153">[153]</a><a href="#cite_note-154">[154]</a><a href="#cite_note-155">[155]</a> In recent years, official announcements have highlighted the development of weapons such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoot_(missile)" title="Hoot (missile)">Hoot</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kowsar" title="Kowsar">Kowsar</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zelzal" title="Zelzal">Zelzal</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fateh-110" title="Fateh-110">Fateh-110</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahab-3" title="Shahab-3">Shahab-3</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejjil" title="Sejjil">Sejjil</a> missiles, and a variety of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unmanned_aerial_vehicles" title="Unmanned aerial vehicles" class="mw-redirect">unmanned aerial vehicles</a> (UAVs).<a href="#cite_note-156">[156]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fajr-3_(MIRV)" title="Fajr-3 (MIRV)" class="mw-redirect">Fajr-3 (MIRV)</a> is currently Iran's most advanced <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballistic_missile" title="Ballistic missile">ballistic missile</a>, it is a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_fuel" title="Liquid fuel">liquid fuel</a> missile with an undisclosed range which was developed and produced domestically. <h2>Economy</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iran" title="Economy of Iran">Economy of Iran</a></div> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_subsidy_reform_plan" title="Iranian subsidy reform plan">Iranian subsidy reform plan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Stock_Exchange" title="Tehran Stock Exchange">Tehran Stock Exchange</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Iran" title="Transport in Iran">Transport in Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Iran" title="Communications in Iran">Communications in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg/220px-Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg" width="220" height="293" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg/330px-Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg/440px-Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2448" data-file-height="3264"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Markazi_bank_Tehran.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_Iran" title="Central Bank of Iran" class="mw-redirect">Central Bank of Iran</a></div> </div> </div> Iran's economy is a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixed_economy" title="Mixed economy">mixture</a> of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_economy" title="Planned economy">central planning</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_ownership" title="State ownership">state ownership</a> of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures.<a href="#cite_note-157">[157]</a> In 2011 GDP was $482.4 billion ($1.003 trillion at PPP), or $13,200 at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purchasing_power_parity" title="Purchasing power parity">PPP</a> per capita.<a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a> Iran is ranked as an upper-middle income economy by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Bank" title="World Bank">World Bank</a>.<a href="#cite_note-158">[158]</a> In the early 21st century the service sector contributed the largest percentage of the GDP, followed by industry (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Iran" title="Mining in Iran">mining</a> and manufacturing) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_of_Iran" title="Agriculture of Iran" class="mw-redirect">agriculture</a>.<a href="#cite_note-159">[159]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran</a> is responsible for developing and maintaining the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_rial" title="Iranian rial">Iranian rial</a>, which serves as the country's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Currency" title="Currency">currency</a>. The government doesn't recognize <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_trade_unions#Iran" title="List of trade unions">trade unions</a> other than the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Labour_Council" title="Islamic Labour Council" class="mw-redirect">Islamic Labour Councils</a>, which are subject to the approval of employers and the security services.<a href="#cite_note-ayatoil-160">[160]</a> The minimum wage in June 2013 was 487 million rials a month ($134).<a href="#cite_note-irannum-161">[161]</a> Unemployment has remained above 10% since 1997, and the unemployment rate for women is almost double that of the men.<a href="#cite_note-irannum-161">[161]</a> In 2006, about 45% of the government's budget came from oil and natural gas revenues, and 31% came from taxes and fees.<a href="#cite_note-payvand.com-162">[162]</a> As of 2007, Iran had earned $70 billion in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_exchange_reserves" title="Foreign exchange reserves" class="mw-redirect">foreign exchange reserves</a> mostly (80%) from crude oil exports.<a href="#cite_note-163">[163]</a> Iranian budget <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deficits" title="Deficits" class="mw-redirect">deficits</a> have been a chronic problem, mostly due to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Economic_Reform_Plan#Subsidy_reform_plan" title="Iranian Economic Reform Plan" class="mw-redirect">large-scale state subsidies</a>, that include foodstuffs and especially gasoline, totaling more than $84 billion in 2008 for the energy sector alone.<a href="#cite_note-164">[164]</a><a href="#cite_note-165">[165]</a> In 2010, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Economic_Reform_Plan#Subsidy_reform_plan" title="Iranian Economic Reform Plan" class="mw-redirect">economic reform plan</a> was approved by parliament to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_subsidy_reform_plan" title="Iranian subsidy reform plan">cut subsidies</a> gradually and replace them with targeted social assistance. The objective is to move towards <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_market" title="Free market">free market</a> prices in a 5-year period and increase productivity and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_justice" title="Social justice">social justice</a>.<a href="#cite_note-166">[166]</a> The administration continues to follow the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Economic_Reform_Plan" title="Iranian Economic Reform Plan" class="mw-redirect">market reform plans</a> of the previous one and indicated that it will diversify Iran's oil-reliant economy. Iran has also developed a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_Iran#Biotechnology" title="Science in Iran" class="mw-redirect">biotechnology</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_in_Iran#Nanotechnology" title="Science in Iran" class="mw-redirect">nanotechnology</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Iran#Pharmaceuticals" title="Health care in Iran">pharmaceuticals</a> industry.<a href="#cite_note-167">[167]</a> However, nationalized industries such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonyad" title="Bonyad">bonyads</a> have often been managed badly, making them ineffective and uncompetitive with years. Currently, the government is trying to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization_in_Iran" title="Privatization in Iran">privatize these industries</a>, and, despite successes, there are still several problems to be overcome, such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Iran" title="Corruption in Iran">lagging corruption in the public sector</a> and lack of competitiveness. In 2010, Iran was ranked 69, out of 139 nations, in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Competitiveness_Report" title="Global Competitiveness Report">Global Competitiveness Report</a>.<a href="#cite_note-WEF-168">[168]</a> Iran has leading manufacturing industries in the fields of car-manufacture and transportation, construction materials, home appliances, food and agricultural goods, armaments, pharmaceuticals, information technology, power and petrochemicals in the Middle East.<a href="#cite_note-Economy-169">[169]</a> Economic <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanctions_against_Iran" title="Sanctions against Iran">sanctions against Iran</a>, such as the embargo against Iranian crude oil, have affected the economy.<a href="#cite_note-everend-170">[170]</a> Sanctions have led to a steep fall in the value of the rial, and as of April 2013 one US dollar is worth 36,000 rial, compared with 16,000 in early 2012.<a href="#cite_note-171">[171]</a> <h3>Tourism</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Iran" title="Tourism in Iran">Tourism in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg/220px-Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg" width="220" height="145" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg/330px-Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg/440px-Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2046" data-file-height="1347"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iranair_b747-200_ep-iah_arp.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air" title="Iran Air">Iran Air</a> is Iran's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_carrier" title="Flag carrier">flag carrier</a> airline.</div> </div> </div> Although tourism declined significantly during the war with Iraq, it has subsequently recovered. About 1,659,000 foreign tourists visited Iran in 2004 and 2.3 million in 2009 mostly from Asian countries, including the republics of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia" title="Central Asia">Central Asia</a>, while about 10% came from the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Union" title="European Union">European Union</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America" title="North America">North America</a>.<a href="#cite_note-Encarta:_Iran.27s_entry-172">[172]</a><a href="#cite_note-Tourism-173">[173]</a><a href="#cite_note-presstvtour-174">[174]</a> The most popular tourist destinations are <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad" title="Mashhad">Mashhad</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz" title="Shiraz">Shiraz</a>.<a href="#cite_note-175">[175]</a> In the early 2000s the industry faced serious limitations in infrastructure, communications, industry standards and personnel training.<a href="#cite_note-LOC7-176">[176]</a> The majority of the 300,000 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_visa" title="Tourist visa" class="mw-redirect">tourist visas</a> granted in 2003 were obtained by Asian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslims" title="Muslims" class="mw-redirect">Muslims</a>, who presumably intended to visit important <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilgrimage" title="Pilgrimage">pilgrimage</a> sites in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mashhad" title="Mashhad">Mashhad</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qom" title="Qom">Qom</a>.<a href="#cite_note-presstvtour-174">[174]</a> Several organized tours from Germany, France and other European countries come to Iran annually to visit archaeological sites and monuments. In 2003 Iran ranked 68th in tourism revenues worldwide.<a href="#cite_note-IRNA5-177">[177]</a> According to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a> and the deputy head of research for <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_Heritage,_Handcrafts_and_Tourism_Organization" title="Cultural Heritage, Handcrafts and Tourism Organization">Iran Travel and Tourism Organization (ITTO)</a>, Iran is rated among the "10 most touristic countries in the world".<a href="#cite_note-IRNA5-177">[177]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domestic_tourism" title="Domestic tourism">Domestic tourism</a> in Iran is one of the largest in the world.<a href="#cite_note-Tourism-173">[173]</a><a href="#cite_note-BYI-178">[178]</a><a href="#cite_note-179">[179]</a> Weak advertising, unstable regional conditions, a poor public image in some parts of the world, and absence of efficient planning schemes in the tourism sector have all hindered the growth of tourism. <h3>Energy</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Iran" title="Energy in Iran">Energy in Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry_in_Iran" title="Petroleum industry in Iran">Petroleum industry in Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran" title="Nuclear program of Iran">Nuclear program of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_direct_investment_in_Iran" title="Foreign direct investment in Iran">Foreign direct investment in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg/220px-CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg" width="220" height="226" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg/330px-CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg/440px-CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg 2x" data-file-width="687" data-file-height="705"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CIAIranKarteOelGas.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iran holds 10% of the world's proven <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves" title="Oil reserves">oil reserves</a> and 15% of its gas. It is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC" title="OPEC">OPEC</a>'s second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer.</div> </div> </div> Iran has the largest proved <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas_reserves_in_Iran" title="Natural gas reserves in Iran">gas reserves</a> in the world, with 33.6 trillion <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_metres" title="Cubic metres" class="mw-redirect">cubic metres</a>.<a href="#cite_note-wsjgas-28">[28]</a> It also ranks fourth in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Iran" title="Oil reserves in Iran">oil reserves</a> with an estimated 153,600,000,000 barrels.<a href="#cite_note-180">[180]</a><a href="#cite_note-181">[181]</a> It is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC" title="OPEC">OPEC</a>'s 2nd largest oil exporter and is an <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_superpower#Iran" title="Energy superpower">energy superpower</a>.<a href="#cite_note-182">[182]</a><a href="#cite_note-183">[183]</a> In 2005, Iran spent US$4 billion on fuel imports, because of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuggling_in_Iran" title="Smuggling in Iran" class="mw-redirect">contraband</a> and inefficient domestic use.<a href="#cite_note-184">[184]</a> Oil industry output averaged 4 million barrels per day (640,000 m3/d) in 2005, compared with the peak of six million barrels per day reached in 1974. In the early years of the 2000s (decade), industry infrastructure was increasingly inefficient because of technological lags. Few exploratory <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_well" title="Oil well">wells</a> were drilled in 2005. In 2004, a large share of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas_reserves_in_Iran" title="Natural gas reserves in Iran">natural gas reserves in Iran</a> were untapped. The addition of new <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroelectric" title="Hydroelectric" class="mw-redirect">hydroelectric</a> stations and the streamlining of conventional coal and oil-fired stations increased installed capacity to 33,000 megawatts. Of that amount, about 75% was based on natural gas, 18% on oil, and 7% on hydroelectric power. In 2004, Iran opened its first wind-powered and geothermal plants, and the first <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_power" title="Solar power">solar</a> thermal plant is to come online in 2009. Iran is the third country in the world to have developed <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_to_liquid" title="Gas to liquid" class="mw-redirect">GTL</a> technology.<a href="#cite_note-185">[185]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Demographic</a> trends and intensified industrialization have caused <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_power" title="Electric power">electric power</a> demand to grow by 8% per year. The government’s goal of 53,000 megawatts of installed capacity by 2010 is to be reached by bringing on line <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_power_stations_in_Iran" title="List of power stations in Iran">new gas-fired plants</a> and by adding hydroelectric, and nuclear power generating capacity. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushehr_Nuclear_Power_Plant" title="Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant">Iran’s first nuclear power plant</a> at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushehr" title="Bushehr">Bushehr</a> went online in 2011. It is the second <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_Power_Plant" title="Nuclear Power Plant" class="mw-redirect">Nuclear Power Plant</a> that ever built in the Middle East after <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metsamor_Nuclear_Power_Plant" title="Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant">Metsamor Nuclear Power Plant</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia">Armenia</a>.<a href="#cite_note-nuclear-186">[186]</a><a href="#cite_note-187">[187]</a> <h3>Education and science</h3> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg/220px-Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg" width="220" height="202" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg/330px-Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg/440px-Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1061" data-file-height="972"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Astrolabe-Persian-18C.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> An 18th century Persian astrolabe</div> </div> </div> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Iran" title="Education in Iran">Education in Iran</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_Iran" title="Higher education in Iran">Higher education in Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Iran" title="Science and technology in Iran">Science and technology in Iran</a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Iran" title="Education in Iran">Education in Iran</a> is highly centralized. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-12_education" title="K-12 education" class="mw-redirect">K-12 education</a> is supervised by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Education_(Iran)" title="Ministry of Education (Iran)">Ministry of Education</a> and higher education is under supervision of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Science,_Research_and_Technology" title="Ministry of Science, Research and Technology" class="mw-redirect">Ministry of Science and Technology</a>. The adult literacy rate in 2008 was 85.0%, up from 36.5% in 1976.<a href="#cite_note-unescolit-188">[188]</a> The requirement to enter into higher education is to have a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_school_diploma" title="High school diploma">high school diploma</a> and pass the national university entrance examination, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_University_Entrance_Exam" title="Iranian University Entrance Exam">Iranian University Entrance Exam</a> (Konkur), which is the equivalent of the US <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAT" title="SAT">SAT</a> exams. Many students do a 1-2 year pre-university course known as Peeshdaneshgahe, which is the equivalent of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of_Education" title="General Certificate of Education">GCE</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-levels" title="A-levels" class="mw-redirect">A-levels</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Baccalaureate" title="International Baccalaureate">International Baccalaureate</a>. The completion of the pre-university course earns students the Pre-University Certificate.<a href="#cite_note-189">[189]</a> Iran is the only country in the Middle East with a high school course equivalent to the A-levels, SAT and International Baccalaureate. Higher education is sanctioned by different levels of diplomas: Fogh-e-Diplom or Kārdāni after 2 years of higher education, Kārshenāsi (also known under the name “licence”) is delivered after 4 years of higher education (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor%27s_degree" title="Bachelor's degree">Bachelor's degree</a>). Kārshenāsi-ye Arshad is delivered after 2 more years of study (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master%27s_degree" title="Master's degree">Master's degree</a>). After which, another exam allows the candidate to pursue a doctoral program (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PhD" title="PhD" class="mw-redirect">PhD</a>).<a href="#cite_note-wes.org-190">[190]</a> According to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webometrics_Ranking_of_World_Universities" title="Webometrics Ranking of World Universities">Webometrics Ranking of World Universities</a>, the top-ranking universities in the country are the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tehran" title="University of Tehran">University of Tehran</a> (468th worldwide), the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_University_of_Medical_Sciences" title="Tehran University of Medical Sciences">Tehran University of Medical Sciences</a> (612th) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi_University_of_Mashhad" title="Ferdowsi University of Mashhad">Ferdowsi University of Mashhad</a> (815th).<a href="#cite_note-191">[191]</a> Iran has increased its publication output nearly tenfold from 1996 through 2004, and has been ranked first in terms of output growth rate followed by China.<a href="#cite_note-192">[192]</a> According to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SCImago" title="SCImago" class="mw-redirect">SCImago</a>, Iran could rank fourth in the world in terms of research output by 2018, if the current trend persists.<a href="#cite_note-193">[193]</a> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Omid_0651.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Omid_0651.jpg/170px-Omid_0651.jpg" width="170" height="227" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Omid_0651.jpg/255px-Omid_0651.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Omid_0651.jpg/340px-Omid_0651.jpg 2x" data-file-width="450" data-file-height="600"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Omid_0651.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safir_(rocket)" title="Safir (rocket)">Safir (rocket)</a>. Iran is the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_first_orbital_launches_by_country#List_of_first_orbital_launches_by_country" title="Timeline of first orbital launches by country">9th country to put a domestically built satellite into orbit</a> and the sixth to send <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animals_in_space" title="Animals in space">animals in space</a>.</div> </div> </div> In 2009, a SUSE Linux-based HPC system made by the Aerospace Research Institute of Iran (ARI) was launched with 32 cores and now runs 96 cores. Its performance was pegged at 192 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GFLOPS" title="GFLOPS" class="mw-redirect">GFLOPS</a>.<a href="#cite_note-194">[194]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surena_(robot)" title="Surena (robot)">Sorena 2</a> Robot, which was designed by engineers at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Tehran" title="University of Tehran">University of Tehran</a>, was unveiled in 2010. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers" title="Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers">Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers</a> (IEEE) has placed the name of Surena among the five prominent robots of the world after analyzing its performance.<a href="#cite_note-195">[195]</a> In the biomedical sciences, Iran's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Biochemistry_and_Biophysics" title="Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics">Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics</a> is a UNESCO chair in biology.<a href="#cite_note-196">[196]</a> In late 2006, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_modern_Iranian_scientists" title="List of modern Iranian scientists" class="mw-redirect">Iranian scientists</a> successfully <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloning" title="Cloning">cloned</a> a sheep by somatic cell nuclear transfer, at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royan_Institute" title="Royan Institute">Rouyan research centre</a> in Tehran.<a href="#cite_note-197">[197]</a> According to a study by David Morrison and Ali Khademhosseini (Harvard-MIT and Cambridge), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell" title="Stem cell">stem cell</a> research in Iran is amongst the top 10 in the world.<a href="#cite_note-198">[198]</a> Iran ranks 15th in the world in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanotechnologies" title="Nanotechnologies" class="mw-redirect">nanotechnologies</a>.<a href="#cite_note-199">[199]</a><a href="#cite_note-200">[200]</a><a href="#cite_note-201">[201]</a> Iran placed its domestically built <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite" title="Satellite">satellite</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid" title="Omid">Omid</a> into orbit on the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, on 2 February 2009,<a href="#cite_note-202">[202]</a> through <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safir_(rocket)" title="Safir (rocket)">Safir rocket</a>, becoming the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_first_orbital_launches_by_country" title="Timeline of first orbital launches by country">ninth country</a> in the world capable of both producing a satellite and sending it into <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space" title="Space">space</a> from a domestically made <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Launch_pad" title="Launch pad">launcher</a>.<a href="#cite_note-203">[203]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_nuclear_program" title="Iranian nuclear program" class="mw-redirect">Iranian nuclear program</a> was launched in the 1950s. Iran is the seventh country to produce <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium_hexafluoride" title="Uranium hexafluoride">uranium hexafluoride</a> and controls the entire <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_fuel_cycle" title="Nuclear fuel cycle">nuclear fuel cycle</a>.<a href="#cite_note-204">[204]</a><a href="#cite_note-205">[205]</a> Iranian scientists outside Iran have also made some major contributions to science. In 1960, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Javan" title="Ali Javan">Ali Javan</a> co-invented the first <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_laser" title="Gas laser">gas laser</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuzzy_set" title="Fuzzy set">fuzzy set theory</a> was introduced by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotfi_Zadeh" title="Lotfi Zadeh" class="mw-redirect">Lotfi Zadeh</a>.<a href="#cite_note-206">[206]</a> Iranian cardiologist, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tofy_Mussivand" title="Tofy Mussivand">Tofy Mussivand</a> invented and developed the first artificial cardiac pump, the precursor of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_heart" title="Artificial heart">artificial heart</a>. Furthering research and treatment of diabetes, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HbA1c" title="HbA1c" class="mw-redirect">HbA1c</a> was discovered by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Rahbar" title="Samuel Rahbar">Samuel Rahbar</a>. Iranian physics is especially strong in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_theory" title="String theory">string theory</a>, with many papers being published in Iran.<a href="#cite_note-207">[207]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian-American" title="Iranian-American" class="mw-redirect">Iranian-American</a> string theorist <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamran_Vafa" title="Kamran Vafa" class="mw-redirect">Kamran Vafa</a> proposed the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vafa-Witten_theorem" title="Vafa-Witten theorem" class="mw-redirect">Vafa-Witten theorem</a> together with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Witten" title="Edward Witten">Edward Witten</a>. In August 2014, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryam_Mirzakhani" title="Maryam Mirzakhani">Maryam Mirzakhani</a> became the first-ever woman, as well as the first-ever Iranian, to receive the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fields_Medal" title="Fields Medal">Fields Medal</a>, the highest prize in mathematics. Mirzakhani was awarded for her "dynamics and geometry of Riemann surfaces and their moduli spaces".<a href="#cite_note-208">[208]</a> <h2>Demographics</h2> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Demographics of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_peoples" title="Iranian peoples">Iranian peoples</a></div> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Iran" title="Healthcare in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Healthcare in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_Population_(1880-2005).JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG/220px-Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG" width="220" height="157" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG/330px-Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG/440px-Iran_Population_%281880-2005%29.JPG 2x" data-file-width="681" data-file-height="485"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_Population_(1880-2005).JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Population of Iran</div> </div> </div> <table class="toccolours" style="width:15em;border-spacing: 0;float:right;clear:right;margin:0 0 1em 1em;"> <tr> <th class="navbox-title" colspan="3" style="padding:0.25em;font-size:110%">1956-2011</th> </tr> <tr style="font-size:95%"> <th style="border-bottom:1px solid black;padding:1px;width:3em">Year</th> <th style="border-bottom:1px solid black;padding:1px 2px;text-align:right"><abbr title="Population">Pop.</abbr></th> <th style="border-bottom:1px solid black;padding:1px;text-align:right"><abbr title="Per annum growth rate">±% p.a.</abbr></th> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">1956</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">18,954,704</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">—    </td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">1966</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">25,785,210</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+3.13%</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">1976</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">33,708,744</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+2.72%</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">1986</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">49,445,010</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+3.91%</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">1996</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">60,055,488</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+1.96%</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">2006</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">70,495,782</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+1.62%</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="text-align:center;padding:1px">2011</th> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">75,149,669</td> <td style="text-align:right;padding:1px">+1.29%</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" style="border-top:1px solid black;font-size:85%;text-align:left">Source: United Nations Demographic Yearbook<a href="#cite_note-209">[209]</a></td> </tr> </table> Iran is a diverse country, consisting of many different religious and ethnic groups that are unified through a shared <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_culture" title="Persian culture" class="mw-redirect">Persian language and culture</a>.<a href="#cite_note-210">[210]</a> Iran's population grew rapidly during the latter half of the 20th century, increasing from about 19 million in 1956 to around 75 million by 2009.<a href="#cite_note-una-211">[211]</a><a href="#cite_note-212">[212]</a> However, Iran's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_rate" title="Birth rate">birth rate</a> has dropped significantly in recent years, leading to a population growth rate—recorded from July 2012—of about 1.29 percent.<a href="#cite_note-DW_Persian-213">[213]</a> Studies project that Iran's rate of growth will continue to slow until it stabilizes above 105 million by 2050.<a href="#cite_note-bureau-214">[214]</a><a href="#cite_note-payvand-215">[215]</a> Iran hosts one of the largest <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugee" title="Refugee">refugee</a> populations in the world, with more than one million refugees, mostly from <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_refugees" title="Afghan refugees" class="mw-redirect">Afghanistan</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a>.<a href="#cite_note-216">[216]</a> Since 2006, Iranian officials have been working with the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNHCR" title="UNHCR" class="mw-redirect">UNHCR</a> and Afghan officials for their <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repatriation" title="Repatriation">repatriation</a>.<a href="#cite_note-bbcb-217">[217]</a> According to estimates, about five million <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_citizens_abroad" title="Iranian citizens abroad" class="mw-redirect">Iranian citizens</a> have emigrated to other countries, mostly since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.<a href="#cite_note-218">[218]</a><a href="#cite_note-219">[219]</a> According to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Constitution" title="Iranian Constitution" class="mw-redirect">Iranian Constitution</a>, the government is required to provide every citizen of the country with access to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security" title="Social security">social security</a> that covers retirement, unemployment, old age, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disability" title="Disability">disability</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accidents" title="Accidents" class="mw-redirect">accidents</a>, calamities, health and medical treatment and care services. This is covered by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_and_tax_laws_in_Iran" title="Labor and tax laws in Iran" class="mw-redirect">tax revenues</a> and income derived from public contributions. According to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Health_Organization" title="World Health Organization">World Health Organization</a>, Iran ranked 58 in national health metrics and 93 in the overall performance of its <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Iran" title="Health care in Iran">healthcare system</a> in 2000.<a href="#cite_note-220">[220]</a> <h3>Languages</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Iran" title="Languages of Iran">Languages of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:262px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg/260px-Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg" width="260" height="138" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg/390px-Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg/520px-Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1213" data-file-height="646"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moderniranianlanguagesmap.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Geographic distribution of the modern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_languages" title="Iranian languages">Iranian languages</a>: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a> (green), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pashto_language" title="Pashto language">Pashto</a> (purple) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language" title="Kurdish language" class="mw-redirect">Kurdish</a> (turquoise), as well as smaller communities of other Iranian languages</div> </div> </div> The majority of the population speaks the Persian language, which is also the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Official_language" title="Official language">official language</a> of the country, as well as other <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_language" title="Iranian language" class="mw-redirect">Iranian languages</a> or dialects. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkic_languages" title="Turkic languages">Turkic languages</a> and dialects, most importantly the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_language" title="Azerbaijani language">Azerbaijani language</a>, are spoken in different areas in Iran. In southwestern and southern Iran, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luri_language" title="Luri language">Luri language</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lari_language" title="Lari language">Lari language</a> are spoken. In <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdistan_Province" title="Kurdistan Province">Kurdistan Province</a> and nearby area's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language" title="Kurdish language" class="mw-redirect">Kurdish</a> is widely spoken. In Khuzestan, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_dialects_in_Khuzestan" title="Persian dialects in Khuzestan">many distinct Persian dialects</a> are spoken. