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: | 74.2 million (UN, 2009) |
| Capital: | Tehran |
| Area: | 1.65 million sq km (636,313 sq miles) |
| Major language: | Persian |
| Major religion: | Islam |
| Life expectancy: | 70 years (men), 73 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 10 Iranian rials = 1 toman |
| Main exports: | Petroleum, carpets, agricultural products |
| GNI per capita | US $3,540 (World Bank, 2008) |
| Internet domain: | .ir |
| International dialling code: | +98 |
Knowledge
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Religion & Ethics - Safavid Empire (1501-1722):Religion & Ethics
Art and culture Under Safavid rule eastern Persia became a great cultural centre. During this period, painting, metalwork, textiles and carpets reached new heights of perfection.
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Religion & Ethics - Zoroastrianism in Persia:Religion & Ethics
10 October 2009 » » History Alexander the Great and Iran Alexander the Great and Iran Alexander of Macedonia defeated Darius III in battle in 331BCE. Within five years he had conquered most of the Persian territories. Zoroastrianism...
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History - Historic Figures: Marco Polo (c.1254 -History
Around 1292, the Polos offered to accompany a Mongol princess who was to become the consort of Arghun Khan in Persia. The party sailed from a southern Chinese port via Sumatra, Ceylon (now...
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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)
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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)
Blogs
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A diplomatic breakthrough with Iran?22 Oct 09 | Mark Urban - Newsnight: Mark Urban
Could the long struggle between Iran and the international community almost be over? The issue of the country's nuclear plants has been rumbling away for six years now, but some people close to talks in Vienna are suggesting that a deal might be ready by tomorrow.
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Friday 9 October 200909 Oct 09 | Sarah McDermott - Newsnight: From the web team
Has he made the weather in Iran, the Middle East, Russia, North Korea, Afghanistan? Our Diplomatic Editor, Mark Urban will be looking at his record so far.
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Iran: is a deal on the way?02 Oct 09 | Robin Lustig - World Tonight
It's only a week ago that the US, France and Britain announced that they'd discovered a hitherto unadmitted Iranian nuclear facility near the religious centre of Qom. Yesterday, in Geneva, during more than seven hours of talks, Iran seemed to be keen to defuse what looked like becoming a major new...
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KABUL: CITY NUMBER ONE (continued)25 Sep 09 | Adam Curtis - Adam Curtis Blog
To start with the smuggling was done by the westerners themselves This is a section of a BBC film shot in the summer of 1977 on the Afghan - Iran border. The customs officers are searching the line of travellers coming back from Afghanistan towards Europe.
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Friday 25 September 200925 Sep 09 | Verity Murphy - Newsnight: From the web team
But how does this New World Order - disparate countries with very separate agendas - solve a problem like Iran. It's the most pressing one on the table right now with the revelations of another nuclear facility in the country - something Tehran has denied for years.
News
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UN presses Iran on nuclear site16 Nov 09 | Middle Eastabout the purpose of a previously undeclared Iranian nuclear site near the city of Qom. The International Atomic Energy Agency also said in a new report the delayed declaration of the plant raised concern about other possible secret sites.
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Russia's Iran reactor 'delayed'16 Nov 09 | Middle EastRussia's timetable for Bushehr, agreed two years ago, seems to be slipping Russia has said a nuclear power station it has been building at Bushehr in southern Iran will not be completed by the end of this year as planned. Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said the delay in launching the plant, which...
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Time 'running out' on Iran talks15 Nov 09 | Middle East
Russia and France would process uranium for Iran under the deal The leaders of the US and Russia have warned Iran that time is running out for talks over its nuclear programme. President Barack Obama said Iran had failed "so...
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Turkey 'could store Iran uranium'14 Nov 09 | EuropeThe leaders of Iran and Turkey are on friendly terms Turkey and the UN's nuclear watchdog have confirmed they are discussing a proposal to allow Iran to store some of its enriched uranium in Turkey. Iran is under international pressure to accept a deal to send its enriched uranium abroad for...
