The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state located in the very center of Western Asia. To put it in terms that citizens of the former Soviet Union can understand, Iran is located south of the underbelly of the Russian Federation. The country is washed in the north by the waters of the Caspian Sea and borders on Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. To the east, Iran shares borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. States such as Türkiye and Iraq border Iran in the West. From the south the country is washed by the warm waters of the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. The country's area is 1 million 648 thousand km 2 - this is the 17th place in the world in terms of territory. This fairly vast territory is home to more than 70 million people, representing a wide variety of peoples and nationalities. Iran is a multinational state, however, more than 70% of the population belongs to peoples with Iranian roots. The Persians are the main, titular nation in the country. According to the population census conducted in 2010, Persians numbered 35 million people; more than 30 million of the country's citizens are Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and other Turkic-speaking peoples. There are many Tajiks and representatives of Afghan tribes living in the northeast of the country. Many names of provinces also come from the names of peoples. Iranian Azerbaijan and Balochistan, provinces of the country that are mainly inhabited by these peoples.
Language and religion of Iran
The official language in the country is Farsi. in clear language, Persian, which is one of the most ancient languages today, which has preserved its grammar and phonetics for thousands of years. In the provinces, the languages of local peoples and tribes are used. In the north of the country the population speaks Kurdish, Turkish, Tajik language. In large cities you can hear English and French speech, which is more used in business communication and everyday life.
Despite such a diversity of peoples inhabiting Iran, the main religion in the country is Shiism, one of the Islamic religious movements. Shiite Islam has become official religion Iran back in 1501, under Shah Ismail I, the Safavid dynasty. More than 90% of the population consider themselves Shiites and only 10% of the population remain adherents of another Islamic movement - Sunnism. A very small part of the population professes ancient Zoroastrianism, Judaism and Christianity. Even with all the radicalism that is characteristic of Shiism, Iran is considered one of the most tolerant countries in the world. Almost all religious denominations are represented in the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, and freedom of religion is enshrined in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Political structure of the country, climate and geographical features
For a long time, Iran remained a monarchical state, where all real power belonged to the Shah, who in one person was the secular and spiritual head of the country. After the Islamic Revolution of 1979, power in the country came under the control of various institutions. Today, Iran remains the only state in the world with a theocratic political system, not counting the Vatican. Despite the fact that in reality power is divided into executive, legislative and judicial, all political, religious and economic life is controlled by the Supreme Leader, the religious leader - the Ayatollah. The Ayatollah, or in the Iranian context, Rahbar, is elected by the Council of Elders for life and all government agencies, the army and the police, are accountable to him.
The head of the executive branch of the country is the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. All decisions and decrees of the President are necessarily reviewed by the Supreme Leader and only after that are adopted as decrees and government decisions. The President of Iran is elected for a 4-year term by direct popular vote. All legislature in Iran belongs to the Majlis, the Iranian parliament, which is involved in the development of bills, ratification international treaties and resolution conflict situations in the country and abroad. The Mejlis is elected from deputies who are nominated by representatives of the provinces and big cities under the strict control of the Guardian Council of the Constitution.
It is worth highlighting such a government body in Iran as the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. The main responsibility of this body is to monitor and verify bills and government decisions for compliance with Islamic law. All government decisions, regulations and laws must strictly comply with Sharia, the main Islamic law.
Climate of Iran, geographical features of the country
Unlike its neighboring countries, Iran experiences a variety of climates and conditions. Most of the country's territory is located in the zone tropical climate desert type. The northern part of the country has a pronounced subtropical continental climate, formed mainly by the presence of large mountain ranges and proximity to the vast deserts of Central Asia. On the coast of the Caspian Sea the climate is slightly milder, although winter period At night the temperature often drops to zero.
