Overview
Iran became a unique Islamic republic in 1979, when the monarchy was overthrown and religious clerics assumed political control under supreme leader Ayatollah Khomenei. The Iranian revolution put an end to the rule of the Shah, who had alienated powerful religious and political forces with a program of modernization and Westernization. Persia, as Iran was known before 1935, was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, and the country has long maintained a distinct cultural identity within the Islamic world by retaining its own language and adhering to the Shia interpretation of Islam.
Map
Facts
| Full name | Islamic Republic of Iran |
|---|---|
| Population: | 72.2 million (UN, 2008) |
| Capital: | Tehran |
| Area: | 1.65 million sq km (636,313 sq miles) |
| Major language: | Persian |
| Major religion: | Islam |
| Life expectancy: | 69 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 10 Iranian rials = 1 toman |
| Main exports: | Petroleum, carpets, agricultural products |
| GNI per capita | US $3,470 (World Bank, 2007) |
| Internet domain: | .ir |
| International dialling code: | +98 |
BBC iPlayer
TV
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HARDtalk - Sir Richard DaltonSir Richard Dalton, 15 Jul 09Sir Richard Dalton was British ambassador in Tehran until 2006. Stephen Sackur asks him: with the hardliners digging in, what should western governments do now?
Watch "HARDtalk - Sir Richard Dalton" now
Knowledge
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Religion & Ethics - Safavid Empire (1501-1722): StrengthsReligion & Ethics
This Islamic empire was based in what is today Iran. Art and culture Under Safavid rule eastern Persia became a great cultural centre.
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Religion & Ethics - Zoroastrianism in Persia: Alexander the Great and IranReligion & Ethics
Within five years he had conquered most of the Persian territories.
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History - Marco Polo (c.1254 - 1324)History
The party sailed from a southern Chinese port via Sumatra, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), southern India, and the Persian Gulf.
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Radio 4 In Our Time - Have Your SayRadio 4 In Our Time
Avicenna was born in north east of what was then Persia (Today’s Uzbekistan and Afghanistan) and to be frank this is as farthest as one can get on the map from the Arab nations and the Arab states.
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Radio 4 In Our Time - The Translation MovementRadio 4 In Our Time
Avicenna was born in north east of what was then Persia (Today’s Uzbekistan and Afghanistan) and to be frank this is as farthest as one can get on the map from the Arab nations and the Arab states.
Around the web
News From Other Sources
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Iran Cracks Down on Foreign Plots, Imagined and...18 Jul 09 | AFP via Yahoo!
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Martin Amis on the beginning of the end for...18 Jul 09 | Observer
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Rafsanjani's main message: Don't write off...17 Jul 09 | Christian Science Monitor
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Black boxes recovered from doomed Iranian airliner17 Jul 09 | Chicago Tribune
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Martin Amis: the end of Iran's ayatollahs?16 Jul 09 | Guardian Unlimited
Coming Up
Radio
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The Monday Documentary: Iran And The West: From Khomeni to AhmedinejadBBC World Service, 21 Jul 09 01:05
Dai Richards looks at the first decade after Iran's Islamic revolution. ...
News
News Articles
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Big Brother 10: Meet the housemates18 Jul 09 | EntertainmentSIAVASH Age: 23 Occupation: Events organiser Originally from Iran, Siavash moved to the UK as a child.
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Week in pictures: 11-17 July 200918 Jul 09 | In PicturesA plane crashed in northern Iran, killing all 168 passengers and crew on board.
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Silence and dissent on Iranian border17 Jul 09 | Middle East
Since then, many people in Iran have been nervous about talking openly to foreigners, especially journalists. The three men were ethnic Azeris, one of Iran's largest minority communities.
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Call for Iran protesters' release17 Jul 09 | Middle EastIran's ex-President Rafsanjani challenges the country's leaders at Friday prayers, as police fire tear gas at protesters..
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Rafsanjani fans flames of dissent17 Jul 09 | Middle East
Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani's speech in Tehran has revealed deep divisions at the heart of the Islamic Republic, says the BBC's Jon Leyne..
News Clips
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Call for Iran protesters' release18 Jul 09Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani has called for the release of people jailed after protesting at the result of the recent election.
Watch "Call for Iran protesters' release" now -
Iran government 'leaking support'18 Jul 09Jon Leyne says the Iranian government is leaking support day by day.
Listento "Iran government 'leaking support'" now -
Iran call for protesters' release17 Jul 09Former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani has used his first Friday sermon since the country's disputed election to call for the release of people jailed after protesting at the official result.
Watch "Iran call for protesters' release" now -
Your videos: Protests in Iran17 Jul 09Protesters have been filming on the streets of Tehran following a sermon given by former Iranian President Ali Akbar Rafsanjani.
Watch "Your videos: Protests in Iran" now -
Opposition protests at prayers17 Jul 09Amateur video from Iran appears to show opposition supporters using Friday prayers to protest at Tehran University.
Watch "Opposition protests at prayers" now
Weather
Weather for Tehran
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  sunny | sunny | sunny |
| Max Temperature | Max:42°C/108°F | Max:41°C/106°F | Max:41°C/106°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:15°C/59°F | Min:21°C/70°F | Min:20°C/68°F |
Blogs
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Friday 17 July 200917 Jul 09 | Len Freeman - Newsnight: From the web team
Here is Gavin Esler with details of Friday's Newsnight and Newsnight Review Quote for the Day "What we seem to be witnessing in Iran is the first spasm of the death agony of the Islamic Republic" - ... ...
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Web Monitor07 Jul 09 | Magazine Monitor - Magazine Monitor
Said theory, reported by the New York Times, was propounded by Ethan Zuckerman, a senior researcher at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School:... ...
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Friday 3 July 200903 Jul 09 | Verity Murphy - Newsnight: From the web team
Nine embassy staff were held in Tehran last weekend. And here's Kirsty Wark with what is coming up on Newsnight Review: And then on Review, is the Iran of our imagination the real Iran? ...
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The tweets of Tehran02 Jul 09 | Verity Murphy - Newsnight: From the web team
I say fortuitous because we had already decided to devote Review this week to a discussion about cultural representations of modern day Iran in the wake of the post - election crisis. ...
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Wednesday 1 July 200901 Jul 09 | Sarah McDermott - Newsnight: From the web team
Also tonight - should a broadcaster that's funded by the Iranian government be allowed to operate in Britain? ...
Sport
Sport Articles
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North Korea qualify for World Cup17 Jun 09Iran's failure to defeat South Korea in Seoul earlier meant that North Korea only needed a draw in Riyadh.
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Who has qualified for South Africa 2010?06 Jun 09NORTH KOREA (17 June, 2009) Iran's failure to defeat South Korea in Seoul earlier in the day meant North Korea only needed to draw in their final group match against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh.
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Harrogate Veterans win world cup01 Jun 09Harrogate got to Saturday's final after beating Iran in the semi-finals following a penalty shoot-out.
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Harrogate Vets reach semi-final28 May 09They meet Iran for a place in the final on Friday 29 May at 1100 BST.
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Rickie Lambert Q&A01 May 09What improvements do you think need to be made to the Rovers line up if the Gas are to push for the play-offs next season?
Sport Clips
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Chick Young's World of Football27 Mar 08You'll also hear football chat from Lisbon, the USA and Iran. ...
Listento "Chick Young's World of Football" now -
World Cup Spotlight: Iran11 Jun 06BBC Sport's John Motson presents a profile of and prediction for this World Cup competitor at Germany 2006. ...
Watch "World Cup Spotlight: Iran" now
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