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khuzestani_Arabic" title="Khuzestani Arabic">Arabic</a> is also spoken in Khuzestan. Notable minority languages in Iran include <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_language" title="Armenian language">Armenian</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_language" title="Georgian language">Georgian</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Aramaic_languages" title="Neo-Aramaic languages">Neo-Aramaic</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassian_language" title="Circassian language">Circassian</a> was also once widely used by the large Circassian minority, but due to assimilation over the many years no sizable number of Circassians speak the language anymore.<a href="#cite_note-221">[221]</a><a href="#cite_note-222">[222]</a><a href="#cite_note-223">[223]</a><a href="#cite_note-224">[224]</a> <h3>Ethnic groups</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnicities_in_Iran" title="Ethnicities in Iran">Ethnicities in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg/220px-Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg" width="220" height="218" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg/330px-Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg/440px-Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg 2x" data-file-width="980" data-file-height="970"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Iran_ethnoreligious_distribution_2004.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Iran's ethnoreligious distribution</div> </div> </div> The exact ethnic composition of Iran is unknown, as there is no official data. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Factbook" title="The World Factbook">The CIA World Factbook</a> has estimated that <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persians</a> constitute 61% of the population, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_people" title="Azerbaijani people" class="mw-redirect">Azerbaijanis</a> at 16%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurds" title="Kurds">Kurds</a> 10%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurs" title="Lurs">Lurs</a> 6%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs" title="Arabs">Arabs</a> 2%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people" title="Baloch people">Balochs</a> 2%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmen_people" title="Turkmen people">Turkmens</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkic_peoples" title="Turkic peoples">Turkic tribes</a> 2%, and others 1% (such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians" title="Armenians">Armenians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgians" title="Georgians">Georgians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians" title="Circassians">Circassians</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrians" title="Assyrians" class="mw-redirect">Assyrians</a>).<a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a> It found Persian to be first language of 53% of the population, Azeri and other Turkic dialect being spoken by 18%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurdish_language" title="Kurdish language" class="mw-redirect">Kurdish</a> by 10%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilaki_language" title="Gilaki language">Gilaki</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazandarani_people" title="Mazandarani people" class="mw-redirect">Mazandarani</a> by 7%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luri_dialects" title="Luri dialects" class="mw-redirect">Luri</a> by 6%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochi_language" title="Balochi language">Balochi</a> by 2%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic_language" title="Arabic language">Arabic</a> by 2%, and other languages at 2%.<a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a> issued slightly different estimates: Persians 65%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_people" title="Azerbaijani people" class="mw-redirect">Azerbaijanis</a> 16%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurds" title="Kurds">Kurds</a> 7%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lurs" title="Lurs">Lurs</a> 6%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabs" title="Arabs">Arabs</a> 2%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people" title="Baloch people">Baluchi</a> 2%, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmens" title="Turkmens" class="mw-redirect">Turkmens</a> 1%, Turkic tribal groups such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qashqai_people" title="Qashqai people">Qashqai</a> 1%, and non-Iranian, non-Turkic groups such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenians" title="Armenians">Armenians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgians" title="Georgians">Georgians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrians" title="Assyrians" class="mw-redirect">Assyrians</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circassians" title="Circassians">Circassians</a> less than 1%. It determined that Persian is language of at least 65% of the Iran population and also as the second language for most of the remaining 35% Iranians.<a href="#cite_note-225">[225]</a> <h3>Religion</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Iran" title="Religion in Iran">Religion in Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Iran" title="Irreligion in Iran">Irreligion in Iran</a></div> Historically, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a> was the dominant religion in Iran, particularly during the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire" title="Parthian Empire">Parthian</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sassanid</a> empires. This changed after the fall of the Sassanid Empire by the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Persia" title="Muslim conquest of Persia">Muslim Conquest of Iran</a>, when Zoroastrianism was gradually replaced with Islam. Today, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelver" title="Twelver">Twelver</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shia_Islam" title="Shia Islam">Shia</a> branch of Islam is the official <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religion" title="State religion">state religion</a> and to which about 90% to 95%<a href="#cite_note-226">[226]</a><a href="#cite_note-227">[227]</a> of Iranians officially are. About 4% to 8% of Iranians are <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni_Muslims" title="Sunni Muslims" class="mw-redirect">Sunni Muslims</a>, mainly <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistan" title="Iranian Kurdistan">Kurds</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baloch_people" title="Baloch people">Balochs</a>. The remaining 2% are non-Muslim <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_minorities_in_Iran" title="Religious minorities in Iran" class="mw-redirect">religious minorities</a>, including <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians_in_Iran" title="Christians in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Christians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith" title="Bahá'í Faith">Bahais</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mandaeism" title="Mandaeism">Mandeans</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yezidi" title="Yezidi" class="mw-redirect">Yezidis</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yarsan" title="Yarsan" class="mw-redirect">Yarsanis</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrians_in_Iran" title="Zoroastrians in Iran">Zoroastrians</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Jews" title="Persian Jews">Jews</a>.<a href="#cite_note-CIA-29">[29]</a><a href="#cite_note-saving-228">[228]</a> <table class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left:1em; float:right"> <caption>Iranian people by religion, 2011 General Census Results<a href="#cite_note-229">[229]</a></caption> <tr> <th>Religion</th> <th> % of population</th> <th>No. of people</th> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Iran" title="Islam in Iran">Muslim</a></td> <td>99.4%</td> <td>74,682,938</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Not declared</td> <td>0.4%</td> <td>205,317</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Iran" title="Christianity in Iran">Christian</a></td> <td>0.16%</td> <td>117,704</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrians_in_Iran" title="Zoroastrians in Iran">Zoroastrian</a></td> <td>0.03%</td> <td>25,271</td> </tr> <tr> <td><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Jews" title="Persian Jews">Jew</a></td> <td>0.01%</td> <td>8,756</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Other</td> <td>0.07%</td> <td>49,101</td> </tr> </table> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yazd_fire_temple.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Yazd_fire_temple.jpg/220px-Yazd_fire_temple.jpg" width="220" height="164" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Yazd_fire_temple.jpg/330px-Yazd_fire_temple.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Yazd_fire_temple.jpg/440px-Yazd_fire_temple.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2011" data-file-height="1501"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Yazd_fire_temple.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> A Zoroastrian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_temple" title="Fire temple">fire temple</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazd" title="Yazd">Yazd</a></div> </div> </div> Zoroastrians are the oldest religious community of the nation, with a long history continuing up to the present day. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a> also has a long history in Iran, dating back to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nabonidus#The_Persian_conquest_of_Babylonia" title="Nabonidus">Achaemenid Conquest of Babylonia</a>. Although many left in the wake of the establishment of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Israel" title="State of Israel" class="mw-redirect">State of Israel</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution" title="Iranian Revolution">1979 Revolution</a>, around 8,756 Jews remain in Iran, according to the latest census.<a href="#cite_note-IranCensusMurder-230">[230]</a> Around 250,000 - 370,000 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity" title="Christianity">Christians</a> reside in Iran.<a href="#cite_note-231">[231]</a><a href="#cite_note-232">[232]</a> Most are of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Armenians" title="Iranian Armenians">Armenian</a> background, but there is a sizable minority of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assyrians_in_Iran" title="Assyrians in Iran">Assyrians</a> as well.<a href="#cite_note-IRFR2009-Iran-233">[233]</a> Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Sunni Islam are officially recognized by the government, and have reserved seats in the Iranian Parliament. But the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith" title="Bahá'í Faith">Bahá'í Faith</a>, which is said to be the largest religious minority in Iran,<a href="#cite_note-fdih2-234">[234]</a> is not officially recognized, and has been persecuted during its existence in Iran since the 19th century. Since the 1979 Revolution, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Bahais" title="Persecution of Bahais" class="mw-redirect">persecution of Bahais</a> has increased with executions, the denial of civil rights and liberties, and the denial of access to higher education and employment.<a href="#cite_note-fdih1-235">[235]</a><a href="#cite_note-ihrdc-236">[236]</a><a href="#cite_note-237">[237]</a> The government has not released statistics regarding <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irreligion_in_Iran" title="Irreligion in Iran">irreligiosity</a>. However, the irreligious figures are growing and are higher in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_diaspora" title="Iranian diaspora">diaspora</a>, notably among <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_American#Religion" title="Iranian American">Iranian Americans</a>.<a href="#cite_note-238">[238]</a><a href="#cite_note-irreligion-239">[239]</a> <h2>Culture</h2> <table class="metadata plainlinks ambox ambox-content ambox-POV" role="presentation"> <tr> <td class="mbox-image"> <div style="width:52px"><img alt="Unbalanced scales.svg" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Unbalanced_scales.svg/45px-Unbalanced_scales.svg.png" width="45" height="40" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Unbalanced_scales.svg/68px-Unbalanced_scales.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fe/Unbalanced_scales.svg/90px-Unbalanced_scales.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="354"/></div> </td> <td class="mbox-text">The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Neutral_point_of_view" title="Wikipedia:Neutral point of view">neutrality</a> of this article is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV_dispute" title="Wikipedia:NPOV dispute">disputed</a>. Relevant discussion may be found on the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Iran#.23" title="Talk:Iran">talk page</a>. Please do not remove this message until the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:NPOV_dispute#What_is_an_NPOV_dispute.3F" title="Wikipedia:NPOV dispute">dispute is resolved</a>. (June 2014)</td> </tr> </table> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iran" title="Culture of Iran">Culture of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_mythology" title="Persian mythology">Persian mythology</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg/220px-Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg" width="220" height="153" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg/330px-Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg/440px-Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg 2x" data-file-width="756" data-file-height="525"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Miniator_hotel_shah_abbas_deevar.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_art" title="Safavid art">Safavid painting</a> kept at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasi_Hotel" title="Abbasi Hotel">Shah Abbas Caravanserai</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a></div> </div> </div> As the first sentence of prominent <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranistics" title="Iranistics" class="mw-redirect">Iranologist</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nelson_Frye" title="Richard Nelson Frye" class="mw-redirect">Richard Nelson Frye</a>'s latest book on Persia reads: "Iran's prize possession has been its culture."<a href="#cite_note-240">[240]</a> Persian culture has long been a predominant culture of the region, with Persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the 2nd millennium, and the language of religion and the populace before that.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] The Sassanid era was an important and influential historical period in Iran as Iranian culture influenced China, India and Roman civilization considerably,<a href="#cite_note-241">[241]</a> and so influenced as far as Western Europe and Africa.<a href="#cite_note-242">[242]</a> This influence played a prominent role in the formation of both <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_art" title="Asian art">Asiatic</a> and European <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_art" title="Medieval art">medieval art</a>.<a href="#cite_note-243">[243]</a> This influence carried forward to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_world" title="Islamic world" class="mw-redirect">Islamic world</a>. Much of what later became known as Islamic learning, such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philology" title="Philology">philology</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_literature" title="Islamic literature">literature</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiqh" title="Fiqh">jurisprudence</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_Islamic_philosophy" title="Early Islamic philosophy">philosophy</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_medicine" title="Islamic medicine" class="mw-redirect">medicine</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_architecture" title="Islamic architecture">architecture</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_science" title="Islamic science" class="mw-redirect">sciences</a> were based on some of the practises taken from the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_dynasty" title="Sassanid dynasty" class="mw-redirect">Sassanid</a> Persians.<a href="#cite_note-244">[244]</a><a href="#cite_note-245">[245]</a><a href="#cite_note-Iran_in_Britannica-246">[246]</a> <h3>Art</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_art" title="Iranian art">Iranian art</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_carpet" title="Persian carpet">Persian carpet</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg/220px-Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg" width="220" height="147" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg/330px-Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg/440px-Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2981" data-file-height="1996"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isfahan_Lotfollah_mosque_ceiling_symmetric.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Ceiling of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Lotfollah_Mosque" title="Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque">Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a></div> </div> </div> Iranian art has one of the richest <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art" title="Art">art</a> heritages in world history and encompasses many disciplines including <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture" title="Architecture">architecture</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painting" title="Painting">painting</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving" title="Weaving">weaving</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pottery" title="Pottery">pottery</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calligraphy" title="Calligraphy">calligraphy</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metalworking" title="Metalworking">metalworking</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonemasonry" title="Stonemasonry">stonemasonry</a>. There is also a very vibrant <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_modern_and_contemporary_art" title="Iranian modern and contemporary art">Iranian modern and contemporary art</a> scene. The modern <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_movement" title="Art movement">art movement</a> in Iran had its genesis in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 1949 opening of the Apadana gallery in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a> by Mahmoud Javadipour and other colleagues, and the emergence of artists like <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcos_Grigorian" title="Marcos Grigorian">Marcos Grigorian</a> in the 1950s, signaled a commitment to the creation of a form of modern art grounded in Iran.<a href="#cite_note-247">[247]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpet" title="Carpet">Carpet</a>-<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weaving" title="Weaving">weaving</a> is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished manifestations of Persian culture and art, and dates back to ancient Persia and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age" title="Bronze Age">Bronze Age</a>. Iran is the world's largest producer and exporter of handmade carpets, producing three quarters of the world's total output and having a share of 30% of world's export markets.<a href="#cite_note-248">[248]</a><a href="#cite_note-249">[249]</a> <h3>Architecture</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture" title="Iranian architecture">Iranian architecture</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_gardens" title="Persian gardens">Persian gardens</a></div> According to Persian historian and archaeologist <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Upham_Pope" title="Arthur Upham Pope">Arthur Pope</a>, the supreme Iranian art, in the proper meaning of the word, has always been its architecture. The supremacy of architecture applies to both pre-and post-Islamic periods.<a href="#cite_note-250">[250]</a> The history of architecture of Iran goes back to the seventh millennium BC. Iranian architecture generally displays great variety, both structural and aesthetic, developing gradually and coherently out of earlier traditions and experience. Without sudden innovations, and despite the repeated trauma of invasions and cultural shocks, it has achieved "an individuality distinct from that of other Muslim countries".<a href="#cite_note-251">[251]</a> Its paramount virtues are several: "a marked feeling for form and scale; structural inventiveness, especially in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vault_(architecture)" title="Vault (architecture)">vault</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gonbad" title="Gonbad">dome</a> construction; a genius for decoration with a freedom and success not rivaled in any other architecture".<a href="#cite_note-252">[252]</a> Persians were among the first to use <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mathematics" title="Mathematics">mathematics</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geometry" title="Geometry">geometry</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astronomy" title="Astronomy">astronomy</a> in architecture and also have extraordinary skills in making massive domes which can be seen frequently in the structure of bazaars and mosques. This greatly inspired the architecture of Iran's neighbors as well. The main building types of classical <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture" title="Iranian architecture">Iranian architecture</a> are the mosque and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palace" title="Palace">palace</a>. Besides being home to a large number of art houses and galleries, Iran also holds one of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Crown_Jewels" title="Iranian Crown Jewels">largest and most valuable jewel collections</a> in the world. Iran ranks seventh among countries in the world with the most archeological architectural ruins and attractions from antiquity as recognized by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCO" title="UNESCO">UNESCO</a>.<a href="#cite_note-253">[253]</a> Fifteen of UNESCO's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Heritage_Site" title="World Heritage Site">World Heritage Sites</a> are creations of Iranian architecture. <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-packed"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 162px"> <div style="width: 162px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 160px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Persepolis_06.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Persepolis_06.jpg/240px-Persepolis_06.jpg" width="160" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Persepolis_06.jpg/360px-Persepolis_06.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/Persepolis_06.jpg/480px-Persepolis_06.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="1200"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> The ruins of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis" title="Persepolis">Persepolis</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 183.33333333333px"> <div style="width: 183.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 181.33333333333px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg/272px-Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg" width="182" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg/408px-Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg/544px-Falak_ol_aflak_night.jpg 2x" data-file-width="4928" data-file-height="3264"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dej-e_Shaapour-khaast" title="Dej-e Shaapour-khaast" class="mw-redirect">Shapour Xast Castle</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorramabad" title="Khorramabad">Khorramabad City</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 198.66666666667px"> <div style="width: 198.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 196.66666666667px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg/295px-Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg" width="197" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg/443px-Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg/590px-Gonbad-Soltaniyeh-IRAN.jpg 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="366"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> The dome of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soltaniyeh" title="Soltaniyeh">Soltaniyeh</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 176.66666666667px"> <div style="width: 176.66666666667px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 174.66666666667px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg/262px-2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg" width="175" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg/392px-2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg/523px-2011_Ahmad-Shahi_Pavilion_Tehran_6214852688_by_Kamyar_Adl.jpg 2x" data-file-width="610" data-file-height="420"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmad_Shah_Qajar" title="Ahmad Shah Qajar">Ahmad Shah Qajar</a>'s Pavilion in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niavaran_Palace_Complex" title="Niavaran Palace Complex">Niavaran Palace Complex</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG/270px-Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG" width="180" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG/405px-Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/87/Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG/540px-Isfahan_Royal_Mosque_entrance.JPG 2x" data-file-width="3456" data-file-height="2304"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> Entrance gate to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shah_Mosque" title="Shah Mosque" class="mw-redirect">Shah Mosque</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan City</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 137.33333333333px"> <div style="width: 137.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 135.33333333333px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg/203px-Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg" width="136" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg/304px-Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg/405px-Baghe_Eram_Shiraz.jpg 2x" data-file-width="2150" data-file-height="1910"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eram_Garden" title="Eram Garden">Eram Garden</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 271.33333333333px"> <div style="width: 271.33333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 269.33333333333px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg/404px-Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg" width="270" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg/606px-Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg/808px-Nasirolmolk_mosque_warm_light.jpg 2x" data-file-width="5041" data-file-height="2247"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasir_al-Mulk_Mosque" title="Nasir al-Mulk Mosque">Nasir ol Molk Mosque</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 182px"> <div style="width: 182px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 180px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bagh-e_Ferdows,_Tajrish,_Tehran.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg/270px-Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg" width="180" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg/405px-Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/8/84/Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg/541px-Bagh-e_Ferdows%2C_Tajrish%2C_Tehran.jpg 2x" data-file-width="950" data-file-height="633"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bagh-e_Ferdows" title="Bagh-e Ferdows">Bagh-e Ferdows</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajrish" title="Tajrish">Tajrish</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 174px"> <div style="width: 174px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 172px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg/258px-Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg" width="172" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg/387px-Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d5/Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg/516px-Tehran_-_Azadi_Tower.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3797" data-file-height="2652"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadi_Tower" title="Azadi Tower">The Liberty (Azadi) Tower</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran City</a> </div> </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 83.333333333333px"> <div style="width: 83.333333333333px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 81.333333333333px;"> <div style="margin:0px auto;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg/122px-Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg" width="82" height="120" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg/183px-Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/de/Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg/244px-Soltan_amir_bath_house2.jpg 2x" data-file-width="732" data-file-height="1080"/></a></div> </div> <div class="gallerytext"> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sultan_Amir_Ahmad_Bathhouse" title="Sultan Amir Ahmad Bathhouse">Qasemi Bathhouse</a> </div> </div> </li> </ul> <h3>Literature</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_literature" title="Persian literature">Persian literature</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hafez_880714_095.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Hafez_880714_095.jpg/220px-Hafez_880714_095.jpg" width="220" height="154" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Hafez_880714_095.jpg/330px-Hafez_880714_095.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Hafez_880714_095.jpg/440px-Hafez_880714_095.jpg 2x" data-file-width="700" data-file-height="490"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hafez_880714_095.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomb_of_Hafez" title="Tomb of Hafez">Tomb of Hafez</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiraz" title="Shiraz">Shiraz City</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg/170px-Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg" width="170" height="197" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg/255px-Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg/340px-Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg 2x" data-file-width="722" data-file-height="836"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Nima_Yushij_-_Original.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nima_Yooshij" title="Nima Yooshij">Nima Yooshij</a>, father of modern Persian poetry</div> </div> </div> Persian literature is one of the world's oldest literatures. It dates back to the poetry of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avesta" title="Avesta">Avesta</a>, about 1000 years BC. These poems which were a part of the oral traditions of ancient Iran, were orally transferred, and later created parts of the Avesta’s book during the Sassanid era. Its sources have been within historical Persia where the Persian language has historically been the national language. Persian literature inspired <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethe" title="Goethe" class="mw-redirect">Goethe</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Waldo_Emerson" title="Ralph Waldo Emerson">Ralph Waldo Emerson</a>, and many others, and it has been often dubbed as a most worthy language to serve as a conduit for poetry. Dialects of Persian are sporadically spoken throughout the region from China to Syria to Russia, though mainly in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Plateau" title="Iranian Plateau">Iranian Plateau</a>.<a href="#cite_note-254">[254]</a><a href="#cite_note-255">[255]</a> Poetry is used in many Persian classical works, whether from literature, science, or metaphysics. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_literature" title="Persian literature">Persian literature</a> has been considered by such thinkers as Goethe as one of the four main bodies of world literature.<a href="#cite_note-256">[256]</a> The Persian language has produced a number of famous poets; however, only a few poets as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumi" title="Rumi">Rumi</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar_Khayy%C3%A1m" title="Omar Khayyám">Omar Khayyám</a> have surfaced among western popular readership, even though the likes of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafez" title="Hafez">Hafez</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadi_(poet)" title="Saadi (poet)" class="mw-redirect">Saadi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nizami_Ganjavi" title="Nizami Ganjavi">Nizami</a>,<a href="#cite_note-257">[257]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attar_Neyshapuri" title="Attar Neyshapuri" class="mw-redirect">Attar</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanai" title="Sanai">Sanai</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasir_Khusraw" title="Nasir Khusraw">Nasir Khusraw</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jami" title="Jami">Jami</a> are considered by many Iranians to be just as influential.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] <h3>Philosophy</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_philosophy" title="Iranian philosophy">Iranian philosophy</a></div> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Farvahar001.JPG" class="image"><img alt="The Farohar Symbol from Persepolis" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Farvahar001.JPG/220px-Farvahar001.JPG" width="220" height="165" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Farvahar001.JPG/330px-Farvahar001.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Farvahar001.JPG/440px-Farvahar001.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1300" data-file-height="977"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Farvahar001.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farvahar" title="Farvahar" class="mw-redirect">Fravarti</a> symbol from <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis" title="Persepolis">Persepolis</a></div> </div> </div> Iranian philosophy can be traced back as far as to <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_languages" title="Iranian languages">Old Iranian</a> philosophical traditions and thoughts which originated in ancient <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranians" title="Indo-Iranians">Indo-Iranian</a> roots and were considerably influenced by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zarathustra" title="Zarathustra" class="mw-redirect">Zarathustra</a>'s teachings. According to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Dictionary_of_Philosophy" title="Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy" class="mw-redirect">Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy</a>, the chronology of the subject and science of philosophy starts with the Indo-Iranians, dating this event to 1500 BC. The Oxford dictionary also states, "Zarathushtra's philosophy entered to influence Western tradition through <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism" title="Judaism">Judaism</a>, and therefore on <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Platonism" title="Middle Platonism">Middle Platonism</a>." Throughout <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran" title="History of Iran">Iranian history</a> and due to remarkable political and social changes such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_conquest_of_the_Sassanian_Empire" title="Rashidun conquest of the Sassanian Empire" class="mw-redirect">the Arab</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_invasion_of_Central_Asia" title="Mongol invasion of Central Asia">Mongol invasions</a> of Persia, a wide spectrum of schools of thoughts showed a variety of views on philosophical questions extending from Old Iranian and mainly <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Zoroastrianism</a>-related traditions, to schools appearing in the late pre-Islamic era such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manicheism" title="Manicheism" class="mw-redirect">Manicheism</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazdakism" title="Mazdakism" class="mw-redirect">Mazdakism</a> as well as various post-Islamic schools. Iranian philosophy after the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim_conquest_of_Persia" title="Muslim conquest of Persia">Muslim conquest of Persia</a>, is characterized by different interactions with the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_philosophy#Ancient_Iranian_philosophy" title="Ancient philosophy">Old Iranian philosophy</a>, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_philosophy" title="Greek philosophy" class="mw-redirect">Greek philosophy</a> and with the development of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_philosophy" title="Islamic philosophy">Islamic philosophy</a>. