IRAN
Sophie Corroon (4 Red)
GEOGRAPHY
Size: 1,648,195 sq km
Location:
Actual location: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Relative location (7 neighboring countries and 4 bodies of water)): Pakistan (East), Afghanistan (East),Turkmenistan (Northeast), Azerbaijan (North), Armenia (Northwest), Turkey (Northwest), Iraq (West); Caspian Sea (North), Persian Gulf (South), Gulf of Oman (South), Arabian Sea (South)
Capital and Major Cities:
Capital: Tehran-35.6961° N, 51.4231° E (8,244,759), Mashhad (2,772,287), Karaj (1,967,005), Isfahan (1,755,382), Shiraz (1,549, 453)
Climate: Arid or semiarid; subtropical along the Caspian Coast
Geographical Features:
Highest Mountain: Mount Damavand (18, 406 ft.)
Largest Mountain Range: Zagros
Longest Rivers: Aras (666 mi.), Karun (590 mi.), Karkheh River (559 mi.)
Largest Body of Water: Lake Urmia
Major Industries:
Petroleum, Petrochemicals, fertilizers, textiles, cement, food processing, armaments
Taken From: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/resources/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html
Culture:
Iran has a very unique culture compared to the rest of the Middle East. Because Iran was former Persia Iranians decided to keep some of the culture aspects of the Persian culture instead of switching to Arab culture.
Currency:
Iranian rial
Language:Persian-Farsi (official)
Religion:
Muslim 99.4% (official)-Shia 90%-95%; Sunni 5%-10%
Pray towards Mecca five times a day (Adhan) when the prayer bell is rung by the Muezzin.
Major Religious Holidays:
- Nawruz (New Year)-March 21; a gong or cannon is used to signal that the new year has begun.
- Eid al-Fitr (end of Ramadan-the month of fasting); celebrated with praying, giving to the poor, and big feasts.
- Eid al-Adha (2016-Sep.12-Sep.13); celebrates when God askes the prophet Abraham to sacrifice his son.
- Muharram (2016-Oct. 1-Oct 31); A month dedicated to the Prophet Muhammed's grandsons. Celebrated with processions and giving to the poor.
- Ramadan (2016-first day of Ramadan: June 6); Ramadan is a month for fasting and prayer.
Taken from: http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Iranians.html
Arts and clothing:
Persian Rugs: Persian rugs represent different things in each of the different cities that make them. For example, In Tabriz the rugs represent and are used for prayer. In the north the carpets represent Persian gardens.
Clothing: Men-slacks, shirts, jackets, floor-length garments, turbans; Kurdish men-long-sleeved cotton shirt, baggy tapered pants.
Women-Colorful chadors and they must cover their hair.
Food:
Influenced by Turkey, Greece, India, Arab countries.
Special Dishes/Food:
Shish Kabob
Stuffed Grape Leaves
Spicy Curry Stews
Lamp
Dates
Figs
Bread
Rice
Yogurt
Tea
Shereen Polo
*Pork and Alchohol is not allowed Islam
Education:
Education is free in elementary school in Iran. In order for a student to pass into secondary school they must take a huge exam at the end of the year; if they fail they may have to repeat that year. Secondary and universities are also free. girls are not able to attend high school if married; most girls are married at the age of around 13.
Taken from:http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Germany-to-Jamaica/Iranians.html
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html
Politics:
Citizenship:
The people of Iran are not born citizens of Iran. In order for a person to be recognized as a citizen of Iran the father must have citizenship. However the father is not recognized as a citizen until after five years of residency (residency requirement for naturalization).
Type of Government:Theocratic republic
Leaders/Parties:
Executive Branch
Chief of State: Supreme Leader Ali Hoseini-Khamenei (elected June 4, 1989)
Head of Government: The president is the head of government in Iran. A new president is elected every four years. The president must be the age of 40-75.
President: Hasan Fereidun Ruhani; Vice President: Eshaq Jahangiri
Legislative Branch
Legestlature: 290 seat, each member serves a four year term (all candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council).
Political Party
2nd Khordad Front-(political party or coalition); these parties participate in elections: the groups in this coalition include Islamic Iran Participation Front, Executives of Construction Party, Solidarity Party, Islamic Labor Party, Mardom Salari, Mojahedin of the Islamic Revolution Organization, and Militant Clerics Society. These political parties are usually just temporary because political parties are just starting in Iran.
Economy:
Iran's economy is heavily reliant on oil and gas exports as well as agriculture, industrial, and service sectors. Because most of the industry is state controlled there is corruption and bad efficiency. The overall GDP per capita is $17,400.
Relations with Other Countries:
Iran does not maintain very good relationships with other western countries. Iran also does not have very relationships with the other middle eastern countries. Just recently Iran has accused Saudi Arabia of bombing their embassy in Yemen. Iran has had difficult relations with other Arab countries; for example Iraq and Iran have gone to war several times.
Involvement with International Organizations:
Two major organizations that Iran is involved with are the OPEC (Organization if the Petroleum Exporting Countries) and the UN (United Nations).
Taken From:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ir.html
http://www.cbc.ca/news2/interactives/iran-elections/
http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/07/middleeast/saudi-arabia-iran-tensions/
History:
- February 1, 1979-The Islamic fundamentalist Ayatollah Khomeini returns to power
- April 1,1979-Iranian Revolution creating Islamic Republic of Iran
- November 4, 1979-Islam military takes 52 US hostages
- 1980-1988-Iran-Iraq war
- 1990-Earthquake kills approximately 40,000 people
- 1997-Mohammed Khatami is elected president
- 2004-Conservative politicians take back control of the government and create strict religious laws
- 2005-The Iranian government resumed uranium processing causing concern among international countries that Iran is trying to create a nuclear weapon causing international sanctions to be imposed
- 2012- The European Union boycotts Iranian oil exports
- 2015-Nuclear deal is reached with Iran ending sanctions
Taken From: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14542438