Iran
One of the oldest surviving civilizations in the world, Iran was
referred to as Persia until 1935. Persia’s claim to fame lies
in that it was one of the most powerful and greatest empires in ancient
world. It is also known for maintaining a distinct culture. Added
to this, Shia form of Islam has been the dominant feature in the country.
In 1979, monarchy was overthrown and the Iranian Revolution led by
the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini established a theocratic Islamic Republic
in the country. These days strained Iranian-US relation is a hot topic.
The souring of relations between these two countries traces back to
when the US embassy in the capital city of Tehran was seized by a
group of Iranian students in 1979. In 2002 Iran has been declared
by the US part of an "axis of evil".
The country also entered into an eight-year war with Iraq in 1980
that lasted till 1988. As a spillover of this war there were clashes
between Iranian forces and US between 1987 and 1988. The US sanctions
on the country results in the heightened tensions at regular intervals.
The political scenario has undergone a change since the election
of reformist Hojjat ol-Eslam Mohammad Khatami as president in 1997
and subsequent reformation of parliament, called Majles in the country
in 2000. The victory of the liberals in parliamentary elections in
2000 has led to political and social transformation of Iran.
Travel overview
Home to one of the world’s great civilizations, Iran has long
captivated tourists with its ancient places and medieval architecture.
But these are not only the things that make the country an enticing
destination. In fact its varied landscape from high mountains to barren
desert has been beguiling tourists for a long time.
The pleasures of Iran are ancient and medieval: historical monuments
and mosques - some in a state of ruins. Tehran, the capital of Iran,
is a fascinating place retaining the medieval charm. Shahid Motahari
Mosque is the main place of interest in the capital.
The medieval cities of Tabriz, Esfahan, Shiraz, Kerman and Hamadan
are places of attractions in Iran. Esfahan, known for its Masjid-e
Jomeh, has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tabriz’s
claim to fame is Blue Mosque. Persepolis Heritage Site, the Ceremonial
Seat of Darius, Changha Zanbil, a UNESCO designated archaeological
site, Ali Sadr Caves, Kuh-e- Khajeh Mountain, and Mil-e-Gonbad Tower
are the places of attractions in Iran
For adventurous tourists activities like trekking, skiing, hiking
and mountain climbing are abundant in the country.
Capital: Tehran
Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf,
and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Total Area: 1.648 million sq km
Total Population: 65,397,521
Population Growth Rate: 0.663%
Sex Ratio: 1.026 male(s)/female
Literacy: 77%
Ethnic Groups: Persian , Azeri , Gilaki, Mazandarani , Kurd , Arab
, Lur , Baloch , Turkmen
Irrigated land: 76,500 sq km
Languages: Persian, Turkic, Kurdish, Luri , Balochi , Arabic
Time Zone: UTC+3.5
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)
Neighbouring countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper
432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan
909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km.
Strategic Advantage:
Type of govt.: theocratic republic
Head of Govt.: President Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD
Major Political Parties: political parties are still in the nascent
stage of development in Iran. Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF),
Executives of Construction Party (Kargozaran), Solidarity Party, Islamic
Labor Party, Mardom Salari, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization
(MIRO), and Militant Clerics Society
Participation in International Organizations: G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,
ABEDA, CP, ECO, FAO, G-15, ICAO, ICC, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ICRM, IDA,
IDB, IHO, ILO, IOC, IOM, IPU, IMF, IMO, Interpol, ISO, ITU, MIGA,
OPEC, PCA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNWTO, UPU, WCL, WCO,
UNHCR, UNIDO, UNMEE, WFTU, WHO, WTO, WIPO, WMO,
Major Agricultural Products: wheat, rice, sugar beets, cotton, dairy
products, fruits, nuts, wool, caviar
Natural Resources & Minerals: petroleum, natural gas, copper,
iron ore, coal, chromium, lead, manganese, sulfur, zinc
Industry & Transport: petroleum, petrochemicals, caustic soda,
fertilizers, textiles, cement, food processing, ferrous and non-ferrous
metal fabrication, armaments
Airports: 321
Railways: 7,256 km
Roadways: 179,388 km
Waterways: 850 km
Major Trade Partners: Japan, China, Italy, South Korea, Turkey, Netherlands,
France, South Africa, Taiwan, Germany, UAE, Russia
Exports: $63.18 billion
Imports: $45.48 billion
|
|