Iran

Circa 3000 BCE – The Elamite Civilization emerges in what is now southwestern Iran

6th century BCE – The Achaemenid Empire founded by Cyrus the Great

330 BCE – Alexander the Great conquers Persia

651 CE – The Arab Caliphate conquers Persia, spreading Islam

1501 – The Safavid Dynasty establishes Shiite Islam as the state religion

1905-1911 – The Constitutional Revolution of Iran

1925 – Reza Shah Pahlavi establishes the Pahlavi Dynasty

1941 (Monday, August 25) – World War II: The Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran leads to the abdication of Reza Shah

1979 (Tuesday, February 11) – Islamic Revolution: Overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy, establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran under Ayatollah Khomeini

1980-1988 (Sunday, September 22) – Iran-Iraq War: The devastating conflict between Iran and Iraq

2003 (Tuesday, December 26) – Bam Earthquake: A magnitude 6.6 earthquake kills over 26,000 people in Bam

2005 (Friday, June 24) – Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected as President of Iran

2009 (Saturday, June 13) – 2009 Presidential Election Protests: Widespread protests follow allegations of election fraud

2017 (Wednesday, November 12) – Kermanshah Earthquake: A magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes western Iran, killing over 600 people

2019 (Friday, November 15) – Protests: Widespread protests erupt following fuel price hikes

2020 (Monday, January 8) – Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 is shot down by the Iranian military, killing 176 people

2021 (Monday, March 20) – COVID-19 Pandemic: Iran becomes one of the hardest-hit countries by the COVID-19 virus in the Middle East

2023 (Thursday, July 13) – Kerman Earthquake: A strong earthquake shakes southeastern Iran, causing damage and casualties

Continent: Asia
Location: Western Asia, bordered by the Caspian Sea to the north, the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the south, Iraq to the west, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, and Turkey and Armenia to the northwest
Capital: Tehran
Language: Persian (Farsi)
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)
Population: ~87 million (last updated: April 2025)
Time Zone: Iran Standard Time (IRST, UTC +3:30), Iran Daylight Time (IRDT, UTC +4:30, during daylight saving time)

Borders: Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea
Landscape: Predominantly mountainous, with extensive plateaus and deserts, surrounded by rugged mountain ranges
Major Rivers: Zayandeh River, Karun River, Aras River, Karkheh River
Major Mountains: Mount Damavand (5,610 m, highest point in Iran), Zagros Mountains, Alborz Mountains
Deserts: Dasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert), Dasht-e Lut (Lut Desert)
Lakes: Lake Urmia (once one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world, now shrinking), Lake Maharlou
Volcanoes: Mount Damavand (an active stratovolcano), Mount Sabalan, Mount Ararat
Highest Point: Mount Damavand – 5,610 m (18,406 ft)
Lowest Point: Caspian Sea – -28 m (sea level)
Climate: Iran has a variety of climates, ranging from desert in the central and eastern parts, to temperate climates in the north, and a Mediterranean climate along the northern coasts. Winters are cold in the mountains, while summers are extremely hot in the lowlands.
Geological Features: Iran is located on a major seismic zone and experiences frequent earthquakes due to tectonic activity between the Eurasian Plate and Arabian Plate. The country also has extensive oil and gas reserves.

Ethnic Groups: Predominantly Persian (~60%), followed by Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Lur, Arabs, and other ethnic minorities
Religion: Shia Islam (~90%), with smaller communities of Sunni Muslims, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, and Baha’is
Urban Population: ~74% (last updated: 2023)
Population Notes: Iran is the largest Shiite-majority country in the world, with a rich cultural and historical heritage stretching back thousands of years.

Famous For: Persian art, literature, and architecture; Persian rugs and carpets; historical sites such as Persepolis and Isfahan; Iranian cinema; poetry by Hafez and Rumi
Cuisine: Kebab, Fesenjan, Ghormeh Sabzi, Tahdig, Ash Reshteh, Kashk-e Bademjan
Arts: Persian miniature, calligraphy, architecture (e.g., Isfahan, Persepolis)
Sports: Football (soccer), Wrestling, Volleyball, Basketball, Weightlifting
Music: Traditional Persian music, Persian pop, Classical Persian music
Dance: Persian classical dance, though dancing is restricted in public
Literature: Iran is renowned for its poetry, including works by Hafez, Rumi, and Omar Khayyam.

Economy Type: Mixed economy with a significant state-owned sector, heavily dependent on oil and natural gas exports
GDP: Approx. $1.5 trillion USD (last updated: 2024)
Major Industries: Oil, natural gas, petrochemicals, automotive, steel, mining, textiles, agriculture
Key Exports: Petroleum, natural gas, petrochemical products, carpets, fruits, and nuts
Unemployment Rate: ~11% (last updated: 2024)
Economic Regions: The economy is heavily reliant on the oil industry, with the south and southwest regions (e.g., Khuzestan Province) being major oil-producing areas. The central plateau is important for agriculture, and Tehran is the industrial and financial center.

Government Type: Theocratic Republic
Head of State: Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (as of April 2025)
Head of Government: President Ebrahim Raisi (as of April 2025)
Legislature: Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles)
Constitution: In effect since December 3, 1979, after the Iranian Revolution

Tehran: The capital city with a mix of modern and traditional culture, museums, and parks
Persepolis: Ancient ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Isfahan: Known for its Islamic architecture, Naghsh-e Jahan Square, and the Shah Mosque
Shiraz: The city of poets, home to the tombs of Hafez and Saadi
Yazd: Famous for its ancient desert architecture and windcatchers
Kish Island: A resort island in the Persian Gulf, known for its beaches
Caspian Sea Coast: A popular tourist destination with beaches and mountains
Mount Damavand: The highest peak in Iran and a popular destination for climbers