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illumination_School" title="Illumination School" class="mw-redirect">Illumination School</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendent_Philosophy" title="Transcendent Philosophy" class="mw-redirect">Transcendent Philosophy</a> are regarded as two of the main philosophical traditions of that era in Persia. <h3>Mythology</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_mythology" title="Iranian mythology">Iranian mythology</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_folklore" title="Iranian folklore">Iranian folklore</a></div> Persian <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology" title="Mythology">mythology</a> are traditional <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_folklore" title="Iranian folklore">tales</a> and stories of ancient origin, all involving extraordinary or supernatural beings. Drawn from the legendary past of Iran, they reflect the attitudes of the society to which they first belonged - attitudes towards the confrontation of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_and_evil" title="Good and evil">good and evil</a>, the actions of the gods, yazats (lesser gods), and the exploits of heroes and fabulous creatures. <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG/220px-Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG" width="220" height="165" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG/330px-Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG/440px-Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="750"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Naqshe_Rostam_1.JPG" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsh-e_Rustam" title="Naqsh-e Rustam">Rustam Inscription</a> (A historical depiction of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rustam" title="Rustam" class="mw-redirect">Rustam</a>, the Iranian mythical hero.)</div> </div> </div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myths" title="Myths" class="mw-redirect">Myths</a> play a crucial part in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_culture" title="Iranian culture" class="mw-redirect">Iranian culture</a> and understanding of them is increased when they are considered within the context of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_history" title="Iranian history" class="mw-redirect">Iranian history</a>.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] For this purpose we must ignore modern political boundaries and look at historical developments in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran" title="Greater Iran">Greater Iran</a>, a vast area covering the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caucasus" title="Caucasus">Caucasus</a>, and Central <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia" title="Asia">Asia</a>, beyond the frontiers of present-day Iran. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography" title="Geography">geography</a> of this region, with its high mountain ranges, plays a significant role in many of the mythological stories. The 2nd millennium BC is usually regarded as the age of migration because of the emergence in western Iran of a new form of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_art#Pottery_and_ceramics" title="Iranian art">Iranian pottery</a>, similar to earlier wares of north-eastern Iran, suggesting the arrival of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Iranian_peoples" title="Ancient Iranian peoples" class="mw-redirect">Ancient Iranian peoples</a>. This pottery, light grey to black in colour, appeared around 1400 BC. It is called Early Grey Ware or Iron I, the latter name indicating the beginning of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age" title="Iron Age">Iron Age</a> in this area.<a href="#cite_note-258">[258]</a> The central collection of Persian mythology is the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahnameh" title="Shahnameh">Shahnameh</a> of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdowsi" title="Ferdowsi">Ferdowsi</a>, written over a thousand years ago. Ferdowsi's work draws heavily, with attribution, on the stories and characters of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism" title="Zoroastrianism">Mazdaism and Zoroastrianism</a>, not only from the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avesta" title="Avesta">Avesta</a>, but from later texts such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundahishn" title="Bundahishn">Bundahishn</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denkard" title="Denkard">Denkard</a> as well as many others. <h3>Observances</h3> <div class="hatnote boilerplate seealso">See also: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_calendar" title="Iranian calendar" class="mw-redirect">Iranian calendar</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_festivals_in_Iran" title="List of festivals in Iran">List of festivals in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:7SEEN_89.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/7SEEN_89.jpg/220px-7SEEN_89.jpg" width="220" height="198" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/7SEEN_89.jpg/330px-7SEEN_89.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/78/7SEEN_89.jpg/440px-7SEEN_89.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1199" data-file-height="1077"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:7SEEN_89.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> A <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haft-Sin" title="Haft-Sin" class="mw-redirect">Haft Sin</a> Table</div> </div> </div> The Iranian New Year, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz" title="Nowruz">Nowruz</a>, is an ancient tradition celebrated on 21 March to mark the beginning of spring in Iran. Nowrouz was registered on the list of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masterpieces_of_the_Oral_and_Intangible_Heritage_of_Humanity" title="Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity">Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity</a><a href="#cite_note-259">[259]</a> and described as the Persian New Year<a href="#cite_note-260">[260]</a><a href="#cite_note-261">[261]</a><a href="#cite_note-262">[262]</a><a href="#cite_note-263">[263]</a> by UNESCO in 2009. Other notable Persian national festivals include <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaharshanbe_Suri" title="Chaharshanbe Suri">Wednesday Light</a> (A prelude to Nowrouz), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sizdah_Bedar" title="Sizdah Bedar" class="mw-redirect">Sizdah Be Dar</a> (Leaving the house on the thirteenth day of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farvardin" title="Farvardin">Farvardin</a>.), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yalda" title="Yalda" class="mw-redirect">Birth of Mithra</a> (Longest night of the year on the eve of the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Solstice" title="Winter Solstice" class="mw-redirect">Winter Solstice</a>.), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiregan" title="Tiregan" class="mw-redirect">Tiregan</a> (Coinciding with the mid summer festivals.), <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehregan" title="Mehregan">Mehregan</a> (A festival to honor the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazata" title="Yazata">Yazata</a>) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sepandarmazgan" title="Sepandarmazgan" class="mw-redirect">Sepandarmazgan</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_February" title="24 February" class="mw-redirect">24 February</a>, dedicated to women, and men would make them "liberal presents".). <h3>Theater</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_theater" title="Persian theater" class="mw-redirect">Persian theater</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_dance" title="Persian dance">Persian dance</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shahrtheater.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Shahrtheater.jpg/220px-Shahrtheater.jpg" width="220" height="165" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Shahrtheater.jpg/330px-Shahrtheater.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Shahrtheater.jpg/440px-Shahrtheater.jpg 2x" data-file-width="3263" data-file-height="2440"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shahrtheater.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_City_Theater" title="Tehran City Theater">Tehran City Theater</a></div> </div> </div> Theater background in Persia goes back to antiquity (641–1000 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_Christ" title="Before Christ" class="mw-redirect">BC</a>). The first initiation of theater and phenomena of acting in people of the land could be traced in ceremonial theaters to glorify legendary and national heroes and humiliate the enemy like "Soug Sivash" or "Mogh Koshi" (Megakhouni), and also dances and theater narrations, musical history of mythological and love stories that have been reported by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotos" title="Herodotos" class="mw-redirect">Herodotos</a> and Gezenphon.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] There were many <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drama" title="Drama">dramatic</a> performance arts popular before the advent of cinema in Persia. A few examples include Khayme Shab Bazi (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puppetry" title="Puppetry">Puppetry</a>), Saye-bazi (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_play" title="Shadow play">Shadow play</a>), Rouhozi (Comical acts) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta%27zieh" title="Ta'zieh">Ta'zieh</a> (Shi'i martyr plays). <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rostam_and_Sohrab_(opera)" title="Rostam and Sohrab (opera)">Rostam and Sohrab puppet opera</a> is an example of the most notable performance in modern day Iran. <h3>Music</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Iran" title="Music of Iran">Music of Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harp-Sassanid.png" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Harp-Sassanid.png/220px-Harp-Sassanid.png" width="220" height="159" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Harp-Sassanid.png/330px-Harp-Sassanid.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/66/Harp-Sassanid.png/440px-Harp-Sassanid.png 2x" data-file-width="650" data-file-height="469"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Harp-Sassanid.png" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taq-e_Bostan" title="Taq-e Bostan" class="mw-redirect">Taq-e Bostan</a> carving, from 6th century <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sassanian Iran</a>.</div> </div> </div> Iranian music, as evidenced by the archeological records of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam" title="Elam">Elam</a>, the most ancient culture in southwestern Iran, dates back thousands of years. In ancient Iran musicians held socially respectable positions. The <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elamite" title="Elamite" class="mw-redirect">Elamites</a> and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid" title="Achaemenid" class="mw-redirect">Achemenians</a> certainly made use of musicians. The history of musical performance <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sassanid_music" title="Sassanid music" class="mw-redirect">in Sassanid Iran</a> is however better documented than earlier periods. This is specially more evident in the context of Zoroastrian ritual.<a href="#cite_note-EI-mhphi-264">[264]</a> By the time of Xusro Parviz the Sassanid royal court was the host of prominent musicians such as Ramtin, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamshad" title="Bamshad">Bamshad</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakisa" title="Nakisa" class="mw-redirect">Nakisa</a>, Azad, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarkash" title="Sarkash">Sarkash</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbad" title="Barbad">Barbad</a>. Like that of most of the world’s cultures, the music of Persia has depended on oral/aural transmission and learning.<a href="#cite_note-265">[265]</a> Persian Symphonic Music has also a long history. In fact <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera" title="Opera">Opera</a> originated from Persia, much before its emergence in Europe. Iranians traditionally performed <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazieh" title="Tazieh" class="mw-redirect">Tazieh</a>, which in many respects resembles the European Opera.<a href="#cite_note-266">[266]</a> Iran's main orchestra include: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%27s_National_Orchestra" title="Iran's National Orchestra">National Orchestra</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Symphony_Orchestra" title="Tehran Symphony Orchestra">Tehran Symphony Orchestra</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melal_Orchestra" title="Melal Orchestra">Nations Orchestra</a>. Today, the musical culture of Persia, while distinct, is closely related to other musical systems of the West and Central Asia. It has also affinities to the music cultures of the Indian subcontinent, to a certain degree even to those of Africa, and in the period after 1850 particularly, to that of Europe. Its history can be traced to some extent through these relationships.[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed">citation needed</a>] Some of the Iranian traditional music instruments include: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tar" title="Tar">Tar</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dota" title="Dota" class="mw-redirect">Dota</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setar" title="Setar">Setar</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamanche" title="Kamanche" class="mw-redirect">Kamanche</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harp" title="Harp">Harp</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oud" title="Oud">Barbat</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santur_(Persian_instrument)" title="Santur (Persian instrument)" class="mw-redirect">Santour</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanbur" title="Tanbur">Tanbur</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qanun_(instrument)" title="Qanun (instrument)">Qanun</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daf" title="Daf">Dap</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhol" title="Dhol">Dhol</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonbak" title="Tonbak">Tompak</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblet_drum" title="Goblet drum">Goblet drum</a>), and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ney" title="Ney">Ney</a>. <h3>Cinema and animation</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main articles: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Iran" title="Cinema of Iran">Cinema of Iran</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iranian_animation" title="History of Iranian animation">History of Iranian animation</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:172px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kiarostami-1940.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Kiarostami-1940.jpg/170px-Kiarostami-1940.jpg" width="170" height="176" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Kiarostami-1940.jpg/255px-Kiarostami-1940.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/Kiarostami-1940.jpg 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="310"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kiarostami-1940.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbas_Kiarostami" title="Abbas Kiarostami">Abbas Kiarostami</a>, a well-known Iranian director, at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Film_Festival" title="Venice Film Festival">Venice Film Festival</a></div> </div> </div> The earliest examples of visual representations in Iranian history may be traced back to the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bas-relief" title="Bas-relief" class="mw-redirect">bas-reliefs</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persepolis" title="Persepolis">Persepolis</a> (c. 500 BC). Persepolis was the ritual center of the ancient kingdom of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenids" title="Achaemenids" class="mw-redirect">Achaemenids</a> and the figures at Persepolis remain bound by the rules of grammar and syntax of visual language.<a href="#cite_note-267">[267]</a> During the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian" title="Sasanian" class="mw-redirect">Sasanian</a> reign, Iranian visual arts reached a pinnacle. A bas-relief from this period in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taq_Bostan" title="Taq Bostan">Taq e Bostan</a> depicts a complex hunting scene. Similar works from the period have been found to articulate movements and actions in a highly sophisticated manner. It is even possible to see a progenitor of the cinema close-up in one of these works of art, which shows a wounded wild pig escaping from the hunting ground.<a href="#cite_note-horschamp1-268">[268]</a> In the early 20th century, five year-old industry of cinema came to Iran. The first Iranian filmmaker was <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Ebrahim_Khan_Akkas_Bashi" title="Mirza Ebrahim Khan Akkas Bashi">Mirza Ebrahim Khan (Akkas Bashi)</a>, the official photographer of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozaffar_ad-Din_Shah_Qajar" title="Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar">Mozaffar al Din Shah</a> of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar" title="Qajar" class="mw-redirect">Qajar</a>. He obtained a camera and filmed the Shah's visit to Europe, upon the Shah's orders. In 1904, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirza_Ebrahim_Khan_Sahhafbashi" title="Mirza Ebrahim Khan Sahhafbashi">Mirza Ebrahim Khan (Sahhaf Bashi)</a> opened the first movie theater in Tehran.<a href="#cite_note-massoudmehrabi1-269">[269]</a> After him, several others like Russi Khan, Ardeshir Khan, and Ali Vakili tried to establish new movie theaters in Tehran. Until the early 1930s, there were little more than 15 theatres in Tehran and 11 in other provinces.<a href="#cite_note-horschamp1-268">[268]</a> The first silent Iranian film was made by Professor <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ovanes_Ohanian" title="Ovanes Ohanian">Ovanes Ohanian</a> in 1930, and the first sounded one, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lor_Girl" title="Lor Girl">Lor Girl</a>, was made by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdolhossein_Sepanta" title="Abdolhossein Sepanta">Abd ol Hossein Sepanta</a> in 1932. The 1960s was a significant decade for Iranian cinema, with 25 commercial films produced annually on average throughout the early 60s, increasing to 65 by the end of the decade. The majority of production focused on melodrama and thrillers. With the screening of the films <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qeysar_(film)" title="Qeysar (film)">Kaiser</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cow_(film)" title="The Cow (film)">The Cow</a>, directed by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masoud_Kimiai" title="Masoud Kimiai">Masoud Kimiai</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dariush_Mehrjui" title="Dariush Mehrjui">Dariush Mehrjui</a> respectively in 1969, alternative films established their status in the film industry. Attempts to organize a film festival that had begun in 1954 within the framework of the Golrizan Festival, bore fruits in the form of the Sepas Festival in 1969. The endeavors also resulted in the formation of the Tehran World Festival in 1973. After the Revolution of 1979, as the new government imposed new laws and standards, a new age in Iranian cinema emerged, starting with Viva... by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khosrow_Sinai" title="Khosrow Sinai">Khosrow Sinai</a> and followed by many other Iranian directors who emerged in the last few decades, such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbas_Kiarostami" title="Abbas Kiarostami">Abbas Kiarostami</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jafar_Panahi" title="Jafar Panahi">Jafar Panahi</a>. Kiarostami, who some critics regard as one of the few great directors in the history of Iranian cinema,<a href="#cite_note-270">[270]</a> planted Iran firmly on the map of world cinema when he won the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palme_d%27Or" title="Palme d'Or">Palme d'Or</a> for <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taste_of_Cherry" title="Taste of Cherry">Taste of Cherry</a> in 1997. The continuous presence of Iranian films in prestigious international festivals, such as the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannes_Film_Festival" title="Cannes Film Festival">Cannes Film Festival</a>, the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice_Film_Festival" title="Venice Film Festival">Venice Film Festival</a>, and the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Film_Festival" title="Berlin Film Festival" class="mw-redirect">Berlin Film Festival</a>, attracted world attention to Iranian masterpieces.<a href="#cite_note-271">[271]</a> In 2006, six Iranian films, of six different styles, represented Iranian cinema at the Berlin Film Festival. Critics considered this a remarkable event in the history of Iranian cinema.<a href="#cite_note-272">[272]</a><a href="#cite_note-273">[273]</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asghar_Farhadi" title="Asghar Farhadi">Asghar Farhadi</a>, a well-known Iranian director, has received a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Globe_Award" title="Golden Globe Award">Golden Globe Award</a> and an <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award" title="Academy Award" class="mw-redirect">Academy Award</a> for <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Foreign_Language_Film" title="Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film">Best Foreign Language Film</a>, among many other awards, and he was named as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world by <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_(magazine)" title="Time (magazine)">Time Magazine</a> in 2012. Few of other well-known Iranian directors include <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohsen_Makhmalbaf" title="Mohsen Makhmalbaf">Mohsen Makhmalbaf</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majid_Majidi" title="Majid Majidi">Majid Majidi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahram_Beyzai" title="Bahram Beyzai">Bahram Beyzai</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahman_Ghobadi" title="Bahman Ghobadi">Bahman Ghobadi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakhshan_Bani-E%27temad" title="Rakhshan Bani-E'temad">Rakhshan Bani-E'temad</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Naderi" title="Amir Naderi">Amir Naderi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Hatami" title="Ali Hatami">Ali Hatami</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_Mirkarimi" title="Reza Mirkarimi">Reza Mirkarimi</a>. Cinemapeople in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_diaspora" title="Iranian diaspora">Iranian diaspora</a>, such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marjane_Satrapi" title="Marjane Satrapi">Marjane Satrapi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shohreh_Aghdashloo" title="Shohreh Aghdashloo">Shohreh Aghdashloo</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazanin_Boniadi" title="Nazanin Boniadi">Nazanin Boniadi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirin_Neshat" title="Shirin Neshat">Shirin Neshat</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Shahi" title="Sarah Shahi">Sarah Shahi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nadia_Bjorlin" title="Nadia Bjorlin">Nadia Bjorlin</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_Pasdar" title="Adrian Pasdar">Adrian Pasdar</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Mokri" title="Amir Mokri">Amir Mokri</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahar_Soomekh" title="Bahar Soomekh">Bahar Soomekh</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amir_Talai" title="Amir Talai">Amir Talai</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_Bell_(actress)" title="Catherine Bell (actress)">Catherine Bell</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasim_Pedrad" title="Nasim Pedrad">Nasim Pedrad</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daryush_Shokof" title="Daryush Shokof">Daryush Shokof</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Malek-Yonan" title="Rosie Malek-Yonan">Rosie Malek-Yonan</a> are also popular. <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vase_animation.svg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Vase_animation.svg/220px-Vase_animation.svg.png" width="220" height="39" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Vase_animation.svg/330px-Vase_animation.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1f/Vase_animation.svg/440px-Vase_animation.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="2384" data-file-height="426"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Vase_animation.svg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Reproduction of world’s oldest example of animation which belongs to late half of 3rd millennium BC, found in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_City" title="Burnt City" class="mw-redirect">Burnt City</a>, Iran.</div> </div> </div> The oldest records of animation in Iran dates back to late half of 3rd millennium BC. An earthen goblet discovered at the site of the 5,200-year-old <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnt_City" title="Burnt City" class="mw-redirect">Burnt City</a> in southeastern Iran, depicts what could possibly be the world’s oldest example of animation. The artifact bears five sequential images depicting a <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_goat" title="Wild goat">Persian Desert Ibex</a> jumping up to eat the leaves of a tree.<a href="#cite_note-274">[274]</a><a href="#cite_note-275">[275]</a> The art of animation, as practiced in modern day Iran, started in the 1950s. After four decades of animation production in Iran and three-decade experience of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_for_the_Intellectual_Development_of_Children_and_Young_Adults" title="Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults">Kanoon Institute</a>, Tehran International Animation Festival (TIAF) was established in February 1999. Every two years, participants from more than 70 countries around the world attend this event which holds the biggest national animation market in Tehran.<a href="#cite_note-276">[276]</a><a href="#cite_note-277">[277]</a> <h3>Cuisine</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_cuisine" title="Iranian cuisine">Iranian cuisine</a></div> <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kookoo-sabzi.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Kookoo-sabzi.jpg/220px-Kookoo-sabzi.jpg" width="220" height="199" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/ff/Kookoo-sabzi.jpg/330px-Kookoo-sabzi.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/ff/Kookoo-sabzi.jpg 2x" data-file-width="340" data-file-height="307"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kookoo-sabzi.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuku_(food)" title="Kuku (food)">Kuku</a> Sabzi with herbs, topped with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barberries" title="Barberries" class="mw-redirect">barberries</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walnuts" title="Walnuts" class="mw-redirect">walnuts</a>.</div> </div> </div> The cuisine of Iran is diverse, with each province featuring dishes, as well as culinary traditions and styles, distinct to their regions. The main Persian cuisines are combinations of rice with meat, chicken or fish and some onion, vegetables, nuts, and herbs. Herbs are frequently used along with fruits such as plums, pomegranates, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins. Iranians also usually eat plain <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogurt" title="Yogurt">yogurt</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian</a>: ماست, māst‎) with lunch and dinner; it is a staple of the diet in Iran. To achieve a balanced taste, characteristic flavourings such as saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and parsley are mixed delicately and used in some special dishes. Onions and garlic are normally used in the preparation of the accompanying course, but are also served separately during meals, either in raw or pickled form. Iranian cuisine has also greatly inspired its neighbors. Iran is also famous for its <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caviar" title="Caviar">caviar</a>.<a href="#cite_note-278">[278]</a> <h3>Sports</h3> <div class="hatnote relarticle mainarticle">Main article: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Iran" title="Sport in Iran">Sport in Iran</a></div> <div class="thumb tleft"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Azadistadium.jpg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Azadistadium.jpg/220px-Azadistadium.jpg" width="220" height="142" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Azadistadium.jpg/330px-Azadistadium.jpg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Azadistadium.jpg 2x" data-file-width="400" data-file-height="258"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Azadistadium.jpg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Iran" title="Football in Iran">Football</a> is among the favorite sports in Iran.</div> </div> </div> With two thirds of Iran's population under the age of 25, many sports are practised in Iran, both traditional and modern. Iran is the birthplace of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polo" title="Polo">polo</a>,<a href="#cite_note-279">[279]</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naqsh-i_Jahan_Square" title="Naqsh-i Jahan Square" class="mw-redirect">Naqsh-i Jahan Square</a> in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan" title="Isfahan">Isfahan</a> is a polo field which was built by king <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbas_I_of_Iran" title="Abbas I of Iran" class="mw-redirect">Abbas I</a> in the 17th century.) and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varzesh-e_Pahlavani" title="Varzesh-e Pahlavani" class="mw-redirect">Varzesh-e Pahlavani</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freestyle_wrestling" title="Freestyle wrestling">Freestyle wrestling</a> has been traditionally regarded as Iran's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_sport" title="National sport">national sport</a>. Iranian wrestling, known as koshti in Persian, has been practiced since ancient times throughout Iran. Iran's national wrestling team have been Olympic and world champion. Among the most popular sports in Iran is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football" title="Association football">football</a> with <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_national_football_team" title="Iran national football team">the national team</a> having won the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Cup" title="Asian Cup" class="mw-redirect">Asian Cup</a> on three occasions. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketball" title="Basketball">Basketball</a> is also very popular in Iran where the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_national_basketball_team" title="Iran national basketball team">national team</a> won three of the last four <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIBA_Asia_Championship" title="FIBA Asia Championship">Asian Championships</a>.<a href="#cite_note-280">[280]</a> In <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1974_Asian_Games" title="1974 Asian Games">1974</a>, Iran became the first country in West Asia to host the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Games" title="Asian Games">Asian Games</a>. <div class="thumb tright"> <div class="thumbinner" style="width:222px;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dizin,_Iran.jpeg" class="image"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg/220px-Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg" width="220" height="147" class="thumbimage" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg/330px-Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg/440px-Dizin%2C_Iran.jpeg 2x" data-file-width="789" data-file-height="526"/></a> <div class="thumbcaption"> <div class="magnify"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dizin,_Iran.jpeg" class="internal" title="Enlarge"></a></div> Skiers at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizin" title="Dizin">Dizin</a> ski resort</div> </div> </div> Iran is home to several unique skiing resorts.<a href="#cite_note-281">[281]</a> 13 ski resorts operate in Iran,<a href="#cite_note-chn.ir-282">[282]</a> the most famous being <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tochal" title="Tochal">Tochal</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dizin" title="Dizin">Dizin</a>, and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemshak" title="Shemshak">Shemshak</a>. All are within one to three hours traveling time of <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran" title="Tehran">Tehran</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tochal" title="Tochal">Tochal</a> resort is the world's fifth-highest ski resort (3,730 m or 12,238 ft at its highest station). Being a mountainous country, Iran is a venue for <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiking" title="Hiking">hiking</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_climbing" title="Rock climbing">rock climbing</a>,<a href="#cite_note-283">[283]</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_climbing" title="Mountain climbing" class="mw-redirect">mountain climbing</a>.<a href="#cite_note-284">[284]</a><a href="#cite_note-285">[285]</a> Among the most popular athletes in the country is <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hossein_Rezazadeh" title="Hossein Rezazadeh">Hossein Rezazadeh</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behdad_Salimi" title="Behdad Salimi">Behdad Salimi</a>. Volleyball it is Iran's second most popular sport in recent years. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_men%27s_national_volleyball_team" title="Iran men's national volleyball team">Men's National Team</a> ranked fourth in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIVB_Volleyball_World_League" title="2014 FIVB Volleyball World League">2014 FIVB Volleyball World League</a>, ranked six in <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIVB_Volleyball_Men%27s_World_Championship" title="2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship">2014 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship</a> and the best result an Asian nation ever achieved.<a href="#cite_note-286">[286]</a> Sportspeople in the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_diaspora" title="Iranian diaspora">Iranian diaspora</a>, such as <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aravane_Reza%C3%AF" title="Aravane Rezaï">Aravane Rezaï</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Agassi" title="Andre Agassi">Andre Agassi</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leila_Vaziri" title="Leila Vaziri">Leila Vaziri</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Gemili" title="Adam Gemili">Adam Gemili</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alecko_Eskandarian" title="Alecko Eskandarian">Alecko Eskandarian</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu_Darvish" title="Yu Darvish">Yu Darvish</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behrang_Safari" title="Behrang Safari">Behrang Safari</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrik_Baboumian" title="Patrik Baboumian">Patrik Baboumian</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Gemili" title="Adam Gemili">Adam Gemili</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawn_Daivari" title="Shawn Daivari">Shawn Daivari</a> and <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Sheik" title="Iron Sheik" class="mw-redirect">Iron Sheik</a> are also popular.