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Iran

Iran is located in Central Eurasia, on the northeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. Iran is 18th largest country, spanning 1.648 million sq km (land-1.636 million sq km, water- 12,000 sq km) on the surface of the world. It is the most populous country in Central Eurasia. Iran borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and the Caspian Sea to the north; Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east; the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south; and Turkey and Iraq to the west. Tehran (35 40 N, 51 25 E) is the capital city. It is also the largest city and heart of Iranian politics, culture, trade and commerce. Iran is a foundation member of the UN, NAM, OIC, and OPEC.

HISTORY:-The trace of inhabitation in pre-historic age was found in Iran.Median Empire (625–559BC)was overshadowed by Cyrus the great of Achaemenid Empire(559–330BC).Persia reached its pinnacle in 525 BC.Later a succession of empires,Seleucid Empire(312-302BC), Parthian Empire(247BC to 226AD),Sassanid Empire (224-640),Arab Muslims(641),Mongol empire(12th century),The Safavid dynasty(1501–1722),the Qajar dynasty(1794–1925)ruled over Persia.The Russia and British conflict to dominate the economy of the region,continued until Reza Kahn had come into power.During the World War II,the Allies suspected Reza kahn to remain in close contact with Nazis.He was replaced by his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi,who ruled until 1979. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini became the Supreme Leader of Islamic theocratic republic in 1979. In 1980 in Iran-Iraq war,Iran overpowered Saddam Hussein. Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani was elected President in 1989and1993.

GEOGRAPHY:- Geographically Iran is located at 32 00 N, 53 00 E. Iran mostly comprises of deserts and mountains. More specifically, mountainous central part of the country consists of basin with deserts, and coastal area is formed of small, uneven and discontinuous plain land. The Iranian coast line is 2,440 km long, along with the Caspian Sea (740 km). The lowest point is Caspian Sea (-28 m) and the highest point is Kuh-e Damavand (5,671 m). Droughts, floods, sandstorms, earthquakes cause damage to the country.

CLIMATE:-Iranian climate is mostly arid or semiarid, though climate is subtropical along the Caspian coast.

GOVERNMENT:-The official name of Iran is Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran is an Islamic Republic. Islamic Republic of Iran was named on 1st April 1979. 1st April is celebrated as the National holiday. Constitution was adopted in December 1979 and revised in 1989.

The Islamic Republic government comprises of three branches:

1. Executive branch consists of the Supreme Leader (head of state), president (head of government), Council of Ministers, Assembly of Experts, Expediency Council, and Council of Guardians.

2. Legislative branch consists of the National Assembly (290 seats)

3. Judicial branch consists of The Supreme Court.

Prominent political parties are the Islamic Iran Participation Front, the Mojahideen of the Islamic Revolution, the National Trust Party. Voting rights are universal above 16.

Supreme Leader    Ali Hosseini-Khamenei

President     Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad

First Vice President    Parviz Davudi

Foreign Minister    Manouchehr Mottaki

Ambassador to the United Nations  Parviz Khazai

STATES:-Iran comprises 30 provinces, each governed by a governor. These provinces are decomposed into counties, districts and sub-districts.

ECONOMY:-Iran’s economy is mainly dominated by the government. The private sector is limited within the small-scale workshops. Inefficient labour force is one of the causes of the weak economic growth. Brain drain from Iran in an increasing ratio, is one of the results of the infirm economy. In spite of that Iran holds a position in world economy for its huge petroleum and natural gas reserves.

GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $852.6 billion; per capita $12,300.

Real growth rate: 4.3%.

Inflation: 17%.

Unemployment: 11% (2007 est.).

Arable land: 9%.

Agriculture: wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool; caviar.

Labor force: 28.7 million; agriculture 30%, industry 25%, services 45% (2006 est.).

Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other construction materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production), metal fabrication, armaments.

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese.

Budget:

Revenues: $64 billion

Expenditures: $64 billion (2007 est.)

Public debt:23.2% of GDP (2007 est.)

Exports: $76.5 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): petroleum 80%, chemical and petrochemical products, fruits and nuts, carpets.

Imports: $61.3 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): industrial raw materials and intermediate goods, capital goods, foodstuffs and other consumer goods, technical services, military supplies.

Major trading partners: Japan, China, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, Netherlands, Germany, France, UAE, South Korea, Russia (2004).

Monetary unit: Rial

CULTURE:-Iranian culture is a fusion of pre-Islamic culture and Islamic culture. Rumi and Omar Khayyám are world renowned poets. Iranian architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stone masonry are appraised worldwide. The mosque is the instance of unique Iranian architecture. The mausoleum of Maussollos is one of the seven wonders in the world. UNESCO has recognized 15 sites of Iran as the World Heritage Sites.

LANGUAGE:- Persian is the official language of Iran (58%). Constitution has recognized Kurdish (9%) and Azeri as regional languages. Other dialects are

Turkic and Turkic dialects (26%), Luri (2%), Balochi (1%), Arabic (1%), Turkish (1%), and other (2%)

CITIES:- The capital and largest city is Tehran. Other large cities are Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Yazd, Qom.

RACE:-

Persian 51%

Azerbaijani 24%

Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%

Kurd 7%

Arab 3%

Lur 2%

Baloch 2%

Turkmen 2%

other 1%

RELIGION:- Majority religion is Islam (98%),in which Shi Islam is official religion, followed by 89%, and Sunni is followed by 9%.Other religions are Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i (2%).

POPULATION:- Iran is most populous country in the region.Iran is populated by 65,397,521 with a growth rate of 0.7%.

Density per sq mtr:104

Literacy rate: 77% (2005 est.)

HEALTH:-

Birth rate:16.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate:5.69 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate:total: 36.93 deaths/1,000 live births

HIV/AIDS - deaths:1,600 (2005 est.)

Life expectancy: 70.6

Risk factors:-

Food or waterborne diseases-- bacterial diarrhea and hepatitis A

vectorborne diseases-- Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever and malaria

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 677

UNICEF:- Childhood Development, child protection, childhood malnutrition, early childhood development are some of the issues UNICEF is working on in Iran. The government also broadens hands to improve street children and other child protection. Government also has helped to take measures on issues like child abuse, legal protection for children. Iran is ranked among top drug intaking countries. UNICEF consistently works to enrich the awareness on regeneration of HIV through drugs consumption. UNICEF set up Rural Child Care Centres to enhance the awareness on HIV and necessity of education.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 8,3673 km (2006).

Highways: total: 179,388 km (2003).

Waterways: 850 km (2004).

Ports and harbors: Assaluyeh, Bushehr.

Airports: 331 (2007).

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