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Saudis 'evacuated' from villages13 Nov 09 | Middle EastHajj pilgrims The Houthis deny receiving support from Iran which is a predominantly Shia country. They have also refuted allegations of a sectarian dimension to their struggle.
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Student inspires Iran opposition09 Nov 09Iran's opposition movement has found an unlikely hero in a maths student who publicly challenged the country's supreme leader. There has been an outpouring of support for Mahmoud Vahidnia since the incident at Tehran University.
Watch " Student inspires Iran opposition " now -
Iranian blogger on opposition resolve06 Nov 09Potkin Azarmehr, an Iranian blogger and opposition activist living in Britain, talks to Gavin Esler about the strength of opposition protests within Iran. They were speaking after the broadcast of a special report by Jon Leyne on the brutal repression of protesters in Iran, which included a rare...
Watch " Iran ian blogger on opposition resolve " now -
Brutal repression of Iran protesters06 Nov 09A special resport from Jon Leyne on the treatment of opposition protesters in Iran, both on the street and in detention, which has often been savage, but which has usually taken place beyond the sight of witnesses. The report contains some graphic descriptions of ill treatment at the hands of the...
Watch " Brutal repression of Iran protesters " now -
Israelis 'seize Iran arms ship'04 Nov 09Officials have said the haul, which included anti-tank missiles, originated from Iran. Both Syria and Iran have denied the Israeli allegations.
Watch " Israelis 'seize Iran arms ship' " now -
Israelis 'seize Iran arms ship'04 Nov 09Israel's navy has intercepted a ship carrying hundreds of tonnes of Iranian weapons intended for Hezbollah in Lebanon, the military has said. Lebanese militant group Hezbollah has denied the allegations as have Iran and Syria.
Watch " Israelis 'seize Iran arms ship' " now
BBC iPlayer
TV
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HARDtalk - Sir Richard DaltonSir Richard Dalton, 15 Jul 09Before July 2009 is out Mahmoud Ahmedinejad will be inaugurated as Iran's president for a second term. Beyond that, the future of the Islamic republic is hard to predict.
Watch " HARDtalk - Sir Richard Dalton " now -
Around the World in 80 Days - Episode 2Episode 2, 20 Oct 09Amongst other countries their journey should take them through war torn Iraq and volatile Iran. But Iranian elections spark civil unrest that puts pay to their plans when the country's borders are closed to foreign film crews.
Watch " Around the World in 80 Days - Episode 2 " now
Around the web
News From Other Sources
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Holiday Gift Ideas: Storage16 Nov 09 | Computerworld
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(IL-)12 and 21: a new kind of help in the13 Nov 09 | Bioscience Technology Online
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Vassell could return home12 Nov 09 | Sky Sports
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The rise of Rimland?12 Nov 09 | Asia Times Online
Weather
Weather for Tehran
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  sunny |  light showers |  heavy showers |
| Max Temperature | Max:17°C/63°F | Max:12°C/54°F | Max:9°C/48°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:7°C/45°F | Min:7°C/45°F | Min:4°C/39°F |
Sport
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Who has qualified for South Africa 2010?14 Nov 09 | InternationalsIran'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. They did exactly that, with a 0-0 result, putting them into their first World Cup finals since 1966.
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2009 Under-17 World Cup01 Nov 09 | African
04/11/09: Italy 2-1 USA 05/11//09: Spain 4-1 Burkina Faso 05/11/09: Iran 1-2 Uruguay (after extra time) 05/11/09:...
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Malawi, Algeria crash out of U1701 Nov 09 | AfricanThe result means Iran, who beat the Netherlands 1-0 on Saturday, finished top of the group with Colombia taking second place.
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Malone returns to Paralympic fold29 Oct 09 | Disability SportMalone was assessed during Ireland's opening game in Beijing against Iran and was told afterwards by the Cerebral Palsy International Sport and Recreation Association (CPISRA) that his disability did not meet their minimum criteria and he was excluded from the rest of the tournament.
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Gambia lose, Burkina draw at U1728 Oct 09 | AfricanThe Netherlands, who have three points, will take on Iran on the same day. In the late game, which was also interrupted by heavy rain, Iran and Colombia drew 0-0, and so are joint top with four points each.
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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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