<a href="#cite_note-287">[287]</a> <h2>See also</h2> <div class="noprint portal tright" style="border:solid #aaa 1px;margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em"> <table style="background:#f9f9f9;font-size:85%;line-height:110%;max-width:175px"> <tr style="vertical-align:middle"> <td style="text-align:center"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Iran.svg" class="image"><img alt="Portal icon" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/32px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="32" height="18" class="noviewer thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/48px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/64px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/></a></td> <td style="padding:0 0.2em;vertical-align:middle;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Iran" title="Portal:Iran">Iran portal</a></td> </tr> <tr style="vertical-align:middle"> <td style="text-align:center"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MiddleEast_blacky.svg" class="image"><img alt="Portal icon" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MiddleEast_blacky.svg/31px-MiddleEast_blacky.svg.png" width="31" height="28" class="noviewer" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MiddleEast_blacky.svg/47px-MiddleEast_blacky.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/MiddleEast_blacky.svg/62px-MiddleEast_blacky.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1551" data-file-height="1402"/></a></td> <td style="padding:0 0.2em;vertical-align:middle;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Middle_East" title="Portal:Middle East">Middle East portal</a></td> </tr> </table> </div> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iran-related_topics" title="List of Iran-related topics">List of Iran-related topics</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Iran" title="Outline of Iran">Outline of Iran</a></li> </ul> <h2>Bibliography</h2> <ul> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/pdf/CS_Iran.pdf">Iran: A Country Study</a>. 2008, Washington, D.C.: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a>, 354 pp.</li> </ul> <h2>References</h2> <div class="reflist columns references-column-width" style="-moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Temperman2010-1"><a href="#cite_ref-Temperman2010_1-0">^</a> Jeroen Temperman (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=Khag6tbsIn4C&pg=PA87">State-Religion Relationships and Human Rights Law: Towards a Right to Religiously Neutral Governance</a>. BRILL. pp. 87–. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-04-18148-2" title="Special:BookSources/90-04-18148-2">90-04-18148-2</a>. <q>The official motto of Iran is Takbir ("God is the Greatest" or "God is Great"). Transliteration Alahu Akbar. As referred to in art. 18 of the constitution of Iran (1979). The de facto motto however is: "Independence, freedom, the Islamic Republic."</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Jeroen+Temperman&rft.aulast=Jeroen+Temperman&rft.btitle=State-Religion+Relationships+and+Human+Rights+Law%3A+Towards+a+Right+to+Religiously+Neutral+Governance&rft.date=2010&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DKhag6tbsIn4C%26pg%3DPA87&rft.isbn=90-04-18148-2&rft.pages=87-&rft.pub=BRILL&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a> Ethnologue. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.ethnologue.org/show_country.asp?name=IR">"Iran"</a>. Ethnologue. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Ethnologue&rft.aulast=Ethnologue&rft.btitle=Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ethnologue.org%2Fshow_country.asp%3Fname%3DIR&rft.pub=Ethnologue&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Encyclop.C3.A6dia_Britannica_Encyclopedia_Article:_Media_ancient_region.2C_Iran-3">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclop.C3.A6dia_Britannica_Encyclopedia_Article:_Media_ancient_region.2C_Iran_3-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Encyclop.C3.A6dia_Britannica_Encyclopedia_Article:_Media_ancient_region.2C_Iran_3-1">b</a> Encyclopædia Britannica. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/372125/Media">"Encyclopædia Britannica Encyclopedia Article: Media ancient region, Iran"</a>. Britannica.com. Retrieved 25 August 2010.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft.aulast=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft.btitle=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica+Encyclopedia+Article%3A+Media+ancient+region%2C+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2FEBchecked%2Ftopic%2F372125%2FMedia&rft.pub=Britannica.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-AlirezaShahbazi-4"><a href="#cite_ref-AlirezaShahbazi_4-0">^</a> Alireza Shapur Shahbazi (2005), "The History of the Idea of Iran", in Vesta Curtis ed., Birth of the Persian Empire, IB Tauris, London, p. 108: "Similarly the collapse of Sassanian Eranshahr in AD 650 did not end Iranians' national idea. The name 'Iran' disappeared from official records of the Saffarids, Samanids, Buyids, Saljuqs and their successor. But one unofficially used the name Iran, Eranshahr, and similar national designations, particularly Mamalek-e Iran or "Iranian lands", which exactly translated the old Avestan term Ariyanam Daihunam. On the other hand, when the Safavids (not Reza Shah, as is popularly assumed) revived a national state officially known as Iran, bureaucratic usage in the Ottoman empire and even Iran itself could still refer to it by other descriptive and traditional appellations".</li> <li id="cite_note-Andrew_J._Newman_2006-5">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Andrew_J._Newman_2006_5-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Andrew_J._Newman_2006_5-1">b</a> Andrew J. Newman (21 April 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=afsYCq1XOewC">Safavid Iran: Rebirth of a Persian Empire</a>. I.B.Tauris. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-86064-667-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-86064-667-6">978-1-86064-667-6</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Andrew+J.+Newman&rft.aulast=Andrew+J.+Newman&rft.btitle=Safavid+Iran%3A+Rebirth+of+a+Persian+Empire&rft.date=21+April+2006&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DafsYCq1XOewC&rft.isbn=978-1-86064-667-6&rft.pub=I.B.Tauris&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.amar.org.ir/Default.aspx?tabid=133">"official population clock as of March 17, 2015"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external free" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.amar.org.ir/">http://www.amar.org.ir/</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=official+population+clock+as+of+March+17%2C+2015&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amar.org.ir%2FDefault.aspx%3Ftabid%3D133&rft.jtitle=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amar.org.ir%2F&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-imf1-7">^ <a href="#cite_ref-imf1_7-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-imf1_7-1">b</a> <a href="#cite_ref-imf1_7-2">c</a> <a href="#cite_ref-imf1_7-3">d</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/02/weodata/index.aspx">"Islamic Republic of Iran"</a>. International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 2 November 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Islamic+Republic+of+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imf.org%2Fexternal%2Fpubs%2Fft%2Fweo%2F2014%2F02%2Fweodata%2Findex.aspx&rft.pub=International+Monetary+Fund&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-TT5-8"><a href="#cite_ref-TT5_8-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.tehrantimes.com/economy-and-business/97430-central-bank-income-equality-improved-in-iran">Central bank: Income equality improved in Iran</a></li> <li id="cite_note-HDI-9"><a href="#cite_ref-HDI_9-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://hdr.undp.org/en/media/HDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf">"Human Development Report 2010"</a>. United Nations. 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Human+Development+Report+2010&rft.date=2010&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fhdr.undp.org%2Fen%2Fmedia%2FHDR_2011_EN_Table1.pdf&rft.pub=United+Nations&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/Iran?q=iran">"Definition for Iran – Oxford Dictionaries Online (World English)"</a>. Oxforddictionaries.com. Retrieved 7 April 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Definition+for+Iran+%E2%80%93+Oxford+Dictionaries+Online+%28World+English%29&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Foxforddictionaries.com%2Fdefinition%2FIran%3Fq%3Diran&rft.pub=Oxforddictionaries.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-AHD-11">^ <a href="#cite_ref-AHD_11-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-AHD_11-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/Iran">"Iran"</a>. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2000.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Iran&rft.btitle=The+American+Heritage+Dictionary+of+the+English+Language&rft.date=2000&rft.genre=bookitem&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Feducation.yahoo.com%2Freference%2Fdictionary%2Fentry%2FIran&rft.place=Boston&rft.pub=Houghton+Mifflin&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Iranicaonline.org-12"><a href="#cite_ref-Iranicaonline.org_12-0">^</a> D. N. Mackenzie (15 December 1998). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/eran-eransah">"Ērān, Ērānšahr"</a>. Encyclopaedia Iranica. iranicaonline.org. Retrieved 25 August 2010.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=%C4%92r%C4%81n%2C+%C4%92r%C4%81n%C5%A1ahr&rft.au=D.+N.+Mackenzie&rft.aulast=D.+N.+Mackenzie&rft.date=15+December+1998&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranicaonline.org%2Farticles%2Feran-eransah&rft.jtitle=Encyclopaedia+Iranica&rft.pub=iranicaonline.org&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-BBC-13">^ <a href="#cite_ref-BBC_13-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-BBC_13-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-14541327">"Iran Country Profile"</a>. BBC NEWS. Retrieved 8 August 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Iran+Country+Profile&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld-middle-east-14541327&rft.pub=BBC+NEWS&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://cesww.fas.harvard.edu/ces_definition.html">""CESWW" – Definition of Central Eurasia"</a>. Cesww.fas.harvard.edu. Retrieved 1 August 2010.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=%22CESWW%22+%E2%80%93+Definition+of+Central+Eurasia&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fcesww.fas.harvard.edu%2Fces_definition.html&rft.pub=Cesww.fas.harvard.edu&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/countries/country_iran.html">"Iran Guide"</a>. National Geographic. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Iran+Guide&rft.date=14+June+2013&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Ftravel.nationalgeographic.com%2Fplaces%2Fcountries%2Fcountry_iran.html&rft.pub=National+Geographic&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-britannica1-16">^ <a href="#cite_ref-britannica1_16-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-britannica1_16-1">b</a> <a href="#cite_ref-britannica1_16-2">c</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/293359/Iran">"Iran"</a>. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Iran&rft.date=2012&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2FEBchecked%2Ftopic%2F293359%2FIran&rft.jtitle=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft.pub=Encyclop%C3%A6dia+Britannica&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a> Christopher A Whatley (2001). Bought and Sold for English Gold: The Union of 1707 (Tuckwell Press, 2001)</li> <li id="cite_note-18"><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a> Lowell Barrington (January 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=yLLuWYL8gTsC&pg=PA121">Comparative Politics: Structures and Choices, 2nd ed.tr: Structures and Choices</a>. Cengage Learning. p. 121. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-111-34193-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-111-34193-0">978-1-111-34193-0</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>Like China, Iran is home to one of the world's oldest civilizations</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Lowell+Barrington&rft.au=Lowell+Barrington&rft.btitle=Comparative+Politics%3A+Structures+and+Choices%2C+2nd+ed.tr%3A+Structures+and+Choices&rft.date=January+2012&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DyLLuWYL8gTsC%26pg%3DPA121&rft.isbn=978-1-111-34193-0&rft.pages=121&rft.pub=Cengage+Learning&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-book-19"><a href="#cite_ref-book_19-0">^</a> David Sacks, Oswyn Murray, Lisa R. Brody; Oswyn Murray; Lisa R. Brody (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/?id=gsGmuQAACAAJ">Encyclopedia of the ancient Greek world</a>. Infobase Publishing. pp. 256 (at the right portion of the page). <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8160-5722-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8160-5722-1">978-0-8160-5722-1</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=David+Sacks%2C+Oswyn+Murray%2C+Lisa+R.+Brody&rft.aulast=David+Sacks%2C+Oswyn+Murray%2C+Lisa+R.+Brody&rft.au=Lisa+R.+Brody&rft.au=Oswyn+Murray&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+the+ancient+Greek+world&rft.date=2005&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2F%3Fid%3DgsGmuQAACAAJ&rft.isbn=978-0-8160-5722-1&rft.pages=256+%28at+the+right+portion+of+the+page%29&rft.pub=Infobase+Publishing&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-20"><a href="#cite_ref-20">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/sassanids/sassanids.php">"Sassanid Empire"</a>. Iran Chamber Society. Retrieved 3 June 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Sassanid+Empire&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranchamber.com%2Fhistory%2Fsassanids%2Fsassanids.php&rft.pub=Iran+Chamber+Society&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Levy2009-21"><a href="#cite_ref-Levy2009_21-0">^</a> Janey Levy (15 August 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=2s3cDwzE_bMC&pg=PA13">Iran and the Shia</a>. The Rosen Publishing Group. p. 13. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4358-5282-2" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4358-5282-2">978-1-4358-5282-2</a>. 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Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=The+Committee+Office%2C+House+of+Commons&rft.au=The+Committee+Office%2C+House+of+Commons&rft.btitle=Select+Committee+on+Foreign+Affairs%2C+Eighth+Report%2C+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.publications.parliament.uk%2Fpa%2Fcm200607%2Fcmselect%2Fcmfaff%2F363%2F36310.htm&rft.pub=Publications.parliament.uk&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-petro-hunt-27"><a href="#cite_ref-petro-hunt_27-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20100103021931/http://www.petro-hunt.com/lectures/LectureOpen.htm">"Iran @ 2000 and Beyond lecture series, opening address, W. Herbert Hunt, 18 May 2000"</a>. Wayback.archive.org. 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Retrieved 7 August 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=CIA+World+Factbook&rft.aulast=CIA+World+Factbook&rft.btitle=Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cia.gov%2Flibrary%2Fpublications%2Fthe-world-factbook%2Fgeos%2Fir.html&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-30"><a href="#cite_ref-30">^</a> World Heritage List, UNESCO World Heritage Sites official sites</li> <li id="cite_note-31"><a href="#cite_ref-31">^</a> <a class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://fa.wikisource.org/wiki/قانون_اساسی_جمهوری_اسلامی_ایران"><bdi lang="fa">قانون اساسی جمهوری اسلامی ایران</bdi></a> (in Persian). 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Costa Mesa: Mazda.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=%C4%92r%C4%81n%2C+%C4%92r%C4%81n%C5%A1ahr&rft.aufirst=David+Niel&rft.aulast=MacKenzie&rft.au=MacKenzie%2C+David+Niel&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+Iranica&rft.date=1998&rft.genre=bookitem&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranicaonline.org%2Farticles%2Feran-eransah&rft.place=Costa+Mesa&rft.pub=Mazda&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.volume=8" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-37"><a href="#cite_ref-37">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.persiansarenotarabs.com/renaming-persia/">"Renaming Persia"</a>. persiansarenotarabs.com. 2007. Retrieved 26 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Renaming+Persia&rft.date=2007&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.persiansarenotarabs.com%2Frenaming-persia%2F&rft.jtitle=persiansarenotarabs.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-artarena-38"><a href="#cite_ref-artarena_38-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.art-arena.com/history.html">"Persia or Iran, a brief history"</a>. Art-arena.com. 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CNN. <q>I spent all my life working in Iran. and as you know I don't mean Iran of today, I mean Greater Iran, the Iran which in the past, extended all the way from China to borders of Hungary and from other Mongolia to Mesopotamia</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=interview+by+Asieh+Namdar&rft.date=20+October+2007&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fazadegan.info%2Ffiles%2FDr.Frye-discusses-greater-Iran-on-CNN.mp4&rft.pub=CNN&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-40"><a href="#cite_ref-40">^</a> Christoph Marcinkowski (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=F9khRsDDuX8C&pg=PA83">Shi'ite Identities: Community and Culture in Changing Social Contexts</a>. LIT Verlag Münster. p. 83. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-643-80049-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-3-643-80049-7">978-3-643-80049-7</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>The 'historical lands of Iran' – 'Greater Iran' – were always known in the Persian language as Irānshahr or Irānzamīn.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Christoph+Marcinkowski&rft.aulast=Christoph+Marcinkowski&rft.btitle=Shi%27ite+Identities%3A+Community+and+Culture+in+Changing+Social+Contexts&rft.date=2010&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DF9khRsDDuX8C%26pg%3DPA83&rft.isbn=978-3-643-80049-7&rft.pages=83&rft.pub=LIT+Verlag+M%C3%BCnster&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-41"><a href="#cite_ref-41">^</a> Frye, Richard Nelson (October 1962). "Reitzenstein and Qumrân Revisited by an Iranian". The Harvard Theological Review 55 (4): 261–268. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_object_identifier" title="Digital object identifier">doi</a>:<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://dx.doi.org/10.1017%2FS0017816000007926">10.1017/S0017816000007926</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JSTOR" title="JSTOR">JSTOR</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.jstor.org/stable/1508723">1508723</a>. <q>I use the term Iran in an historical context[...]Persia would be used for the modern state, more or less equivalent to "western Iran". I use the term "Greater Iran" to mean what I suspect most Classicists and ancient historians really mean by their use of Persia – that which was within the political boundaries of States ruled by Iranians.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Reitzenstein+and+Qumr%C3%A2n+Revisited+by+an+Iranian&rft.aufirst=Richard+Nelson&rft.au=Frye%2C+Richard+Nelson&rft.aulast=Frye&rft.date=October+1962&rft.genre=article&rft_id=info%3Adoi%2F10.1017%2FS0017816000007926&rft.issue=4&rft.jstor=1508723&rft.jtitle=The+Harvard+Theological+Review&rft.pages=261-268&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.volume=55" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-42"><a href="#cite_ref-42">^</a> Mīr Khvānd, Muḥammad ibn Khāvandshāh, Tārīkh-i rawz̤at al-ṣafā. Taṣnīf Mīr Muḥammad ibn Sayyid Burhān al-Dīn Khāvand Shāh al-shahīr bi-Mīr Khvānd. Az rū-yi nusakh-i mutaʻaddadah-i muqābilah gardīdah va fihrist-i asāmī va aʻlām va qabāyil va kutub bā chāphā-yi digar mutamāyiz mībāshad.[Tehrān] Markazī-i Khayyām Pīrūz [1959–60]. ایرانشهر از کنار فرات تا جیهون است و وسط آبادانی عالم است. Iranshahr stretches from the Euphrates to the Oxus, and it is the center of the prosperity of the World</li> <li id="cite_note-43"><a href="#cite_ref-43">^</a> Richard Frye (23 May 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=9QOfAvCP1jkC&pg=PA13">Persia (RLE Iran A)</a>. Routledge. p. 13. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-84154-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-136-84154-5">978-1-136-84154-5</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>This 'greater Iran' included and still includes part of the Caucasus Mountains, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Iraq; for Kurds, Baluchis, Afghans, Tajiks, Ossetes, and other smaller groups are Iranians</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Richard+Frye&rft.au=Richard+Frye&rft.btitle=Persia+%28RLE+Iran+A%29&rft.date=23+May+2012&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D9QOfAvCP1jkC%26pg%3DPA13&rft.isbn=978-1-136-84154-5&rft.pages=13&rft.pub=Routledge&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-44"><a href="#cite_ref-44">^</a> Farrokh, Kaveh. Shadows in the Desert: Ancient Persia at War. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1846031087" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 1846031087</a></li> <li id="cite_note-45"><a href="#cite_ref-45">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fereidoun_Biglari" title="Fereidoun Biglari">Biglari, Fereidoun</a>; Saman Heydari; Sonia Shidrang. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/biglari302/">"Ganj Par: The first evidence for Lower Paleolithic occupation in the Southern Caspian Basin, Iran"</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiquity_(journal)" title="Antiquity (journal)">Antiquity</a>. Retrieved 27 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Biglari%2C+Fereidoun&rft.aufirst=Fereidoun&rft.aulast=Biglari&rft.au=Saman+Heydari&rft.au=Sonia+Shidrang&rft.btitle=Ganj+Par%3A+The+first+evidence+for+Lower+Paleolithic+occupation+in+the+Southern+Caspian+Basin%2C+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.antiquity.ac.uk%2Fprojgall%2Fbiglari302%2F&rft.pub=Antiquity&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Museum-46"><a href="#cite_ref-Museum_46-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.pbase.com/k_amj/tehran_museum">"National Museum of Iran"</a>. Pbase.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=National+Museum+of+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbase.com%2Fk_amj%2Ftehran_museum&rft.pub=Pbase.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-47"><a href="#cite_ref-47">^</a> J. D. Vigne; J. Peters; D. Helmer (August 2002). First Steps of Animal Domestication, Proceedings of the 9th Conference of the International Council of Archaeozoology. Oxbow Books, Limited. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84217-121-9" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-84217-121-9">978-1-84217-121-9</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=D.+Helmer&rft.au=J.+D.+Vigne&rft.au=J.+Peters&rft.aulast=J.+D.+Vigne&rft.btitle=First+Steps+of+Animal+Domestication%2C+Proceedings+of+the+9th+Conference+of+the+International+Council+of+Archaeozoology&rft.date=August+2002&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-1-84217-121-9&rft.pub=Oxbow+Books%2C+Limited&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-48"><a href="#cite_ref-48">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/early-humans-iran-were-growing-wheat-12-000-years-ago-f6C10536898">Early humans in Iran were growing wheat 12,000 years ago, First published July 5th 2013</a></li> <li id="cite_note-49"><a href="#cite_ref-49">^</a> "Emergence of Agriculture in the Foothills of the Zagros Mountains of Iran", by Simone Riehl, Mohsen Zeidi, Nicholas J. Conard - University of Tübingen, publication 10 May 2013</li> <li id="cite_note-50"><a href="#cite_ref-50">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/pubs/nn/spr97_alizadeh.html">"Excavations at Chogha Bonut: The earliest village in Susiana"</a>. Oi.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Excavations+at+Chogha+Bonut%3A+The+earliest+village+in+Susiana&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Foi.uchicago.edu%2Fresearch%2Fpubs%2Fnn%2Fspr97_alizadeh.html&rft.pub=Oi.uchicago.edu&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-51"><a href="#cite_ref-51">^</a> Hole, Frank (20 July 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/neolithic-age-in-iran">"NEOLITHIC AGE IN IRAN"</a>. Encyclopedia Iranica. Encyclopaedia Iranica Foundation. Retrieved 9 August 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=NEOLITHIC+AGE+IN+IRAN&rft.aufirst=Frank&rft.au=Hole%2C+Frank&rft.aulast=Hole&rft.date=20+July+2004&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranicaonline.org%2Farticles%2Fneolithic-age-in-iran&rft.jtitle=Encyclopedia+Iranica&rft.pub=Encyclopaedia+Iranica+Foundation&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-52"><a href="#cite_ref-52">^</a> Collon, Dominique (1995). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=RTGc9YH-C38C">Ancient Near Eastern Art</a>. University of California Press. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-520-20307-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-520-20307-5">978-0-520-20307-5</a>. Retrieved 4 July 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Collon%2C+Dominique&rft.aufirst=Dominique&rft.aulast=Collon&rft.btitle=Ancient+Near+Eastern+Art&rft.date=1995&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DRTGc9YH-C38C&rft.isbn=978-0-520-20307-5&rft.pub=University+of+California+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-53"><a href="#cite_ref-53">^</a> K. Kris Hirst. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://archaeology.about.com/od/cterms/g/choghamish.htm">"Chogha Mish (Iran)"</a>. Retrieved 18 December 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=K.+Kris+Hirst&rft.aulast=K.+Kris+Hirst&rft.btitle=Chogha+Mish+%28Iran%29&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Farchaeology.about.com%2Fod%2Fcterms%2Fg%2Fchoghamish.htm&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-xinhuaciv-54">^ <a href="#cite_ref-xinhuaciv_54-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-xinhuaciv_54-1">b</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-08/10/content_6508609.htm">"New evidence: modern civilization began in Iran"</a>. News.xinhuanet.com. 10 August 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=New+evidence%3A+modern+civilization+began+in+Iran&rft.date=10+August+2007&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.xinhuanet.com%2Fenglish%2F2007-08%2F10%2Fcontent_6508609.htm&rft.pub=News.xinhuanet.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-55"><a href="#cite_ref-55">^</a> D. T. Potts (29 July 1999). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=mc4cfzkRVj4C&pg=PA45">The Archaeology of Elam: Formation and Transformation of an Ancient Iranian State</a>. Cambridge University Press. pp. 45–46. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-56496-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-56496-0">978-0-521-56496-0</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=D.+T.+Potts&rft.aulast=D.+T.+Potts&rft.btitle=The+Archaeology+of+Elam%3A+Formation+and+Transformation+of+an+Ancient+Iranian+State&rft.date=29+July+1999&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dmc4cfzkRVj4C%26pg%3DPA45&rft.isbn=978-0-521-56496-0&rft.pages=45-46&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-iran-daily-56"><a href="#cite_ref-iran-daily_56-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20070312120827/http://www.iran-daily.com/1385/2795/html/panorama.htm">"Panorama – 03/03/07"</a>. Iran Daily. 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Retrieved 1 October 2007.</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot">dead link</a>]</li> <li id="cite_note-58"><a href="#cite_ref-58">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.ancientscripts.com/elamite.html">"Ancient Scripts:Elamite"</a>. 1996. Retrieved 28 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Ancient+Scripts%3AElamite&rft.date=1996&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ancientscripts.com%2Felamite.html&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-59"><a href="#cite_ref-59">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/114">"Persepolis"</a>. UNESCO. 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Retrieved 28 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Iran+%28Ethnic+Groups%29&rft.au=Afary%2C+Janet&rft.aufirst=Janet&rft.au=Khosrow+Mostofi&rft.aulast=Afary&rft.au=Peter+William+Avery&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2FEBchecked%2Ftopic%2F293359%2FIran&rft.jtitle=Encyclopedia+Britannica&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Georges_Roux_-_Ancient_Iraq-63">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Georges_Roux_-_Ancient_Iraq_63-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Georges_Roux_-_Ancient_Iraq_63-1">b</a> Georges Roux – Ancient Iraq</li> <li id="cite_note-64"><a href="#cite_ref-64">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/median/median.php">"Median Empire"</a>. Iran Chamber Society. 2001. 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Retrieved 2014-07-23.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Maka&rft.date=2008-11-26&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.livius.org%2Fmaa-mam%2Fmaka%2Fmaka.html&rft.pub=Livius.org&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-66"><a href="#cite_ref-66">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/244117/Greco-Persian-Wars">"Greco-Persian Wars"</a>. Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 29 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Greco-Persian+Wars&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2FEBchecked%2Ftopic%2F244117%2FGreco-Persian-Wars&rft.jtitle=Encyclopedia+Britannica&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-67"><a href="#cite_ref-67">^</a> Schmitt, Rüdiger. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranica.com/newsite/articles/unicode/v1f4/v1f4a109.html">"Achaemenid dynasty"</a>. Encyclopaedia Iranica. vol. 3. Routledge & Kegan Paul.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Achaemenid+dynasty&rft.aufirst=R%C3%BCdiger&rft.aulast=Schmitt&rft.au=Schmitt%2C+R%C3%BCdiger&rft.btitle=Encyclopaedia+Iranica&rft.genre=bookitem&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranica.com%2Fnewsite%2Farticles%2Funicode%2Fv1f4%2Fv1f4a109.html&rft.pub=Routledge+%26+Kegan+Paul&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.volume=vol.+3" class="Z3988"> [<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot">dead link</a>]</li> <li id="cite_note-68"><a href="#cite_ref-68">^</a> Jakobsson, Jens (2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/seleucids/seleucids.php">"Seleucid Empire"</a>. Iran Chamber Society. Retrieved 29 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Jens&rft.au=Jakobsson%2C+Jens&rft.aulast=Jakobsson&rft.btitle=Seleucid+Empire&rft.date=2004&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranchamber.com%2Fhistory%2Fseleucids%2Fseleucids.php&rft.pub=Iran+Chamber+Society&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-69"><a href="#cite_ref-69">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/sassanids/sassanids.php">"Sassanid Empire"</a>. Iran Chamber Society. Retrieved 29 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Sassanid+Empire&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranchamber.com%2Fhistory%2Fsassanids%2Fsassanids.php&rft.pub=Iran+Chamber+Society&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-70"><a href="#cite_ref-70">^</a> George Liska (1998). Expanding Realism: The Historical Dimension of World Politics. Rowman & Littlefield Pub Incorporated. p. 170. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-8476-8680-3" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-8476-8680-3">978-0-8476-8680-3</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=George+Liska&rft.aulast=George+Liska&rft.btitle=Expanding+Realism%3A+The+Historical+Dimension+of+World+Politics&rft.date=1998&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-0-8476-8680-3&rft.pages=170&rft.pub=Rowman+%26+Littlefield+Pub+Incorporated&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-71"><a href="#cite_ref-71">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/stearns_awl/chapter12/objectives/deluxe-content.html">"The Rise and Spread of Islam, The Arab Empire of the Umayyads -Weakness of the Adversary Empires"</a>. Occawlonline.pearsoned.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=The+Rise+and+Spread+of+Islam%2C+The+Arab+Empire+of+the+Umayyads+-Weakness+of+the+Adversary+Empires&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Foccawlonline.pearsoned.com%2Fbookbind%2Fpubbooks%2Fstearns_awl%2Fchapter12%2Fobjectives%2Fdeluxe-content.html&rft.pub=Occawlonline.pearsoned.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-rnfrye-72">^ <a href="#cite_ref-rnfrye_72-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-rnfrye_72-1">b</a> Richard Nelson Frye (26 June 1975). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=hvx9jq_2L3EC&pg=PA396">The Cambridge History of Iran</a> 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 396. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-20093-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-20093-6">978-0-521-20093-6</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Richard+Nelson+Frye&rft.au=Richard+Nelson+Frye&rft.btitle=The+Cambridge+History+of+Iran&rft.date=26+June+1975&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dhvx9jq_2L3EC%26pg%3DPA396&rft.isbn=978-0-521-20093-6&rft.pages=396&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.volume=4" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-73"><a href="#cite_ref-73">^</a> H. Patrick Glenn, Legal Traditions of the World. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press" title="Oxford University Press">Oxford University Press</a>, 2007, pg. 218–219.</li> <li id="cite_note-74"><a href="#cite_ref-74">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://occawlonline.pearsoned.com/bookbind/pubbooks/stearns_awl/chapter12/objectives/deluxe-content.html">"The Arab Empire of the Umayyads – Converts and "People of the Book""</a>. Occawlonline.pearsoned.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=The+Arab+Empire+of+the+Umayyads+%E2%80%93+Converts+and+%22People+of+the+Book%22&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Foccawlonline.pearsoned.com%2Fbookbind%2Fpubbooks%2Fstearns_awl%2Fchapter12%2Fobjectives%2Fdeluxe-content.html&rft.pub=Occawlonline.pearsoned.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-75"><a href="#cite_ref-75">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.religionfacts.com/islam/history/abbasid.htm">"Islamic History: The Abbasid Dynasty"</a>. Religion Facts. Retrieved 30 April 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Islamic+History%3A+The+Abbasid+Dynasty&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.religionfacts.com%2Fislam%2Fhistory%2Fabbasid.htm&rft.pub=Religion+Facts&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-wsu-76">^ <a href="#cite_ref-wsu_76-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-wsu_76-1">b</a> Hooker, Richard (1996). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20110629114400/http://public.wsu.edu/~dee/ISLAM/ABASSID.HTM">"The Abbasid Dynasty"</a>. Washington State University. Retrieved 17 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Richard&rft.au=Hooker%2C+Richard&rft.aulast=Hooker&rft.btitle=The+Abbasid+Dynasty&rft.date=1996&rft.genre=book&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwayback.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20110629114400%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fpublic.wsu.edu%2F~dee%2FISLAM%2FABASSID.HTM&rft.pub=Washington+State+University&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-77"><a href="#cite_ref-77">^</a> Joel Carmichael (1967). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=miKMbXCejLMC">The Shaping of the Arabs</a>. p. 235. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>Abu Muslim, the Persian general and popular leader</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Joel+Carmichael&rft.aulast=Joel+Carmichael&rft.btitle=The+Shaping+of+the+Arabs&rft.date=1967&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DmiKMbXCejLMC&rft.pages=235&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-78"><a href="#cite_ref-78">^</a> Frye, Richard Nelson (1960). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=4ZkfAAAAIAAJ">Iran</a> (2, revised ed.). G. Allen & Unwin. p. 47. Retrieved 23 June 2013. <q>A Persian Muslim called Abu Muslim.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Richard+Nelson&rft.au=Frye%2C+Richard+Nelson&rft.aulast=Frye&rft.btitle=Iran&rft.date=1960&rft.edition=2%2C+revised&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D4ZkfAAAAIAAJ&rft.pages=47&rft.pub=G.+Allen+%26+Unwin&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-79"><a href="#cite_ref-79">^</a> Richard Nelson Frye (26 June 1975). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=hvx9jq_2L3EC&pg=PA90">The Cambridge History of Iran</a> 4. Cambridge University Press. p. 90. