IRAN welcomes you.

Iranian culture and beliefs have been the cradle of world's greatest civilizations.

Iran is honored to be your host in the wonderful trip you have ahead of you, and invites you to visit the highlights of the country's  ancient history and culture and discover its remarkable varieties.

Facts:

Area:  636,296 square Miles, (  1,648,000 sq., Km.)

Population: 65,179,572. (year 1996)

Chief cities: Tehran (Capital), Isfahan, Mashad, Tabriz, Shiraz, Ahwaz, Kerman, Yazd.

Government: Islamic Republic.

Languages:  Farsi (Persian), Kurdish, Turkish (Azeri), Arabic and English as second language.

Religion: Islam (98%).

Leading industries : Mining ( Petroleum, natural gas, salt, chromate, lead, copper, iron ore ), agriculture ( sheep, cattle, goats, wheat, sugar, beets, barley , rice, cotton, tea, tobacco ), manufacturing ( oil refineries, steel, electrical equipment, cement, textile, sugar, flour, furniture. rugs, building material, vehicle), construction, and fishing.

Foreign Trade:  Major export - petroleum, carpets, rugs. Cotton textile.

Major import - machinery, iron and steel, pharmaceuticals, and medical products, wheat.

National currency: Iranian Rials (IRR ), rate of exchange; IRR 7,900= US$. 1.  

IRAN TODAY:

The richest nation of the Middle East, IRAN is about five times the size of California.

Most of Iran is a plateau, average 4,000 feet above sea level, The Alburz and Zagros mountains cover extensive areas.

Large sections of the interior are desert.

Rainfall is generally meager.

IRAN is bordered on the north by the CIS countries. Afghanistan and Pakistan lie to the east, Iraq and Turkey to the west. Persian Gulf & GCC countries to the south.