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-20093-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-20093-6">978-0-521-20093-6</a>. Retrieved 23 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Richard+Nelson+Frye&rft.au=Richard+Nelson+Frye&rft.btitle=The+Cambridge+History+of+Iran&rft.date=26+June+1975&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dhvx9jq_2L3EC%26pg%3DPA90&rft.isbn=978-0-521-20093-6&rft.pages=90&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.volume=4" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-AHGC-80"><a href="#cite_ref-AHGC_80-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/fractured/">"The Islamic World to 1600"</a>. Ucalgary.ca. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=The+Islamic+World+to+1600&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ucalgary.ca%2Fapplied_history%2Ftutor%2Fislam%2Ffractured%2F&rft.pub=Ucalgary.ca&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-81"><a href="#cite_ref-81">^</a> Richard G. Hovannisian; Georges Sabagh (1998). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=39XZDnOWUXsC&pg=PA7">The Persian Presence in the Islamic World</a>. Cambridge University Press. p. 7. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-59185-0" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-521-59185-0">978-0-521-59185-0</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>The Golden age of Islam [...] attributable, in no small measure, to the vital participation of Persian men of letters, philosophers, theologians, grammarians, mathematicians, musicians, astronomers, geographers, and physicians</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Georges+Sabagh&rft.aulast=Richard+G.+Hovannisian&rft.au=Richard+G.+Hovannisian&rft.btitle=The+Persian+Presence+in+the+Islamic+World&rft.date=1998&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D39XZDnOWUXsC%26pg%3DPA7&rft.isbn=978-0-521-59185-0&rft.pages=7&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-82"><a href="#cite_ref-82">^</a> Bernard Lewis (2 May 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=Yq5AUlWjZpsC&pg=PA44">From Babel to Dragomans : Interpreting the Middle East: Interpreting the Middle East</a>. Oxford University Press. p. 44. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-803863-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-19-803863-4">978-0-19-803863-4</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>...the Iranian contribution to this new Islamic civilization is of immense importance.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Bernard+Lewis&rft.aulast=Bernard+Lewis&rft.btitle=From+Babel+to+Dragomans+%3A+Interpreting+the+Middle+East%3A+Interpreting+the+Middle+East&rft.date=2+May+2004&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DYq5AUlWjZpsC%26pg%3DPA44&rft.isbn=978-0-19-803863-4&rft.pages=44&rft.pub=Oxford+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-83"><a href="#cite_ref-83">^</a> Bosworth, C. E. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ajam-the-name-given-in-medieval-arabic-literature-to-the-non-arabs-of-the-islamic-empire-but-applied-especially-to-the-per">"ʿAjam"</a>. Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 23 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Bosworth%2C+C.+E.&rft.aufirst=C.+E.&rft.aulast=Bosworth&rft.btitle=%CA%BFAjam&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranicaonline.org%2Farticles%2Fajam-the-name-given-in-medieval-arabic-literature-to-the-non-arabs-of-the-islamic-empire-but-applied-especially-to-the-per&rft.pub=Encyclopaedia+Iranica&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-thePersians-84">^ <a href="#cite_ref-thePersians_84-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-thePersians_84-1">b</a> <a href="#cite_ref-thePersians_84-2">c</a> <a href="#cite_ref-thePersians_84-3">d</a> Gene R. Garthwaite (15 April 2008). The Persians. Wiley. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4051-4400-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-4051-4400-1">978-1-4051-4400-1</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Gene+R.+Garthwaite&rft.aulast=Gene+R.+Garthwaite&rft.btitle=The+Persians&rft.date=15+April+2008&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-1-4051-4400-1&rft.pub=Wiley&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Immortal-85">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Immortal_85-0">a</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Immortal_85-1">b</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Immortal_85-2">c</a> <a href="#cite_ref-Immortal_85-3">d</a> Steven R. Ward (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=8eUTLaaVOOQC&pg=PA39">Immortal: A Military History of Iran and Its Armed Forces</a>. Georgetown University Press. p. 39. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-58901-587-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-58901-587-6">978-1-58901-587-6</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Steven+R.+Ward&rft.au=Steven+R.+Ward&rft.btitle=Immortal%3A+A+Military+History+of+Iran+and+Its+Armed+Forces&rft.date=2009&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D8eUTLaaVOOQC%26pg%3DPA39&rft.isbn=978-1-58901-587-6&rft.pages=39&rft.pub=Georgetown+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-86"><a href="#cite_ref-86">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/Irans-Hidden-Jewel.html?c=y&page=2">"Isfahan: Iran's Hidden Jewel"</a>. Smithsonianmag.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Isfahan%3A+Iran%27s+Hidden+Jewel&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.smithsonianmag.com%2Fpeople-places%2FIrans-Hidden-Jewel.html%3Fc%3Dy%26page%3D2&rft.pub=Smithsonianmag.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-87"><a href="#cite_ref-87">^</a> Spuler, Bertold (1960). The Muslim World. Vol. I The Age of the Caliphs. E.J. Brill. p. 29. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-685-23328-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-685-23328-6">0-685-23328-6</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Bertold&rft.aulast=Spuler&rft.au=Spuler%2C+Bertold&rft.btitle=The+Muslim+World.+Vol.+I+The+Age+of+the+Caliphs&rft.date=1960&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=0-685-23328-6&rft.pages=29&rft.pub=E.J.+Brill&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-BBCReligion-88"><a href="#cite_ref-BBCReligion_88-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/history/safavidempire_1.shtml">"Safavid Empire (1501–1722)"</a>. BBC Religion. BBC. 7 September 2009. Retrieved 20 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Safavid+Empire+%281501%E2%80%931722%29&rft.date=7+September+2009&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Freligion%2Freligions%2Fislam%2Fhistory%2Fsafavidempire_1.shtml&rft.jtitle=BBC+Religion&rft.pub=BBC&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-89"><a href="#cite_ref-89">^</a> Muhammad Ali ibn Abd al-Bayg ign Ali Quli Jabbadar?. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://warfare.atspace.eu/Persia/Nadir%20Shah%20Invades%20India.htm">"Nadir Shah at the sack of Delhi"</a>. mid-1700's.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Muhammad+Ali+ibn+Abd+al-Bayg+ign+Ali+Quli+Jabbadar%3F&rft.au=Muhammad+Ali+ibn+Abd+al-Bayg+ign+Ali+Quli+Jabbadar%3F&rft.btitle=Nadir+Shah+at+the+sack+of+Delhi&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwarfare.atspace.eu%2FPersia%2FNadir%2520Shah%2520Invades%2520India.htm&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-90"><a href="#cite_ref-90">^</a> Farrokh, Kaveh. Iran at War: 1500-1988. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1780962215" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 1780962215</a></li> <li id="cite_note-91"><a href="#cite_ref-91">^</a> Yeroushalmi, David (2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=XYlGS3s3zTQC&pg=PA327&dq#v=onepage&q=&f=false">The Jews of Iran in the nineteenth century: aspects of history, community</a>. BRILL. p. 327. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/90-04-15288-1" title="Special:BookSources/90-04-15288-1">90-04-15288-1</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=David&rft.aulast=Yeroushalmi&rft.au=Yeroushalmi%2C+David&rft.btitle=The+Jews+of+Iran+in+the+nineteenth+century%3A+aspects+of+history%2C+community&rft.date=2009&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DXYlGS3s3zTQC%26pg%3DPA327%26dq%23v%3Donepage%26q%3D%26f%3Dfalse&rft.isbn=90-04-15288-1&rft.pages=327&rft.pub=BRILL&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Kinzer2011-92"><a href="#cite_ref-Kinzer2011_92-0">^</a> Stephen Kinzer (1 June 2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=pNz-3o_GQwsC&pg=PT10">All the Shah's Men</a>. John Wiley & Sons. p. 10. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-118-14440-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-118-14440-4">978-1-118-14440-4</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Stephen+Kinzer&rft.au=Stephen+Kinzer&rft.btitle=All+the+Shah%27s+Men&rft.date=1+June+2011&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DpNz-3o_GQwsC%26pg%3DPT10&rft.isbn=978-1-118-14440-4&rft.pages=10&rft.pub=John+Wiley+%26+Sons&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-93"><a href="#cite_ref-93">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyLUeiTRF7o">Conversations with History: U.S. Iran and Saudi Arabia with Andrew Scott Cooper</a></li> <li id="cite_note-94"><a href="#cite_ref-94">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php">"Islamic Revolution of 1979"</a>. Iranchamber.com. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Islamic+Revolution+of+1979&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iranchamber.com%2Fhistory%2Fislamic_revolution%2Fislamic_revolution.php&rft.pub=Iranchamber.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-95"><a href="#cite_ref-95">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.webcitation.org/query?id=1257012838707054">Islamic Revolution of Iran</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Encarta" title="Encarta">Encarta</a>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761588431/Islamic_Revolution_of_Iran.html">the original</a> on 31 October 2009. Retrieved 19 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Islamic+Revolution+of+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fencarta.msn.com%2Fencyclopedia_761588431%2FIslamic_Revolution_of_Iran.html&rft.pub=Encarta&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-96"><a href="#cite_ref-96">^</a> Fereydoun Hoveyda, The Shah and the Ayatollah: Iranian Mythology and Islamic Revolution <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0275978583" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0-275-97858-3</a>, Praeger Publishers</li> <li id="cite_note-97"><a href="#cite_ref-97">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.fsmitha.com/h2/ch29ir.html">"The Iranian Revolution"</a>. Fsmitha.com. 22 March 1963. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=The+Iranian+Revolution&rft.date=22+March+1963&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fsmitha.com%2Fh2%2Fch29ir.html&rft.pub=Fsmitha.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-BBC_this_day-98"><a href="#cite_ref-BBC_this_day_98-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/1/newsid_2521000/2521003.stm">"BBC On this Day Feb 1 1979"</a>. BBC. Retrieved 25 November 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=BBC+On+this+Day+Feb+1+1979&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2Fonthisday%2Fhi%2Fdates%2Fstories%2Ffebruary%2F1%2Fnewsid_2521000%2F2521003.stm&rft.pub=BBC&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-99"><a href="#cite_ref-99">^</a> Jahangir Amuzegar (1991). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=3KL5FvOejKkC&pg=PA4">The Dynamics of the Iranian Revolution: The Pahlavis' Triumph and Tragedy</a>. SUNY Press. pp. 4, 9–12. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7914-9483-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7914-9483-7">978-0-7914-9483-7</a>. Retrieved 22 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Jahangir+Amuzegar&rft.aulast=Jahangir+Amuzegar&rft.btitle=The+Dynamics+of+the+Iranian+Revolution%3A+The+Pahlavis%27+Triumph+and+Tragedy&rft.date=1991&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D3KL5FvOejKkC%26pg%3DPA4&rft.isbn=978-0-7914-9483-7&rft.pages=4%2C+9-12&rft.pub=SUNY+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-Benard-100"><a href="#cite_ref-Benard_100-0">^</a> Cheryl Benard (1984). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=sKLCQgAACAAJ">"The Government of God": Iran's Islamic Republic</a>. Columbia University Press. p. 18. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-231-05376-1" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-231-05376-1">978-0-231-05376-1</a>. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Cheryl+Benard&rft.aulast=Cheryl+Benard&rft.btitle=%22The+Government+of+God%22%3A+Iran%27s+Islamic+Republic&rft.date=1984&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DsKLCQgAACAAJ&rft.isbn=978-0-231-05376-1&rft.pages=18&rft.pub=Columbia+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-isw206-101"><a href="#cite_ref-isw206_101-0">^</a> Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics. University of Washington Press. 2002. p. 206. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0295982069" title="Special:BookSources/978-0295982069">978-0295982069</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Iran+and+the+Surrounding+World%3A+Interactions+in+Culture+and+Cultural+Politics&rft.date=2002&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-0295982069&rft.pages=206&rft.pub=University+of+Washington+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-carterpbs-102"><a href="#cite_ref-carterpbs_102-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/carter/sfeature/sf_hostage.html">"American Experience, Jimmy Carter, "444 Days: America Reacts""</a>. Pbs.org. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=American+Experience%2C+Jimmy+Carter%2C+%22444+Days%3A+America+Reacts%22&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pbs.org%2Fwgbh%2Famex%2Fcarter%2Fsfeature%2Fsf_hostage.html&rft.pub=Pbs.org&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-103"><a href="#cite_ref-103">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilip_Hiro" title="Dilip Hiro">Hiro, Dilip</a> (1991). The Longest War: The Iran-Iraq Military Conflict. New York: Routledge. p. 205. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780415904063" title="Special:BookSources/9780415904063">9780415904063</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC" title="OCLC">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/22347651">22347651</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Dilip&rft.au=Hiro%2C+Dilip&rft.aulast=Hiro&rft.btitle=The+Longest+War%3A+The+Iran-Iraq+Military+Conflict&rft.date=1991&rft.genre=book&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F22347651&rft.isbn=9780415904063&rft.pages=205&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=Routledge&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-104"><a href="#cite_ref-104">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ervand_Abrahamian" title="Ervand Abrahamian">Abrahamian, Ervand</a> (2008). A History of Modern Iran. Cambridge, U.K.; New York: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambridge_University_Press" title="Cambridge University Press">Cambridge University Press</a>. pp. 171–175, 212. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780521528917" title="Special:BookSources/9780521528917">9780521528917</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC" title="OCLC">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/171111098">171111098</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Abrahamian%2C+Ervand&rft.aufirst=Ervand&rft.aulast=Abrahamian&rft.btitle=A+History+of+Modern+Iran&rft.date=2008&rft.genre=book&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F171111098&rft.isbn=9780521528917&rft.pages=171-175%2C+212&rft.place=Cambridge%2C+U.K.%3B+New+York&rft.pub=Cambridge+University+Press&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-autogenerated3-105"><a href="#cite_ref-autogenerated3_105-0">^</a> Dan De Luce in Tehran (4 May 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/may/04/iran">"The Guardian, Tuesday 4 May 2004, Khatami blames clerics for failure"</a>. 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Retrieved March 22, 2011.</li> <li id="cite_note-LOC7-176"><a href="#cite_ref-LOC7_176-0">^</a> Curtis, Glenn; Hooglund, Eric (April 2008). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/pdf/CS_Iran.pdf">"Iran, a country study"</a> (PDF). 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Retrieved 9 June 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Persians%3A+Kind%2C+hospitable%2C+tolerant+flattering+cheats%3F&rft.au=Chardin%2C+Sir+John&rft.aufirst=Sir+John&rft.aulast=Chardin&rft.date=June+1997&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Firanian.com%2FTravelers%2FJune97%2FChardin%2Findex.shtml&rft.jtitle=The+Iranian&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988">  Excerpted from: <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Chardin" title="Jean Chardin">Chardin, Sir John</a> (1988). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=5jPL0A31H5MC&pg=PA183#v=twopage&q&f=false">"Book 2, Chapter XI: Of the Temper, Manners, and Customs of the Persians: A XVII th. Century Viewpoint"</a>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=5jPL0A31H5MC">Travels in Persia, 1673–1677</a>. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 183–197. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780486256368" title="Special:BookSources/9780486256368">9780486256368</a>. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLC" title="OCLC">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/798310290">798310290</a>. Retrieved 9 June 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Book+2%2C+Chapter+XI%3A+Of+the+Temper%2C+Manners%2C+and+Customs+of+the+Persians%3A+A+XVII+th.+Century+Viewpoint&rft.au=Chardin%2C+Sir+John&rft.aufirst=Sir+John&rft.aulast=Chardin&rft.btitle=Travels+in+Persia%2C+1673%E2%80%931677&rft.date=1988&rft.genre=bookitem&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D5jPL0A31H5MC&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F798310290&rft.isbn=9780486256368&rft.pages=183-197&rft.place=New+York&rft.pub=Dover+Publications&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="cite_note-224"><a href="#cite_ref-224">^</a> Sönmez, Metin (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://web.archive.org/web/20060616064333/http://www.circassianworld.com/Circassians.html">"Circassians"</a>. Circassian World. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.circassianworld.com/new/articles/1124-who-are-circassians.html">the original</a> on 16 June 2006. Retrieved 9 June 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Metin&rft.aulast=S%C3%B6nmez&rft.au=S%C3%B6nmez%2C+Metin&rft.btitle=Circassians&rft.date=2005&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.circassianworld.com%2Fnew%2Farticles%2F1124-who-are-circassians.html&rft.pub=Circassian+World&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-225"><a href="#cite_ref-225">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Iran.pdf">"Country Profile: Iran"</a> (PDF). Washington, D.C.: <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Research_Division" title="Federal Research Division">Federal Research Division</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_of_Congress" title="Library of Congress">Library of Congress</a>. May 2008. p. 5. Retrieved 9 June 2014.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Country+Profile%3A+Iran&rft.date=May+2008&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Flcweb2.loc.gov%2Ffrd%2Fcs%2Fprofiles%2FIran.pdf&rft.pages=5&rft.place=Washington%2C+D.C.&rft.pub=Federal+Research+Division%2C+Library+of+Congress&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-226"><a href="#cite_ref-226">^</a> Walter Martin (1 October 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=Yra4KhlMBYQC&pg=PA421">Kingdom of the Cults, The</a>. Baker Books. p. 421. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7642-2821-6" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-7642-2821-6">978-0-7642-2821-6</a>. Retrieved 24 June 2013. <q>Ninety-five percent of Iran's Muslims are Shi'ites.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=Walter+Martin&rft.au=Walter+Martin&rft.btitle=Kingdom+of+the+Cults%2C+The&rft.date=1+October+2003&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DYra4KhlMBYQC%26pg%3DPA421&rft.isbn=978-0-7642-2821-6&rft.pages=421&rft.pub=Baker+Books&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-227"><a href="#cite_ref-227">^</a> Bhabani Sen Gupta (1987). The Persian Gulf and South Asia: prospects and problems of inter-regional cooperation. South Asian Publishers. p. 158. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-81-7003-077-5" title="Special:BookSources/978-81-7003-077-5">978-81-7003-077-5</a>. <q>Shias constitute seventy-five percent of the population of the Gulf. Of this, ninety-five percent of Iranians and sixty of Iraqis are Shias.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Bhabani+Sen+Gupta&rft.aulast=Bhabani+Sen+Gupta&rft.btitle=The+Persian+Gulf+and+South+Asia%3A+prospects+and+problems+of+inter-regional+cooperation&rft.date=1987&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-81-7003-077-5&rft.pages=158&rft.pub=South+Asian+Publishers&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-saving-228"><a href="#cite_ref-saving_228-0">^</a> Contrera, Russell. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.hollandsentinel.com/lifestyle/x1558731033/Saving-the-people-killing-the-faith">"Saving the people, killing the faith – Holland, MI"</a>. The Holland Sentinel. Retrieved 2015-03-07.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Contrera%2C+Russell&rft.aufirst=Russell&rft.aulast=Contrera&rft.btitle=Saving+the+people%2C+killing+the+faith%26nbsp%3B%E2%80%93+Holland%2C+MI&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollandsentinel.com%2Flifestyle%2Fx1558731033%2FSaving-the-people-killing-the-faith&rft.pub=The+Holland+Sentinel&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-229"><a href="#cite_ref-229">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/Files/abstract/1390/n_sarshomari90_2.pdf">2011 General Cencus Selected Results</a>, Statistical Center of Iran, 2012, p. 26, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-964-365-827-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-964-365-827-4">978-964-365-827-4</a><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=2011+General+Cencus+Selected+Results&rft.date=2012&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amar.org.ir%2FPortals%2F0%2FFiles%2Fabstract%2F1390%2Fn_sarshomari90_2.pdf&rft.isbn=978-964-365-827-4&rft.pages=26&rft.pub=Statistical+Center+of+Iran&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-IranCensusMurder-230"><a href="#cite_ref-IranCensusMurder_230-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.timesofisrael.com/jewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute/#ixzz3Ac6duaqw">"Jewish woman brutally murdered in Iran over property dispute"</a>. The Times of Israel. November 28, 2012. Retrieved Aug 16, 2014. <q>A government census published earlier this year indicated there were a mere 8,756 Jews left in Iran</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Jewish+woman+brutally+murdered+in+Iran+over+property+dispute&rft.date=November+28%2C+2012&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.timesofisrael.com%2Fjewish-woman-brutally-murdered-in-iran-over-property-dispute%2F%23ixzz3Ac6duaqw&rft.pub=The+Times+of+Israel&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-231"><a href="#cite_ref-231">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=107018&sectionid=351020101">Ahmadinejad: Religious minorities live freely in Iran (PressTV, 24 Sep 2009)</a></li> <li id="cite_note-232"><a href="#cite_ref-232">^</a> Country Information and Guidance "Christians and Christian converts, Iran" December 2014. p.9</li> <li id="cite_note-IRFR2009-Iran-233"><a href="#cite_ref-IRFR2009-Iran_233-0">^</a> U.S. State Department (26 October 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127347.htm">"Iran – International Religious Freedom Report 2009"</a>. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affair. Retrieved 1 December 2009.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aulast=U.S.+State+Department&rft.au=U.S.+State+Department&rft.btitle=Iran+%E2%80%93+International+Religious+Freedom+Report+2009&rft.date=26+October+2009&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.state.gov%2Fg%2Fdrl%2Frls%2Firf%2F2009%2F127347.htm&rft.pub=The+Office+of+Electronic+Information%2C+Bureau+of+Public+Affair&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-fdih2-234"><a href="#cite_ref-fdih2_234-0">^</a> International Federation for Human Rights (1 August 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a.pdf">"Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran"</a> (PDF). fdih.org. p. 6. Retrieved 17 January 2009.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=International+Federation+for+Human+Rights&rft.aulast=International+Federation+for+Human+Rights&rft.btitle=Discrimination+against+religious+minorities+in+Iran&rft.date=1+August+2003&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.fidh.org%2FIMG%2Fpdf%2Fir0108a.pdf&rft.pages=6&rft.pub=fdih.org&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-fdih1-235"><a href="#cite_ref-fdih1_235-0">^</a> International Federation for Human Rights (1 August 2003). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/ir0108a.pdf">"Discrimination against religious minorities in Iran"</a> (PDF). fdih.org. 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Transoxiana.com.ar. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Sassanids+in+Africa&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.transoxiana.com.ar%2F0104%2Fsasanians.html&rft.pub=Transoxiana.com.ar&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-243"><a href="#cite_ref-243">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.artarena.force9.co.uk/sass2.htm">"Iransaga: The art of Sassanids"</a>. Artarena.force9.co.uk. 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FT.com. Retrieved 2013-10-04.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Mehrnosh&rft.au=Khalaj%2C+Mehrnosh&rft.aulast=Khalaj&rft.btitle=Iran%E2%80%99s+oldest+craft+left+behind&rft.date=2010-02-10&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ft.com%2Fcms%2Fs%2F0%2F5a5c0444-1669-11df-bf44-00144feab49a.html%3Fftcamp%3Drss&rft.pub=FT.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-250"><a href="#cite_ref-250">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Pope" title="Arthur Pope" class="mw-redirect">Arthur Pope</a>, Introducing Persian Architecture. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_University_Press" title="Oxford University Press">Oxford University Press</a>. London. 1971.</li> <li id="cite_note-251"><a href="#cite_ref-251">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Upham_Pope" title="Arthur Upham Pope">Arthur Upham Pope</a>. Persian Architecture. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Braziller" title="George Braziller">George Braziller</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York" title="New York">New York</a>, 1965. p.266</li> <li id="cite_note-252"><a href="#cite_ref-252">^</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Upham_Pope" title="Arthur Upham Pope">Arthur Upham Pope</a>. Persian Architecture. George Braziller, New York, 1965. p.266</li> <li id="cite_note-253"><a href="#cite_ref-253">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20101124090123/http://www1.american.edu/ted/iran-tour.htm">"Virtual Conference"</a>. American.edu. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Virtual+Conference&rft.genre=book&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwayback.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20101124090123%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww1.american.edu%2Fted%2Firan-tour.htm&rft.pub=American.edu&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-254"><a href="#cite_ref-254">^</a> Arthur John Arberry, The Legacy of Persia, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1953, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0198219059" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0-19-821905-9</a>, p. 200.</li> <li id="cite_note-255"><a href="#cite_ref-255">^</a> Von David Levinson; Karen Christensen, Encyclopedia of Modern Asia, Charles Scribner's Sons. 2002 p. 48</li> <li id="cite_note-256"><a href="#cite_ref-256">^</a> David Levinson; Karen Christensen (2002). Encyclopedia of Modern Asia: Iaido to Malay. Charles Scribner's Sons. p. 48. <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Number" title="International Standard Book Number">ISBN</a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-684-80617-4" title="Special:BookSources/978-0-684-80617-4">978-0-684-80617-4</a>.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=David+Levinson&rft.au=Karen+Christensen&rft.aulast=David+Levinson&rft.btitle=Encyclopedia+of+Modern+Asia%3A+Iaido+to+Malay&rft.date=2002&rft.genre=book&rft.isbn=978-0-684-80617-4&rft.pages=48&rft.pub=Charles+Scribner%27s+Sons&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-257"><a href="#cite_ref-257">^</a> François de Blois (April 2004). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://books.google.com/books?id=F-lH8aQ9-HsC&pg=363">Persian Literature: A Bio-bibliographical Survey</a> 5. 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Retrieved 21 June 2013. <q>Nizami Ganja’i, whose personal name was Ilyas, is the most celebrated native poet of the Persians after Firdausi.</q><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.au=Fran%C3%A7ois+de+Blois&rft.aulast=Fran%C3%A7ois+de+Blois&rft.btitle=Persian+Literature%3A+A+Bio-bibliographical+Survey&rft.date=April+2004&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DF-lH8aQ9-HsC%26pg%3D363&rft.isbn=978-0-947593-47-6&rft.pages=363&rft.pub=Routledge&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.volume=5" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-258"><a href="#cite_ref-258">^</a> Sarkhosh-Curtis, V., Persian Myths (1993) London, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0714120820" class="internal mw-magiclink-isbn">ISBN 0-7141-2082-0</a></li> <li id="cite_note-259"><a href="#cite_ref-259">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=121693&sectionid=351020101">"Leaders of regional countries to mark Nowruz"</a>. PressTV. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Leaders+of+regional+countries+to+mark+Nowruz&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.presstv.com%2Fdetail.aspx%3Fid%3D121693%26sectionid%3D351020101&rft.pub=PressTV&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-260"><a href="#cite_ref-260">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20100306060954/http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/march_2010/norouz_persian_new_year.aspx">"Norouz Persian New Year"</a>. British Museum. 25 March 2010. 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The Heritage Trust.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=World%E2%80%99s+oldest+animation%3F&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theheritagetrust.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F07%2F25%2Fworlds-oldest-animation&rft.jtitle=The+Heritage+Trust&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-275"><a href="#cite_ref-275">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/8045">"Oldest Animation Discovered In Iran"</a>. Animation Magazine.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Oldest+Animation+Discovered+In+Iran&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.animationmagazine.net%2Farticle%2F8045&rft.jtitle=Animation+Magazine&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-276"><a href="#cite_ref-276">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://tehran-animafest.ir/first_fest/about_pg/about_history_first_fest_en.htm">"Tehran International Animation Festival (1st Festival 1999 )"</a>. tehran-animafest.ir.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Tehran+International+Animation+Festival+%281st+Festival+1999+%29&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Ftehran-animafest.ir%2Ffirst_fest%2Fabout_pg%2Fabout_history_first_fest_en.htm&rft.jtitle=tehran-animafest.ir&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-277"><a href="#cite_ref-277">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.animation-festivals.com/festivals/tehran-international-animation-festival-tiaf">"Tehran International Animation Festival (TIAF)"</a>. animation-festivals.com.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Tehran+International+Animation+Festival+%28TIAF%29&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.animation-festivals.com%2Ffestivals%2Ftehran-international-animation-festival-tiaf&rft.jtitle=animation-festivals.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-278"><a href="#cite_ref-278">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wayback.archive.org/web/20050716074736/http://www.iran-daily.com/1383/2228/html/focus.htm">"Sturgeon Stocks Slump"</a>. Iran-daily.com. Retrieved 21 June 2013.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Sturgeon+Stocks+Slump&rft.genre=book&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwayback.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20050716074736%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.iran-daily.com%2F1383%2F2228%2Fhtml%2Ffocus.htm&rft.pub=Iran-daily.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-279"><a href="#cite_ref-279">^</a> Harrison, Frances (22 September 2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4272210.stm">"Polo comes back home to Iran"</a>. BBC News. Retrieved 23 January 2008.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Polo+comes+back+home+to+Iran&rft.aufirst=Frances&rft.au=Harrison%2C+Frances&rft.aulast=Harrison&rft.date=22+September+2005&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.bbc.co.uk%2F2%2Fhi%2Fmiddle_east%2F4272210.stm&rft.jtitle=BBC+News&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-280"><a href="#cite_ref-280">^</a> Alipour, Sam (21 April 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3671265">"Mission Improbable"</a>. ESPN. Retrieved 21 April 2012.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.atitle=Mission+Improbable&rft.au=Alipour%2C+Sam&rft.aufirst=Sam&rft.aulast=Alipour&rft.date=21+April+2012&rft.genre=article&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fsports.espn.go.com%2Fespnmag%2Fstory%3Fid%3D3671265&rft.jtitle=ESPN&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-281"><a href="#cite_ref-281">^</a> Wolfensberger, Marc (13 April 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000088&sid=aGpcjac1ZTF8&refer=culture">"Iran's Sun, Snow Lure European Skiers to Nuclear Pariah's 'Fun'"</a>. Bloomberg. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.aufirst=Marc&rft.aulast=Wolfensberger&rft.au=Wolfensberger%2C+Marc&rft.btitle=Iran%27s+Sun%2C+Snow+Lure+European+Skiers+to+Nuclear+Pariah%27s+%27Fun%27&rft.date=13+April+2006&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fapps%2Fnews%3Fpid%3D10000088%26sid%3DaGpcjac1ZTF8%26refer%3Dculture&rft.pub=Bloomberg&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-chn.ir-282"><a href="#cite_ref-chn.ir_282-0">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.chn.ir/en/news/?section=1&id=1494">[3]</a>[<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Link_rot" title="Wikipedia:Link rot">dead link</a>]</li> <li id="cite_note-283"><a href="#cite_ref-283">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.rockclimbing.com/">"Rock Climbing Routes, Gear, Photos, Videos & Articles"</a>. Rockclimbing.com. 27 October 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Rock+Climbing+Routes%2C+Gear%2C+Photos%2C+Videos+%26+Articles&rft.date=27+October+2009&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rockclimbing.com%2F&rft.pub=Rockclimbing.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-284"><a href="#cite_ref-284">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.mountainzone.ir/">"Iran Mountain Zone (IMZ)"</a>. Mountainzone.ir. 11 June 1966. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Iran+Mountain+Zone+%28IMZ%29&rft.date=11+June+1966&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mountainzone.ir%2F&rft.pub=Mountainzone.ir&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-285"><a href="#cite_ref-285">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.abc-of-mountaineering.com/middle-east/iran/">"Mountaineering in Iran"</a>. Abc-of-mountaineering.com. Retrieved 18 June 2011.<span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AIran&rft.btitle=Mountaineering+in+Iran&rft.genre=book&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.abc-of-mountaineering.com%2Fmiddle-east%2Firan%2F&rft.pub=Abc-of-mountaineering.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook" class="Z3988"> </li> <li id="cite_note-286"><a href="#cite_ref-286">^</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81243703/All_News/Iran%CB%88s_world%CB%88s_4th_volleyball_power_in_FIVB_League,_best_Asian_rank_ever">Iranˈs world 4th volleyball power in FIVB League, best Asian rank ever</a> Irna</li> <li id="cite_note-287"><a href="#cite_ref-287">^</a> Anthropology of the Middle East and North Africa, - Page 312, Sherine Hafez, Susan Slyomovics - 2013</li> </ol> </div> <h2>External links</h2> <table class="metadata plainlinks mbox-small" style="padding:0.25em 0.5em 0.5em 0.75em;border:1px solid #aaa;background:#f9f9f9;"> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="padding-bottom:0.75em;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa;text-align:center;"> <div style="clear:both;">Find more about Iran at Wikipedia's <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Wikimedia_sister_projects" title="Wikipedia:Wikimedia sister projects">sister projects</a></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td style="padding-top:0.75em;"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" title="Search Wiktionary"><img alt="Search Wiktionary" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Wiktionary-logo-en.svg/23px-Wiktionary-logo-en.svg.png" width="23" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Wiktionary-logo-en.svg/35px-Wiktionary-logo-en.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Wiktionary-logo-en.svg/46px-Wiktionary-logo-en.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="1089"/></a></td> <td style="padding-top:0.75em;"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" class="extiw" title="wikt:Special:Search/Iran">Definitions</a> from Wiktionary</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="Search Commons"><img alt="Search Commons" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png" width="18" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/28px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/37px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" class="extiw" title="commons:ایران">Media</a> from Commons</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" title="Search Wikinews"><img alt="Search Wikinews" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/25px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png" width="25" height="14" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/38px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Wikinews-logo.svg/50px-Wikinews-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="759" data-file-height="415"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" class="extiw" title="n:Special:Search/Iran">News stories</a> from Wikinews</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" title="Search Wikiquote"><img alt="Search Wikiquote" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/21px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png" width="21" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/32px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/42px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="300" data-file-height="355"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" class="extiw" title="q:Special:Search/Iran">Quotations</a> from Wikiquote</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" title="Search Wikisource"><img alt="Search Wikisource" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/24px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png" width="24" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/36px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/48px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="410" data-file-height="430"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" class="extiw" title="s:Special:Search/Iran">Source texts</a> from Wikisource</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Iran" title="Search Wikivoyage"><img alt="Search Wikivoyage" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/25px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png" width="25" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/38px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/50px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="193" data-file-height="193"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Iran" class="extiw" title="voy:Iran">Travel guide</a> from Wikivoyage</td> </tr> <tr style="height:25px;"> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" title="Search Wikiversity"><img alt="Search Wikiversity" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Wikiversity-logo-en.svg/25px-Wikiversity-logo-en.svg.png" width="25" height="23" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Wikiversity-logo-en.svg/38px-Wikiversity-logo-en.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Wikiversity-logo-en.svg/50px-Wikiversity-logo-en.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1000" data-file-height="900"/></a></td> <td><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Special:Search/Iran" class="extiw" title="v:Special:Search/Iran">Learning resources</a> from Wikiversity</td> </tr> </table> <ul> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.leader.ir/langs/en/">The e-office of the Supreme Leader of Iran</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://www.president.ir/en/">The President of Iran</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://en.iran.ir/">Iran.ir</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html">Iran</a> entry at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_World_Factbook" title="The World Factbook">The World Factbook</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://ucblibraries.colorado.edu/govpubs/for/iran.htm">Iran</a> web resources provided by GovPubs at the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Colorado_at_Boulder#Library" title="University of Colorado at Boulder" class="mw-redirect">University of Colorado–Boulder Libraries</a></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Middle_East/Iran">Iran</a> at <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMOZ" title="DMOZ">DMOZ</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/16px-Gnome-globe.svg.png" width="16" height="16" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/24px-Gnome-globe.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/32px-Gnome-globe.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="48" data-file-height="48"/> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Atlas_of_Iran" class="extiw" title="commons:Atlas of Iran">Wikimedia Atlas of Iran</a></li> </ul> <dl> <dt>Videos</dt> </dl> <ul> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.youtube.com/iranprogrampresstv">Iran</a>—Weekly program that explores Iran's past, present and future with exclusive reports. (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PressTV" title="PressTV" class="mw-redirect">PressTV</a>)</li> </ul> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#e8e8ff;">  <div style="font-size:110%">Articles related to Iran</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px;padding:0px;font-size:113%;"> <div style="padding:0px;"> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks hlist collapsible expanded navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Iran_topics" title="Template:Iran topics">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Iran_topics" title="Template talk:Iran topics">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Iran_topics&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran"><img alt="Iran" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/></a> Iran topics</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style=";">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Iran" title="History of Iran">History</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"> <div><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prehistory_of_Iran" title="Prehistory of Iran">Prehistory</a></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Ancient</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">3200–550 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Before_Common_Era" title="Before Common Era" class="mw-redirect">BCE</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proto-Elamite" title="Proto-Elamite">Proto-Elamite civilization (3200–2800 BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elam" title="Elam">Elamite dynasties (2800–550 BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bactria%E2%80%93Margiana_Archaeological_Complex" title="Bactria–Margiana Archaeological Complex">Bactria–Margiana Complex (2200–1700 BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannaeans" title="Mannaeans">Kingdom of Mannai (10th–7th century BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medes" title="Medes">Median Empire (728–550 BCE)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">550 BCE– 224 <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_Era" title="Common Era">CE</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_Empire" title="Achaemenid Empire">Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atropatene" title="Atropatene">Atropatene (320s BC–3rd century AD)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seleucid_Empire" title="Seleucid Empire">Seleucid Empire (330–150 BCE)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthian_Empire" title="Parthian Empire">Parthian Empire (248 BCE –  224 CE)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">224–651 CE</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sasanian_Empire" title="Sasanian Empire">Sasanian Empire (224–651 CE)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Medieval</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">637 – 1055</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashidun_Caliphate" title="Rashidun Caliphate">Patriarchal Caliphate (637–651)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umayyad_Caliphate" title="Umayyad Caliphate">Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbasid_Caliphate" title="Abbasid Caliphate">Abbasid Caliphate (750–1258)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahirid_dynasty" title="Tahirid dynasty">Tahirid dynasty (821–873)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alid_dynasties_of_northern_Iran" title="Alid dynasties of northern Iran">Alavid dynasty (864–928)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saffarid_dynasty" title="Saffarid dynasty">Saffarid dynasty (861–1003)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samanid_Empire" title="Samanid Empire">Samanid dynasty (819–999)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziyarid_dynasty" title="Ziyarid dynasty">Ziyarid dynasty (928–1043)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buyid_dynasty" title="Buyid dynasty">Buyid dynasty (934–1062)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">975 – 1432</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghaznavids" title="Ghaznavids">Ghaznavid Empire (975–1187)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghurid_dynasty" title="Ghurid dynasty">Ghurid dynasty (1011–1215)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seljuq_Empire" title="Seljuq Empire" class="mw-redirect">Seljuk Empire (1037–1194)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khwarazmian_dynasty" title="Khwarazmian dynasty">Khwarazmian dynasty (1077–1231)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilkhanate" title="Ilkhanate">Ilkhanate (1256–1335)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kurt_dynasty" title="Kurt dynasty">Kurt dynasty (1231–1389)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzaffarids_(Iran)" title="Muzaffarids (Iran)">Muzaffarid dynasty (1314–1393)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chobanids" title="Chobanids">Chobanid dynasty (1337–1357)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jalairid_Sultanate" title="Jalairid Sultanate">Jalairid Sultanate dynasty (1339–1432)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">1370 – 1925</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timurid_dynasty" title="Timurid dynasty">Timurid Empire (1370–1506)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kara_Koyunlu" title="Kara Koyunlu">Qara Qoyunlu Turcomans (1375–1468)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aq_Qoyunlu" title="Aq Qoyunlu">Aq Qoyunlu Turcomans (1378–1508)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safavid_dynasty" title="Safavid dynasty">Safavid Empire (1501 – 1722 / 1736)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotaki_Empire" title="Hotaki Empire" class="mw-redirect">Hotaki Empire (1722–29)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afsharid_dynasty" title="Afsharid dynasty">Afsharid dynasty (1736–50)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zand_dynasty" title="Zand dynasty">Zand Dynasty (1750–94)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durrani_Empire" title="Durrani Empire">Durrani Empire (1794–1826)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_dynasty" title="Qajar dynasty">Qajar Dynasty (1794–1925)</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Modern</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;">1925 – 1979</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pahlavi_dynasty" title="Pahlavi dynasty">Pahlavi dynasty (1925–1979)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Constituent_Assembly,_1949" title="Iran Constituent Assembly, 1949">Iran Constituent Assembly, 1949</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1953_Iranian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat" title="1953 Iranian coup d'état">1953 coup d'état</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Revolution" title="Iranian Revolution">Iranian Revolution (1979)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interim_Government_of_Iran" title="Interim Government of Iran">Interim Government</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:9.0em;font-weight:normal;font-size:85%;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Islamic Republic of Iran" class="mw-redirect">Islamic Republic</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="History of the Islamic Republic of Iran">History (1979–)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_separatism_in_Khuzestan" title="Arab separatism in Khuzestan">Arab separatism in Khuzestan</a> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Embassy_siege" title="Iranian Embassy siege">Embassy siege (1980)</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93Iraq_War" title="Iran–Iraq War">Iran–Iraq War (1980–88)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1987_Mecca_incident" title="1987 Mecca incident">Iranian pilgrim massacre (1987)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Air_Flight_655" title="Iran Air Flight 655">Iran Air Flight 655 shootdown (1988)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran%E2%80%93PJAK_conflict" title="Iran–PJAK conflict">PJAK insurgency</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balochistan_conflict" title="Balochistan conflict">Balochistan conflict</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrian_Civil_War" title="Syrian Civil War">Syrian Civil War</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="font-weight:normal;">See also</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Iran" title="Ancient Iran" class="mw-redirect">Ancient Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Iran" title="Greater Iran">Greater Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranians" title="Indo-Iranians">Indo-Iranians</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranian_languages" title="Indo-Iranian languages">languages</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiroft_culture" title="Jiroft culture">Jiroft culture</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aryan" title="Aryan">Aryans</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_people" title="Persian people">Persian people</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_peoples" title="Iranian peoples">Iranian peoples</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_kings_of_Persia" title="List of kings of Persia">Kings of Persia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Iran" title="Military history of Iran">Military history</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Years_in_Iran" title="Years in Iran">Years in Iran</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style=";">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Iran" title="Geography of Iran">Geography</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cities_in_Iran" title="Category:Cities in Iran">Cities</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_in_Iran" title="List of cities in Iran">list</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_earthquakes_in_Iran" title="List of earthquakes in Iran">Earthquakes</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan_(Iran)" title="Azerbaijan (Iran)">Iranian Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistan_and_Baluchestan_Province" title="Sistan and Baluchestan Province">Iranian Balochistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Kurdistan" title="Iranian Kurdistan">Iranian Kurdistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_plateau" title="Iranian plateau" class="mw-redirect">Iranian plateau</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_islands_of_Iran" title="List of islands of Iran">Islands</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mountains_in_Iran" title="List of mountains in Iran">Mountains</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Iran" title="Provinces of Iran">Provinces</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Iran" title="Wildlife of Iran">Wildlife</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style=";">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Iran" title="Politics of Iran">Politics</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">General</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_in_Iran" title="Censorship in Iran">Censorship</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Constitution</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Constitutional_Revolution" title="Persian Constitutional Revolution">Persian Constitutional Revolution</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elections_in_Iran" title="Elections in Iran">Elections</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_presidential_election,_2009" title="Iranian presidential election, 2009">2009 presidential</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Iranian_election_protests" title="2009–10 Iranian election protests" class="mw-redirect">Green Revolution</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_relations_of_Iran" title="Foreign relations of Iran">Foreign relations</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights_in_Iran" title="Human rights in Iran">Human rights</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_Iran" title="LGBT rights in Iran">LGBT</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_system_of_Iran" title="Judicial system of Iran">Judicial system</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Military</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Army" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Army">Army</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Air_Force" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force">Air Force</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Navy" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Navy">Navy</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Intelligence_and_National_Security_(Iran)" title="Ministry of Intelligence and National Security (Iran)" class="mw-redirect">Ministry of Intelligence and National Security</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran" title="Nuclear program of Iran">Nuclear program</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1747" title="United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747">UN Security Council Resolution 1747</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_political_parties_in_Iran" title="List of political parties in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Political parties</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Principlism_in_Iran" title="Islamic Principlism in Iran">Principlists</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propaganda_in_Iran" title="Propaganda in Iran">Propaganda</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_reform_movement" title="Iranian reform movement">Reformists</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrorism_in_Iran" title="Terrorism in Iran">Terrorism</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_and_state-sponsored_terrorism" title="Iran and state-sponsored terrorism">state-sponsorship allegations</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Revolution" title="White Revolution">White Revolution (1963)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_rights_movement_in_Iran" title="Women's rights movement in Iran">Women's rights movement</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Councils</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_of_Experts" title="Assembly of Experts">Assembly (or Council) of Experts</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expediency_Discernment_Council" title="Expediency Discernment Council">Expediency Discernment Council</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_and_Village_Councils_of_Iran" title="City and Village Councils of Iran">City and Village Councils</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guardian_Council" title="Guardian Council">Guardian Council</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Consultative_Assembly" title="Islamic Consultative Assembly">Islamic Consultative Assembly (parliament)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_National_Security_Council" title="Supreme National Security Council">Supreme National Security Council</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_officials" title="List of Iranian officials">Officials</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_Iranian_ambassadors" title="List of current Iranian ambassadors" class="mw-redirect">Ambassadors</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Iran" title="President of Iran">President</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_Iranian_provincial_governors" title="List of current Iranian provincial governors" class="mw-redirect">Provincial governors</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Leader_of_Iran" title="Supreme Leader of Iran">Supreme Leader</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style=";">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iran" title="Economy of Iran">Economy</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">General</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bonyad" title="Bonyad">Bonyad (charitable trust)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_drain_in_Iran" title="Brain drain in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Brain drain</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companies_of_Iran" title="List of companies of Iran">Companies</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_industry_in_Iran" title="Automotive industry in Iran">Automotive industry</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Iran" title="Corruption in Iran">Corruption</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Cooperation_Organization" title="Economic Cooperation Organization">Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_history_of_Iran" title="Economic history of Iran">Economic history</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Economic_Reform_Plan" title="Iranian Economic Reform Plan" class="mw-redirect">Economic Reform Plan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Iran" title="Energy in Iran">Energy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_issues_in_Iran" title="Environmental issues in Iran">Environmental issues</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_direct_investment_in_Iran" title="Foreign direct investment in Iran">Foreign direct investment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property_in_Iran" title="Intellectual property in Iran">Intellectual property</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_oil_bourse" title="Iranian oil bourse">International oil bourse</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_Iran" title="International rankings of Iran">International rankings</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_and_the_World_Trade_Organization" title="Iran and the World Trade Organization">Iran and the World Trade Organization</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxation_in_Iran" title="Taxation in Iran">Taxation</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_economic_laws_in_Iran" title="List of economic laws in Iran">Main economic laws</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_the_Middle_East" title="Economy of the Middle East">Economy of the Middle East</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milad_Tower" title="Milad Tower">Milad Tower and complex</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_equipment_manufactured_in_Iran" title="List of military equipment manufactured in Iran">Military equipment manufactured</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_industry_of_Iran" title="Defense industry of Iran">Defense industry</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_program_of_Iran" title="Nuclear program of Iran">Nuclear program</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1747" title="United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747">UN Security Council Resolution 1747</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privatization_in_Iran" title="Privatization in Iran">Privatization</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_rial" title="Iranian rial">Rial (currency)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Space_Agency" title="Iranian Space Agency">Space Agency</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setad" title="Setad">Setad</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Audit_Court_of_Iran" title="Supreme Audit Court of Iran">Supreme Audit Court</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Stock_Exchange" title="Tehran Stock Exchange">Tehran Stock Exchange</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_sector" title="Economic sector">Sectors</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Iran" title="Agriculture in Iran">Agriculture</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fruit_in_Iran" title="Fruit in Iran" class="mw-redirect">fruit</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banking_and_insurance_in_Iran" title="Banking and insurance in Iran">Banking and insurance</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banks_in_Iran" title="List of banks in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Banks</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bank_of_the_Islamic_Republic_of_Iran" title="Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran">Central Bank</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetab_Banking_System" title="Shetab Banking System">Electronic banking</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Construction_industry_of_Iran" title="Construction industry of Iran">Construction</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industry_of_Iran" title="Industry of Iran">Industry</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Iran" title="Mining in Iran">Mining</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_industry_in_Iran" title="Petroleum industry in Iran">Petroleum</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Persian_Oil_Company" title="Anglo-Persian Oil Company">Anglo-Persian Oil Company</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Iran" title="Telecommunications in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Telecommunications</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunication_Company_of_Iran" title="Telecommunication Company of Iran">TCI</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Iran" title="Transport in Iran">Transport</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airlines_of_Iran" title="List of airlines of Iran">airlines</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Metro" title="Tehran Metro">metro</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Railways" title="Islamic Republic of Iran Railways">railways</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRISL_Group" title="IRISL Group">shipping</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Iran" title="Tourism in Iran">Tourism</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="padding:0.35em 1.0em;line-height:1.2em;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government-owned_corporation" title="Government-owned corporation">State-owned companies</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IDRO_Group" title="IDRO Group">Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Aviation_Industries_Organization" title="Iran Aviation Industries Organization">Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_Electronics_Industries" title="Iran Electronics Industries">Iran Electronics Industries (IEI)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Iranian_Oil_Company" title="National Iranian Oil Company">National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Development_Fund_of_Iran" title="National Development Fund of Iran">National Development Fund</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Places</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asaluyeh" title="Asaluyeh">Asaluyeh industrial corridor</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chabahar_Free_Trade-Industrial_Zone" title="Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone">Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kish_Island" title="Kish Island">Kish Island Free Trade Zone</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_research_centers" title="List of Iranian research centers">Research centers</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style=";">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Iranian_society" title="Category:Iranian society">Society</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Demographics</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="font-weight:normal;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Iran" title="Languages of Iran">Languages</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_language" title="Persian language">Persian (Farsi)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_language" title="Armenian language">Armenian</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijani_language" title="Azerbaijani language">Azerbaijani</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Iranian_languages" title="Indo-Iranian languages">Indo-Iranian</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_languages" title="Iranian languages">Iranian</a>)</li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="font-weight:normal;">Peoples</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Iran" title="Demographics of Iran">Iranian citizens</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_diaspora" title="Iranian diaspora">abroad</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_minorities_in_Iran" title="Ethnic minorities in Iran">Ethnic minorities</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Armenians" title="Iranian Armenians">Armenians</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_people_in_Iran" title="Chinese people in Iran">Chinese people</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Azerbaijanis" title="Iranian Azerbaijanis">Iranian Azerbaijanis</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koreans_in_Iran" title="Koreans in Iran">Koreans</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Jews" title="Persian Jews">Persian Jews</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="font-weight:normal;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Iran" title="Religion in Iran">Religion</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Iran" title="Islam in Iran">Islam</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%AD_Faith_in_Iran" title="Bahá'í Faith in Iran">Bahá'í</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Bah%C3%A1%27%C3%ADs" title="Persecution of Bahá'ís">persecution</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Iran" title="Christianity in Iran">Christianity</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrians_in_Iran" title="Zoroastrians in Iran">Zoroastrians</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Zoroastrians" title="Persecution of Zoroastrians">persecution</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religious_minorities_in_Iran" title="Religious minorities in Iran" class="mw-redirect">minorities</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="font-weight:normal;">Other</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corruption_in_Iran" title="Corruption in Iran">Corruption</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_Iran" title="Crime in Iran">Crime</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Iran" title="Education in Iran">Education</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education_in_Iran" title="Higher education in Iran">higher</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_scientists_and_scholars" title="List of Iranian scientists and scholars" class="mw-redirect">scientists and scholars</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_Iran" title="List of universities in Iran">universities</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_drain_in_Iran" title="Brain drain in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Brain drain</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_Iran" title="Health care in Iran">Health care</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_rankings_of_Iran" title="International rankings of Iran">International rankings</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_nationality_law" title="Iranian nationality law">Nationality</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Iran" title="Water supply and sanitation in Iran">Water supply and sanitation</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_Iran" title="Women in Iran">Women</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Iran" title="Culture of Iran">Culture</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_architecture" title="Iranian architecture">Architecture</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Achaemenid_architecture" title="Achaemenid architecture">Achaemenid</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_architects" title="List of Iranian architects">architects</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_art" title="Iranian art">Art</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_modern_and_contemporary_art" title="Iranian modern and contemporary art">modern / contemporary</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogging_in_Iran" title="Blogging in Iran">Blogs</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_calendars" title="Iranian calendars">Calendars</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nowruz" title="Nowruz">Persian New Year (Nowruz)</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chador" title="Chador">Chādor (garment)</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Chicago_Persian_antiquities_crisis" title="University of Chicago Persian antiquities crisis">Chicago Persian antiquities crisis</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_Iran" title="Cinema of Iran">Cinema</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Crown_Jewels" title="Iranian Crown Jewels">Crown jewels</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_cuisine" title="Iranian cuisine">Cuisine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_folklore" title="Iranian folklore">Folklore</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_movements_in_Iran" title="Intellectual movements in Iran">Intellectual movements</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranians" title="List of Iranians">Iranians</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_studies" title="Iranian studies">Iranian studies</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Iran" title="Islam in Iran">Islam</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamization_of_Iran" title="Islamization of Iran">Islamization</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_literature" title="Persian literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_of_Iran" title="Media of Iran">Media</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Iranian_news_agencies" title="List of Iranian news agencies" class="mw-redirect">news agencies</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_Students_News_Agency" title="Iranian Students News Agency">student</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_newspapers_in_Iran" title="List of newspapers in Iran">newspapers</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_mythology" title="Persian mythology">Mythology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_symbols_of_Iran" title="National symbols of Iran">National symbols</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Anthem_of_Iran" title="Imperial Anthem of Iran">Imperial Anthem</a>)</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_in_Iran" title="Opium in Iran">Opium consumption</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_gardens" title="Persian gardens">Persian gardens</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_name" title="Persian name">Persian name</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_philosophy" title="Iranian philosophy">Philosophy</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Iran" title="Public holidays in Iran">Public holidays</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scouting_in_Iran" title="Scouting in Iran">Scouting</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_in_Iran" title="Sport in Iran">Sport</a> (<a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_in_Iran" title="Football in Iran">football</a>)</li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:5.2em;font-weight:normal;"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Iran" title="Music of Iran">Music</a></th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_folk_music" title="Iranian folk music">Folk</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music_in_Iran" title="Heavy metal music in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Heavy metal</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_pop_music" title="Persian pop music">Pop</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranian_hip_hop" title="Iranian hip hop">Rap and hip-hop</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rock_and_alternative_music_in_Iran" title="Rock and alternative music in Iran" class="mw-redirect">Rock and alternative</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_traditional_music" title="Persian traditional music">Traditional</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ey_Iran" title="Ey Iran">Ey Iran</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Other topics</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Science_and_technology_in_Iran" title="Science and technology in Iran">Science and technology</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Iranian_sentiment" title="Anti-Iranian sentiment">Anti-Iranian sentiment</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehrangeles" title="Tehrangeles">Tehrangeles</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="font-weight:bold;"> <div> <ul> <li><img alt="Category" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg/16px-Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg.png" title="Category" width="16" height="14" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg/24px-Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/48/Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg/32px-Folder_Hexagonal_Icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="36" data-file-height="31"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Iran" title="Category:Iran">Category</a></li> <li><img alt="Portal" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/Portal-puzzle.svg/16px-Portal-puzzle.svg.png" title="Portal" width="16" height="14" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/Portal-puzzle.svg/24px-Portal-puzzle.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/fd/Portal-puzzle.svg/32px-Portal-puzzle.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="32" data-file-height="28"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Iran" title="Portal:Iran">Portal</a></li> <li><img alt="WikiProject" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/16px-People_icon.svg.png" title="WikiProject" width="16" height="16" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/24px-People_icon.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/People_icon.svg/32px-People_icon.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="100" data-file-height="100"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Iran" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Iran">WikiProject</a></li> <li><img alt="Commons page" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/12px-Commons-logo.svg.png" title="Commons page" width="12" height="16" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/18px-Commons-logo.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/24px-Commons-logo.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1024" data-file-height="1376"/> <a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Iran" class="extiw" title="commons:Category:Iran">Commons</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2" style="background:#e8e8ff;">  <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gnome-globe.svg" class="image"><img alt="Gnome-globe.svg" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/25px-Gnome-globe.svg.png" width="25" height="25" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/38px-Gnome-globe.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Gnome-globe.svg/50px-Gnome-globe.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="48" data-file-height="48"/></a> Geographic locale</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px;padding:0px;font-size:113%;"> <div style="padding:0px;"> <table class="navbox" style="text-align: center; width:80%; font-size:95%; margin:0.5em auto"> <tr> <td style="width:0%; padding-right:5px" rowspan="5"> <div class="center"> <div class="floatnone"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/50px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png" width="50" height="50" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/75px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/100px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="440" data-file-height="440"/></div> </div> </td> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey"><img alt="Turkey" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/23px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/35px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/45px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="800"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Turkey" title="Outline of Turkey">Turkey</a></td> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenia" title="Armenia"><img alt="Armenia" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Flag_of_Armenia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Armenia.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Flag_of_Armenia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Armenia.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Flag_of_Armenia.svg/46px-Flag_of_Armenia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Armenia" title="Outline of Armenia">Armenia</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan"><img alt="Azerbaijan" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Azerbaijan" title="Outline of Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea" title="Caspian Sea">Caspian Sea</a></td> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan"><img alt="Turkmenistan" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Turkmenistan" title="Outline of Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a></td> <td style="width:0%; padding-left:5px" rowspan="5"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/50px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png" width="50" height="50" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/75px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b6/Compass_rose_pale.svg/100px-Compass_rose_pale.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="440" data-file-height="440"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="3"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq"><img alt="Iraq" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/45px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Iraq" title="Outline of Iraq">Iraq</a></td> <td style="width:33%"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/North.svg/17px-North.svg.png" title="North" width="17" height="17" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/North.svg/26px-North.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/North.svg/34px-North.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="17" data-file-height="17"/></td> <td style="width:33%" rowspan="3"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan"><img alt="Afghanistan" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="400"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Afghanistan" title="Outline of Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:33%"> <table style="width:100%"> <tr> <td style="width:50%; text-align:right"> <div class="floatright"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/West.svg/17px-West.svg.png" title="West" width="17" height="17" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/West.svg/26px-West.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f0/West.svg/34px-West.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="17" data-file-height="17"/></div> </td> <td style="width:0%; text-align: center" nowrap="nowrap">  <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran"><img alt="Iran" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Iran" title="Outline of Iran">Iran</a>  </td> <td style="width:50%; text-align:left"> <div class="floatleft"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Boxed_East_arrow.svg/17px-Boxed_East_arrow.svg.png" title="East" width="17" height="17" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Boxed_East_arrow.svg/26px-Boxed_East_arrow.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5d/Boxed_East_arrow.svg/34px-Boxed_East_arrow.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="17" data-file-height="17"/></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:33%"><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/South.svg/17px-South.svg.png" title="South" width="17" height="17" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/South.svg/26px-South.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/South.svg/34px-South.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="17" data-file-height="17"/></td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait"><img alt="Kuwait" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/23px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/35px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/46px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Kuwait" title="Outline of Kuwait">Kuwait</a></td> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Oman" title="Gulf of Oman">Gulf of Oman</a></td> <td style="width:33%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan"><img alt="Pakistan" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/></a> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outline_of_Pakistan" title="Outline of Pakistan">Pakistan</a></td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Countries_bordering_the_Persian_Gulf" title="Template:Countries bordering the Persian Gulf">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Countries_bordering_the_Persian_Gulf" title="Template talk:Countries bordering the Persian Gulf">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Countries_bordering_the_Persian_Gulf&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%">Countries bordering the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Bahrain.svg/23px-Flag_of_Bahrain.svg.png" width="23" height="14" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Bahrain.svg/35px-Flag_of_Bahrain.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Flag_of_Bahrain.svg/46px-Flag_of_Bahrain.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1500" data-file-height="900"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/> Iran</li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/Flag_of_Iraq.svg/45px-Flag_of_Iraq.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/23px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/35px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Flag_of_Kuwait.svg/46px-Flag_of_Kuwait.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/23px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/35px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/46px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="300"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Flag_of_Qatar.svg/23px-Flag_of_Qatar.svg.png" width="23" height="9" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Flag_of_Qatar.svg/35px-Flag_of_Qatar.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Flag_of_Qatar.svg/46px-Flag_of_Qatar.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1400" data-file-height="550"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0d/Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Saudi_Arabia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="500"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg/46px-Flag_of_the_United_Arab_Emirates.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Countries_bordering_the_Arabian_Sea" title="Template:Countries bordering the Arabian Sea">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Countries_bordering_the_Arabian_Sea" title="Template talk:Countries bordering the Arabian Sea">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Countries_bordering_the_Arabian_Sea&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%">Countries bordering the <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabian_Sea" title="Arabian Sea">Arabian Sea</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/23px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/35px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/45px-Flag_of_India.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1350" data-file-height="900"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/> Iran</li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Maldives.svg/23px-Flag_of_Maldives.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Maldives.svg/35px-Flag_of_Maldives.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/Flag_of_Maldives.svg/45px-Flag_of_Maldives.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="720" data-file-height="480"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives" title="Maldives">Maldives</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/23px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/35px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Oman.svg/46px-Flag_of_Oman.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="300"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Flag_of_Somalia.svg/23px-Flag_of_Somalia.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Flag_of_Somalia.svg/35px-Flag_of_Somalia.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Flag_of_Somalia.svg/45px-Flag_of_Somalia.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="800"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a></li> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Flag_of_Yemen.svg/23px-Flag_of_Yemen.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Flag_of_Yemen.svg/35px-Flag_of_Yemen.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Flag_of_Yemen.svg/45px-Flag_of_Yemen.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="3"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Middle_East" title="Template:Middle East">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Middle_East" title="Template talk:Middle East">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Middle_East&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_East" title="Middle East">Middle East</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprus" title="Cyprus">Cyprus</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a></li> <li>Iran</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel" title="Israel">Israel</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus" title="Northern Cyprus">Northern Cyprus</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Palestine" title="State of Palestine">Palestine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> <td class="navbox-image" rowspan="1" style="width:0%;padding:0px 0px 0px 2px"> <div><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Middle_East_(orthographic_projection).svg" class="image"><img alt="Middle East (orthographic projection).svg" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/70px-Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png" width="70" height="70" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/105px-Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg/140px-Middle_East_%28orthographic_projection%29.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="553" data-file-height="553"/></a></div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="3"> <div> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_conflicts_in_the_Middle_East" title="List of conflicts in the Middle East" class="mw-redirect">Conflicts</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_cuisine" title="Middle Eastern cuisine">Cuisine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etiquette_in_the_Middle_East" title="Etiquette in the Middle East">Etiquette</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Middle_East" title="History of the Middle East">History</a> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Middle_Eastern_history" title="Timeline of Middle Eastern history">timeline</a></li> </ul> </li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Eastern_music" title="Middle Eastern music">Music</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Economic_Cooperation_Organization" title="Template:Economic Cooperation Organization">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Economic_Cooperation_Organization" title="Template talk:Economic Cooperation Organization">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Economic_Cooperation_Organization&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Cooperation_Organization" title="Economic Cooperation Organization">Economic Cooperation Organization</a> (ECO)</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Member states</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Afghanistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="400"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/23px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png" width="23" height="13" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/35px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Flag_of_Iran.svg/46px-Flag_of_Iran.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="630" data-file-height="360"/> Iran</li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Kazakhstan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="600" data-file-height="300"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg.png" width="23" height="14" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Kyrgyzstan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="750" data-file-height="450"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan">Kyrgyzstan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Flag_of_Pakistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Pakistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d0/Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Tajikistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/23px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/35px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/Flag_of_Turkey.svg/45px-Flag_of_Turkey.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="800"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg/45px-Flag_of_Turkmenistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="600"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a></li> <li> <img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg/23px-Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg.png" width="23" height="12" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg/35px-Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/84/Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg/46px-Flag_of_Uzbekistan.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="250"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan">Uzbekistan</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Observers</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Countries</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><img alt="" src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg/23px-Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg.png" width="23" height="15" class="thumbborder" srcset="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg/35px-Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg.png 1.5x, //web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1e/Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg/45px-Flag_of_the_Turkish_Republic_of_Northern_Cyprus.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="1026" data-file-height="684"/> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus" title="Northern Cyprus">Northern Cyprus</a> (as Turkish Cypriot State)</li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">International organizations</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkic_Council" title="Turkic Council">Turkic Council</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:G-15_nations" title="Template:G-15 nations">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:G-15_nations" title="Template talk:G-15 nations">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:G-15_nations&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_15" title="Group of 15">Nations in the Group of 15 (G-15)</a></div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Summits</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1st_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="1st G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1990</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2nd_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="2nd G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1991</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=3rd_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="3rd G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1992</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="4th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=5th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="5th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1995</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=6th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="6th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1996</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=7th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="7th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1997</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=8th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="8th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">1998</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9th_G-15_summit" title="9th G-15 summit">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=10th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="10th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">2000</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=11th_G-15_summit&action=edit&redlink=1" class="new" title="11th G-15 summit (page does not exist)">2001</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_G-15_summit" title="12th G-15 summit">2004</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13th_G-15_summit" title="13th G-15 summit">2006</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_G-15_summit" title="14th G-15 summit">2010</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/15th_G-15_summit" title="15th G-15 summit">2012</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Members</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argentina" title="Argentina">Argentina</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chile" title="Chile">Chile</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></li> <li>Iran</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica" title="Jamaica">Jamaica</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya" title="Kenya">Kenya</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal" title="Senegal">Senegal</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela" title="Venezuela">Venezuela</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwe" title="Zimbabwe">Zimbabwe</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:OPEC" title="Template:OPEC">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:OPEC" title="Template talk:OPEC">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:OPEC&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OPEC" title="OPEC">Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries</a> (OPEC)</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Algeria" title="Economy of Algeria">Algeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Angola" title="Economy of Angola">Angola</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Ecuador" title="Economy of Ecuador">Ecuador</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iran" title="Economy of Iran">Iran</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Iraq" title="Economy of Iraq">Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Kuwait" title="Economy of Kuwait">Kuwait</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Libya" title="Economy of Libya">Libya</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Nigeria" title="Economy of Nigeria">Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Qatar" title="Economy of Qatar">Qatar</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Saudi_Arabia" title="Economy of Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_United_Arab_Emirates" title="Economy of United Arab Emirates" class="mw-redirect">United Arab Emirates</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Venezuela" title="Economy of Venezuela">Venezuela</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"> <div><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Secretaries_General_of_OPEC" title="List of Secretaries General of OPEC">Secretaries General</a></div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <table class="navbox" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <td style="padding:2px"> <table class="nowraplinks hlist collapsible collapsed navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"> <tr> <th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"> <div class="plainlinks hlist navbar mini"> <ul> <li class="nv-view"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Template:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">v</a></li> <li class="nv-talk"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template_talk:Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Template talk:Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">t</a></li> <li class="nv-edit"><a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation&action=edit">e</a></li> </ul> </div> <div style="font-size:110%"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_of_Islamic_Cooperation" title="Organisation of Islamic Cooperation">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</a> (OIC)</div> </th> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Members</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan" title="Afghanistan">Afghanistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania" title="Albania">Albania</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algeria" title="Algeria">Algeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan" title="Azerbaijan">Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahrain" title="Bahrain">Bahrain</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh" title="Bangladesh">Bangladesh</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin" title="Benin">Benin</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burkina_Faso" title="Burkina Faso">Burkina Faso</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei" title="Brunei">Brunei</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameroon" title="Cameroon">Cameroon</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad" title="Chad">Chad</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comoros" title="Comoros">Comoros</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Djibouti" title="Djibouti">Djibouti</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egypt" title="Egypt">Egypt</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabon" title="Gabon">Gabon</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambia" title="The Gambia">Gambia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea" title="Guinea">Guinea</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guinea-Bissau" title="Guinea-Bissau">Guinea-Bissau</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guyana" title="Guyana">Guyana</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia" title="Indonesia">Indonesia</a></li> <li>Iran</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq" title="Iraq">Iraq</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivory_Coast" title="Ivory Coast">Ivory Coast</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordan" title="Jordan">Jordan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuwait" title="Kuwait">Kuwait</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan" title="Kazakhstan">Kazakhstan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan" title="Kyrgyzstan">Kyrgyzstan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon" title="Lebanon">Lebanon</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libya" title="Libya">Libya</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives" title="Maldives">Maldives</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia" title="Malaysia">Malaysia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mali" title="Mali">Mali</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauritania" title="Mauritania">Mauritania</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morocco" title="Morocco">Morocco</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozambique" title="Mozambique">Mozambique</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niger" title="Niger">Niger</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria" title="Nigeria">Nigeria</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oman" title="Oman">Oman</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan" title="Pakistan">Pakistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_of_Palestine" title="State of Palestine">Palestine</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar" title="Qatar">Qatar</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Arabia" title="Saudi Arabia">Saudi Arabia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senegal" title="Senegal">Senegal</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sierra_Leone" title="Sierra Leone">Sierra Leone</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somalia" title="Somalia">Somalia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudan" title="Sudan">Sudan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suriname" title="Suriname">Suriname</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tajikistan" title="Tajikistan">Tajikistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey" title="Turkey">Turkey</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisia" title="Tunisia">Tunisia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Togo" title="Togo">Togo</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkmenistan" title="Turkmenistan">Turkmenistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uganda" title="Uganda">Uganda</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzbekistan" title="Uzbekistan">Uzbekistan</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Arab_Emirates" title="United Arab Emirates">United Arab Emirates</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yemen" title="Yemen">Yemen</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Suspended</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syria" title="Syria">Syria</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group">Observers</th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"></div> <table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:left;padding-right:0.75em;font-weight:normal;"> <div style="padding:0.1em 0;line-height:1.2em;">Countries and territories</div> </th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bosnia_and_Herzegovina" title="Bosnia and Herzegovina">Bosnia and Herzegovina</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_African_Republic" title="Central African Republic">Central African Republic</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Cyprus" title="Northern Cyprus">Northern Cyprus</a>1</li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thailand" title="Thailand">Thailand</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:left;padding-right:0.75em;font-weight:normal;"> <div style="padding:0.1em 0;line-height:1.2em;">Muslim communities</div> </th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-even" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moro_National_Liberation_Front_(Misuari_faction)" title="Moro National Liberation Front (Misuari faction)" class="mw-redirect">Moro National Liberation Front</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="text-align:left;padding-right:0.75em;font-weight:normal;"> <div style="padding:0.1em 0;line-height:1.2em;">International organizations</div> </th> <td class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="text-align:left;border-left-width:2px;border-left-style:solid;width:100%;padding:0px"> <div style="padding:0em 0.25em"> <ul> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_Cooperation_Organization" title="Economic Cooperation Organization">Economic Cooperation Organization</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Union" title="African Union">African Union</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arab_League" title="Arab League">Arab League</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-Aligned_Movement" title="Non-Aligned Movement">Non-Aligned Movement</a></li> <li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a></li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:2px"> <td colspan="2"></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"> <div> <ul> <li>1 As the "Turkish Cypriot State".</li> </ul> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> </div> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table> <a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_system" title="Geographic coordinate system">Coordinates</a>: <a class="external text" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tools.wmflabs.org/geohack/geohack.php?pagename=Iran&params=32_N_53_E_dim:1000km_type:country_region:IR">32°N 53°E / 32°N 53°E / 32; 53</a>    <noscript><img src="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459im_/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" title="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"/></noscript></div> <div class="printfooter"> Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iran&oldid=651758966">http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Iran&oldid=651758966</a>" </div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Iran" title="Category:Iran">Iran</a></li><li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Developing_8_Countries_member_states" title="Category:Developing 8 Countries member states">Developing 8 Countries member states</a></li><li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:G15_nations" title="Category:G15 nations">G15 nations</a></li><li><a href="/web/20150318202459/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Iranian_Plateau" title="Category:Iranian Plateau">Iranian 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href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A5%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="إيران – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar">العربية</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-an"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://an.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Aragonese" lang="an" hreflang="an">Aragonés</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arc"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://arc.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DC%90%DC%9D%DC%AA%DC%90%DC%A2" title="ܐܝܪܐܢ – Aramaic" lang="arc" hreflang="arc">ܐܪܡܝܐ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-roa-rup"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://roa-rup.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Aromanian" lang="roa-rup" hreflang="roa-rup">Armãneashti</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-frp"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://frp.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ran" title="Éran – Franco-Provençal" lang="frp" hreflang="frp">Arpetan</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ast"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ast.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Asturian" lang="ast" hreflang="ast">Asturianu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Guarani" lang="gn" hreflang="gn">Avañe'ẽ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-az"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://az.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Azerbaijani" lang="az" hreflang="az">Azərbaycanca</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8" title="ইরান – Bengali" lang="bn" hreflang="bn">বাংলা</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-min-nan"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zh-min-nan.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Chinese (Min Nan)" lang="zh-min-nan" hreflang="zh-min-nan">Bân-lâm-gú</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ba badge-Q17437796 badge-featuredarticle" title="featured article"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ba.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Bashkir" lang="ba" hreflang="ba">Башҡортса</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://be.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%86%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Іран – Belarusian" lang="be" hreflang="be">Беларуская</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-be-x-old"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://be-x-old.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%86%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Іран – беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎" lang="be-x-old" hreflang="be-x-old">Беларуская (тарашкевіца)‎</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bcl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bcl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Bikol Central" lang="bcl" hreflang="bcl">Bikol Central</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg">Български</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bar"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bar.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Bavarian" lang="bar" hreflang="bar">Boarisch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%BD%A1%E0%BD%B2%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%A3%E0%BD%84%E0%BC%8B%E0%BC%8D" title="ཡི་ལང་། – Tibetan" lang="bo" hreflang="bo">བོད་ཡིག</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs">Bosanski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-br"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://br.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Breton" lang="br" hreflang="br">Brezhoneg</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bxr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bxr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – буряад" lang="bxr" hreflang="bxr">Буряад</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca">Català</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://cv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%81%D0%BB%D0%B0%D0%BC_%D0%A0%D0%B5%D1%81%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%B1%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Ислам Республики Иран – Chuvash" lang="cv" hreflang="cv">Чӑвашла</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ceb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ceb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Cebuano" lang="ceb" hreflang="ceb">Cebuano</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Dr%C3%A1n" title="Írán – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs">Čeština</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Shona" lang="sn" hreflang="sn">ChiShona</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-co"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://co.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranu" title="Iranu – Corsican" lang="co" hreflang="co">Corsu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cy"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Welsh" lang="cy" hreflang="cy">Cymraeg</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da">Dansk</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pdc"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pdc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraen" title="Iraen – Pennsylvania German" lang="pdc" hreflang="pdc">Deitsch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – German" lang="de" hreflang="de">Deutsch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-dv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://dv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DE%87%DE%A9%DE%83%DE%A7%DE%82%DE%B0" title="އީރާން – Divehi" lang="dv" hreflang="dv">ދިވެހިބަސް</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iiw%C4%85%CC%81%C4%85%CC%81" title="Iiwą́ą́ – Navajo" lang="nv" hreflang="nv">Diné bizaad</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-dsb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://dsb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Lower Sorbian" lang="dsb" hreflang="dsb">Dolnoserbski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-dz"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://dz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%BD%A8%E0%BD%B2%E0%BC%8B%E0%BD%A2%E0%BD%B1%E0%BD%93%E0%BC%8B" title="ཨི་རཱན་ – Dzongkha" lang="dz" hreflang="dz">ཇོང་ཁ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraan" title="Iraan – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et">Eesti</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%99%CF%81%CE%AC%CE%BD" title="Ιράν – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el">Ελληνικά</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es">Español</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irano" title="Irano – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo">Esperanto</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ext"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ext.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Extremaduran" lang="ext" hreflang="ext">Estremeñu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Basque" lang="eu" hreflang="eu">Euskara</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ایران – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa">فارسی</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hif"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hif.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Fiji Hindi" lang="hif" hreflang="hif">Fiji Hindi</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Faroese" lang="fo" hreflang="fo">Føroyskt</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr">Français</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fy"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Western Frisian" lang="fy" hreflang="fy">Frysk</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ga"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Iar%C3%A1in" title="An Iaráin – Irish" lang="ga" hreflang="ga">Gaeilge</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yn_Eeraan" title="Yn Eeraan – Manx" lang="gv" hreflang="gv">Gaelg</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gag"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gag.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Gagauz" lang="gag" hreflang="gag">Gagauz</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gd"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ior%C3%A0n" title="Ioràn – Scottish Gaelic" lang="gd" hreflang="gd">Gàidhlig</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl">Galego</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gan"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gan.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97" title="伊朗 – Gan" lang="gan" hreflang="gan">贛語</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://gu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AA%88%E0%AA%B0%E0%AA%BE%E0%AA%A8" title="ઈરાન – Gujarati" lang="gu" hreflang="gu">ગુજરાતી</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hak"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hak.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y%C3%AE-l%C3%B3ng" title="Yî-lóng – Hakka" lang="hak" hreflang="hak">客家語/Hak-kâ-ngî</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-xal"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://xal.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A1%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BC%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD_%D0%9E%D1%80%D0%BD" title="Сарта Иранмудин Орн – Kalmyk" lang="xal" hreflang="xal">Хальмг</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%9D%B4%EB%9E%80" title="이란 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko">한국어</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ha"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ha.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Hausa" lang="ha" hreflang="ha">Hausa</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-haw"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://haw.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E2%80%98Ilana" title="‘Ilana – Hawaiian" lang="haw" hreflang="haw">Hawai`i</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%BB%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6" title="Իրան – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy">Հայերեն</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8" title="ईरान – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi">हिन्दी</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hsb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hsb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Upper Sorbian" lang="hsb" hreflang="hsb">Hornjoserbsce</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr badge-Q17437796 badge-featuredarticle" title="featured article"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr">Hrvatski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-io"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://io.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Ido" lang="io" hreflang="io">Ido</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ilo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ilo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Iloko" lang="ilo" hreflang="ilo">Ilokano</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bpy"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bpy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8" title="ইরান – Bishnupuriya Manipuri" lang="bpy" hreflang="bpy">বিষ্ণুপ্রিয়া মণিপুরী</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id">Bahasa Indonesia</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ia"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ia.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Interlingua" lang="ia" hreflang="ia">Interlingua</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ie"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ie.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Interlingue" lang="ie" hreflang="ie">Interlingue</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-os"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://os.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Ossetic" lang="os" hreflang="os">Ирон</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zu.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-Irani" title="I-Irani – Zulu" lang="zu" hreflang="zu">IsiZulu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-is"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://is.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Dran" title="Íran – Icelandic" lang="is" hreflang="is">Íslenska</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it">Italiano</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9F" title="איראן – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he">עברית</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-jv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://jv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Javanese" lang="jv" hreflang="jv">Basa Jawa</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Kalaallisut" lang="kl" hreflang="kl">Kalaallisut</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%87%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%BE%E0%B2%A8%E0%B3%8D" title="ಇರಾನ್ – Kannada" lang="kn" hreflang="kn">ಕನ್ನಡ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pam"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pam.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Pampanga" lang="pam" hreflang="pam">Kapampangan</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%98%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98" title="ირანი – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka">ქართული</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ks"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ks.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%96%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ایٖران – Kashmiri" lang="ks" hreflang="ks">कॉशुर / کٲشُر</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-csb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://csb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Kashubian" lang="csb" hreflang="csb">Kaszëbsczi</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kk"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Kazakh" lang="kk" hreflang="kk">Қазақша</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kw"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Cornish" lang="kw" hreflang="kw">Kernowek</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-rw"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://rw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irani" title="Irani – Kinyarwanda" lang="rw" hreflang="rw">Kinyarwanda</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sw"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uajemi" title="Uajemi – Swahili" lang="sw" hreflang="sw">Kiswahili</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kv.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Komi" lang="kv" hreflang="kv">Коми</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kg"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Kongo" lang="kg" hreflang="kg">Kongo</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ht"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ht.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Haitian" lang="ht" hreflang="ht">Kreyòl ayisyen</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ku"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ku.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Eran" title="Îran – Kurdish" lang="ku" hreflang="ku">Kurdî</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ky"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ky.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Kyrgyz" lang="ky" hreflang="ky">Кыргызча</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lad"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lad.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Ladino" lang="lad" hreflang="lad">Ladino</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lbe"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lbe.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – лакку" lang="lbe" hreflang="lbe">Лакку</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lez"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lez.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Lezghian" lang="lez" hreflang="lez">Лезги</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%BA%9B%E0%BA%B0%E0%BB%80%E0%BA%97%E0%BA%94%E0%BA%AD%E0%BA%B5%E0%BA%A3%E0%BA%B2%E0%BA%99" title="ປະເທດອີຣານ – Lao" lang="lo" hreflang="lo">ລາວ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-la"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://la.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irania" title="Irania – Latin" lang="la" hreflang="la">Latina</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C4%81na" title="Irāna – Latvian" lang="lv" hreflang="lv">Latviešu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lb.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Luxembourgish" lang="lb" hreflang="lb">Lëtzebuergesch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iranas" title="Iranas – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt">Lietuvių</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lij"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lij.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Ligurian" lang="lij" hreflang="lij">Ligure</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-li"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://li.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Limburgish" lang="li" hreflang="li">Limburgs</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ln"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ln.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Lingala" lang="ln" hreflang="ln">Lingála</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-jbo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://jbo.wikipedia.org/wiki/iran" title="iran – Lojban" lang="jbo" hreflang="jbo">Lojban</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lmo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://lmo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Lombard" lang="lmo" hreflang="lmo">Lumbaart</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://hu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Hungarian" lang="hu" hreflang="hu">Magyar</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mk"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Macedonian" lang="mk" hreflang="mk">Македонски</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mg"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Malagasy" lang="mg" hreflang="mg">Malagasy</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%87%E0%B4%B1%E0%B4%BE%E0%B5%BB" title="ഇറാൻ – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml">മലയാളം</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mt"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Maltese" lang="mt" hreflang="mt">Malti</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mi"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%AAr%C4%81na" title="Īrāna – Maori" lang="mi" hreflang="mi">Māori</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3" title="इराण – Marathi" lang="mr" hreflang="mr">मराठी</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-xmf"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://xmf.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%98%E1%83%A0%E1%83%90%E1%83%9C%E1%83%98" title="ირანი – Mingrelian" lang="xmf" hreflang="xmf">მარგალური</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ايران – Egyptian Spoken Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz">مصرى</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mzn badge-Q17437796 badge-featuredarticle" title="featured article"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mzn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ایران – Mazanderani" lang="mzn" hreflang="mzn">مازِرونی</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms">Bahasa Melayu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cdo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://cdo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%AC-l%C4%81ng" title="Ĭ-lāng – Min Dong Chinese" lang="cdo" hreflang="cdo">Mìng-dĕ̤ng-ngṳ̄</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mdf"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mdf.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Moksha" lang="mdf" hreflang="mdf">Мокшень</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%81" title="Иран улс – Mongolian" lang="mn" hreflang="mn">Монгол</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-my"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://my.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%80%A1%E1%80%AE%E1%80%9B%E1%80%94%E1%80%BA%E1%80%94%E1%80%AD%E1%80%AF%E1%80%84%E1%80%BA%E1%80%84%E1%80%B6" title="အီရန်နိုင်ငံ – Burmese" lang="my" hreflang="my">မြန်မာဘာသာ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nah"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nah.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Nāhuatl" lang="nah" hreflang="nah">Nāhuatl</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-na"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://na.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Nauru" lang="na" hreflang="na">Dorerin Naoero</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl">Nederlands</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nds-nl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nds-nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Low Saxon (Netherlands)" lang="nds-NL" hreflang="nds-NL">Nedersaksies</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ne"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8" title="इरान – Nepali" lang="ne" hreflang="ne">नेपाली</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-new"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://new.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%87%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8" title="इरान – Newari" lang="new" hreflang="new">नेपाल भाषा</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%82%A4%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3" title="イラン – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja">日本語</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nap"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nap.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Neapolitan" lang="nap" hreflang="nap">Napulitano</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ce"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ce.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D3%80%D0%B0%D0%B6%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%87%D0%BE%D1%8C" title="ГӀажарийчоь – Chechen" lang="ce" hreflang="ce">Нохчийн</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-frr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://frr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraan" title="Iraan – Northern Frisian" lang="frr" hreflang="frr">Nordfriisk</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pih"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pih.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eraan" title="Eraan – Norfuk / Pitkern" lang="pih" hreflang="pih">Norfuk / Pitkern</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Norwegian (bokmål)" lang="no" hreflang="no">Norsk bokmål</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Norwegian Nynorsk" lang="nn" hreflang="nn">Norsk nynorsk</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nov"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nov.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Novial" lang="nov" hreflang="nov">Novial</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-oc badge-Q17437796 badge-featuredarticle" title="featured article"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://oc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Occitan" lang="oc" hreflang="oc">Occitan</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mhr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mhr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Eastern Mari" lang="mhr" hreflang="mhr">Олык марий</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-or"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://or.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AC%87%E0%AC%B0%E0%AC%BE%E0%AC%A8" title="ଇରାନ – Oriya" lang="or" hreflang="or">ଓଡ଼ିଆ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-om"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://om.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraan" title="Iraan – Oromo" lang="om" hreflang="om">Oromoo</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uz"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eron" title="Eron – Uzbek" lang="uz" hreflang="uz">Oʻzbekcha/ўзбекча</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pa"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A8%87%E0%A8%B0%E0%A8%BE%E0%A8%A8" title="ਇਰਾਨ – Punjabi" lang="pa" hreflang="pa">ਪੰਜਾਬੀ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pnb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pnb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ایران – Western Punjabi" lang="pnb" hreflang="pnb">پنجابی</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pap"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pap.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Papiamento" lang="pap" hreflang="pap">Papiamentu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ايران – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps">پښتو</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-km"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://km.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%9E%A2%E1%9F%8A%E1%9E%B8%E1%9E%9A%E1%9F%89%E1%9E%84%E1%9F%8B" title="អ៊ីរ៉ង់ – Khmer" lang="km" hreflang="km">ភាសាខ្មែរ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pcd"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pcd.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Picard" lang="pcd" hreflang="pcd">Picard</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pms"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Piedmontese" lang="pms" hreflang="pms">Piemontèis</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nds"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://nds.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Low German" lang="nds" hreflang="nds">Plattdüütsch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl">Polski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A3o" title="Irão – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt">Português</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kaa"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kaa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Kara-Kalpak" lang="kaa" hreflang="kaa">Qaraqalpaqsha</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-crh"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://crh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Crimean Turkish" lang="crh" hreflang="crh">Qırımtatarca</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ro"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Romanian" lang="ro" hreflang="ro">Română</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-rm"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://rm.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Romansh" lang="rm" hreflang="rm">Rumantsch</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-qu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://qu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Quechua" lang="qu" hreflang="qu">Runa Simi</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-rue"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://rue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%86%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Іран – Rusyn" lang="rue" hreflang="rue">Русиньскый</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru">Русский</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sah"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sah.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Ираан – Sakha" lang="sah" hreflang="sah">Саха тыла</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-se"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://se.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Northern Sami" lang="se" hreflang="se">Sámegiella</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sa"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8" title="ईरान – Sanskrit" lang="sa" hreflang="sa">संस्कृतम्</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sc"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sc.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Sardinian" lang="sc" hreflang="sc">Sardu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sco"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Scots" lang="sco" hreflang="sco">Scots</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-stq"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://stq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Saterland Frisian" lang="stq" hreflang="stq">Seeltersk</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sq"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irani" title="Irani – Albanian" lang="sq" hreflang="sq">Shqip</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-scn"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://scn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Sicilian" lang="scn" hreflang="scn">Sicilianu</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B6%89%E0%B6%BB%E0%B7%8F%E0%B6%B1%E0%B6%BA" title="ඉරානය – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si">සිංහල</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Simple English" lang="simple" hreflang="simple">Simple English</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sd"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sd.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ايران – Sindhi" lang="sd" hreflang="sd">سنڌي</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ss"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ss.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-Irani" title="I-Irani – Swati" lang="ss" hreflang="ss">SiSwati</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ir%C3%A1n" title="Irán – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk">Slovenčina</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Slovenian" lang="sl" hreflang="sl">Slovenščina</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-szl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://szl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Silesian" lang="szl" hreflang="szl">Ślůnski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-so"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://so.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iiraan" title="Iiraan – Somali" lang="so" hreflang="so">Soomaaliga</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A6%DB%8E%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ئێران – Sorani Kurdish" lang="ckb" hreflang="ckb">کوردی</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr">Српски / srpski</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sh"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sh.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Serbo-Croatian" lang="sh" hreflang="sh">Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-su"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://su.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Sundanese" lang="su" hreflang="su">Basa Sunda</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi badge-Q17437798 badge-goodarticle" title="good article"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi">Suomi</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv">Svenska</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tl"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Tagalog" lang="tl" hreflang="tl">Tagalog</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%88%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%A9%E0%AF%8D" title="ஈரான் – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta">தமிழ்</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kab"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://kab.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Kabyle" lang="kab" hreflang="kab">Taqbaylit</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-roa-tara"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://roa-tara.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – tarandíne" lang="roa-Tara" hreflang="roa-Tara">Tarandíne</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tt"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tt.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Tatar" lang="tt" hreflang="tt">Татарча/tatarça</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-te"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://te.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B0%87%E0%B0%B0%E0%B0%BE%E0%B0%A8%E0%B1%8D" title="ఇరాన్ – Telugu" lang="te" hreflang="te">తెలుగు</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tet"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tet.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraun" title="Iraun – Tetum" lang="tet" hreflang="tet">Tetun</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-th"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B8%9B%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%B0%E0%B9%80%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%A8%E0%B8%AD%E0%B8%B4%E0%B8%AB%E0%B8%A3%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99" title="ประเทศอิหร่าน – Thai" lang="th" hreflang="th">ไทย</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tg"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%AD%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%BD" title="Эрон – Tajik" lang="tg" hreflang="tg">Тоҷикӣ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr">Türkçe</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tk"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tk.wikipedia.org/wiki/E%C3%BDran" title="Eýran – Turkmen" lang="tk" hreflang="tk">Türkmençe</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tw"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://tw.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Twi" lang="tw" hreflang="tw">Twi</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-udm"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://udm.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%98%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Иран – Udmurt" lang="udm" hreflang="udm">Удмурт</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bug"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bug.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Buginese" lang="bug" hreflang="bug">ᨅᨔ ᨕᨘᨁᨗ</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%86%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BD" title="Іран – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk">Українська</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ur"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ur.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ایران – Urdu" lang="ur" hreflang="ur">اردو</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ug"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://ug.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A6%D9%89%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="ئىران – Uyghur" lang="ug" hreflang="ug">ئۇيغۇرچە / Uyghurche</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-za"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://za.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Zhuang" lang="za" hreflang="za">Vahcuengh</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vec"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://vec.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Venetian" lang="vec" hreflang="vec">Vèneto</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vep"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://vep.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Veps" lang="vep" hreflang="vep">Vepsän kel’</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vi"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://vi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Vietnamese" lang="vi" hreflang="vi">Tiếng Việt</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://vo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lir%C3%A4n" title="Lirän – Volapük" lang="vo" hreflang="vo">Volapük</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fiu-vro"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://fiu-vro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraan" title="Iraan – Võro" lang="fiu-vro" hreflang="fiu-vro">Võro</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wa"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wa.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Walloon" lang="wa" hreflang="wa">Walon</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-classical"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zh-classical.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97" title="伊朗 – Classical Chinese" lang="zh-classical" hreflang="zh-classical">文言</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-vls"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://vls.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – West Flemish" lang="vls" hreflang="vls">West-Vlams</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-war"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://war.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Waray" lang="war" hreflang="war">Winaray</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraan" title="Iraan – Wolof" lang="wo" hreflang="wo">Wolof</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-wuu"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://wuu.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97" title="伊朗 – Wu" lang="wuu" hreflang="wuu">吴语</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-yi"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://yi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%90%D7%99%D7%A8%D7%90%D7%9F" title="איראן – Yiddish" lang="yi" hreflang="yi">ייִדיש</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-yo"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://yo.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%8Cr%C3%A1n%C3%AC" title="Ìránì – Yoruba" lang="yo" hreflang="yo">Yorùbá</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97" title="伊朗 – Cantonese" lang="zh-yue" hreflang="zh-yue">粵語</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-diq"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://diq.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C4%B0ran" title="İran – Zazaki" lang="diq" hreflang="diq">Zazaki</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zea"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zea.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran" title="Iran – Zeeuws" lang="zea" hreflang="zea">Zeêuws</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bat-smg"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://bat-smg.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irans" title="Irans – Samogitian" lang="bat-smg" hreflang="bat-smg">Žemaitėška</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BC%8A%E6%9C%97" title="伊朗 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh">中文</a></li> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mai"><a href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://mai.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%88%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8" title="ईरान – Maithili" lang="mai" hreflang="mai">मैथिली</a></li> <li class="uls-p-lang-dummy"><a href="#"></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><a action="edit" href="//web.archive.org/web/20150318202459/https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q794#sitelinks-wikipedia" text="Edit links" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="footer" role="contentinfo"> <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last modified on 17 March 2015, at 09:33.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a rel="license" 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