In the mountainous regions of Iran, which occupy almost 60% of the country's territory, the climate directly depends on the altitude. In the mountains of Elburz and Iranian Azerbaijan, the climate is sharply continental, with cold winters and dry, cool summers. On the Iranian plateau, the climate is slightly milder; winters here are relatively warm, in contrast to the hot and dry summers. Main distinguishing feature The climate of Iran is a small amount of precipitation or its almost complete absence. In mountainous areas and on the coast, annual precipitation allows one to lead a normal lifestyle. The central part of the country is deprived of precipitation, which naturally affects living conditions. The only area where a warm climate and high humidity are combined is the coast of the Indian Ocean and the shores of the Persian Gulf. Summers here are always hot and humid. In summer, the hot and dry breath of the Arabian Desert is felt on the coast of the Persian Gulf.
Nature of Iran, its features
Due to the heterogeneity of the landscape, the country's territory is distinguished by a variety of flora and fauna. The slopes of Elborz and almost all of Iranian Azerbaijan are covered with forests. The humid and moderately warm climate contributes to the rich flora and habitat of many rare animal species. To this day, in the mountains of Iran you can find outlandish snow leopards, leopards, wolves and bears. The coast of the Caspian Sea is covered with subtropical forests, in which even vines can often be found. The central parts of the country are mainly dotted with wild groves of pistachios, almonds and cherry plums, representing open forests. As for the river valleys and the coast of the Persian Gulf, swamp vegetation and mangroves dominate here. The desert area in the northeast of the country is characterized by sparse vegetation, mainly represented by rare shrubs of barberry, honeysuckle and acacia. Roe deer and wild goats live in large numbers here. You can meet jackals and even hyenas. Bird life presented big amount pheasants and partridges. On the Caspian coast there are huge nesting grounds of pelicans and pink flamingos.
Iran is a country with an ancient history
The history of Iran stretches back to ancient times. Few of today's contemporaries know that Iran is a direct descendant of Persia, the oldest ancient state, which at the peak of its glory was considered the hegemon of the ancient world. Ancient Persia, the great state of the Achaemenids and Sassanids, extended in the era of the kings Cyrus and Darius from the Mediterranean Sea to the spurs of the Himalayas. Iran, called Persia until 1935, has a rich and great history. Many generations of people grew up on myths in which Persia was not given the brightest, most positive pages. This also includes the Persian invasion of ancient Greece, the struggle of Greek cities with the hordes of Darius. The long struggle of Ancient Rome with the Sassanid Empire and, finally, medieval Persia, which for many times became a source of constant concern for the Russian Empire. In the modern world, thanks to the efforts of unscrupulous politicians and pro-Western media, Iran has turned into a real “scarecrow” state that frightens the entire enlightened Western world. Iran's independent policy and its leadership's commitment to religious values as opposed to negative influence Western civilization, strained relations between the country and the main players in the political arena.
Despite all these myths, Persia was and remains one of those states in the world in which the original principles of governance and distribution of power have been preserved. Ancient Persia under King Darius occupied the territory from Macedonia in the West to India in the East. For many millennia, the territory modern Iran was the arena of a variety of events, wars and uprisings, peace and prosperity of the peoples inhabiting this land. It has never been calm here. Dynasties collapsed here, migration was constantly observed different nations, the clash of different religions and beliefs.
The first centralized state on the territory of Iran arose during the reign of the Achaemenid dynasty, which stubbornly and persistently conquered neighboring lands and peoples. The main religion of that time in the country was Zoroastrianism. Having withstood the onslaught of Alexander the Great in battles with the Greeks ancient Rome, Persia not only did not disappear as a state, on the contrary, it experienced a new flourishing and rise. Only after the Sassanid Empire fell under the brutal blows of the Arabs, Zoroastrianism, this ancient religion, gave way to new religion- Islam, which has become the fundamental factor of existence Persian state. Since 1501, Islam became the state religion of the country; instead of kings, sultans, emirs, shahs and padishahs reigned on the throne. Persia became a theocratic monarchy of the Shiite persuasion.
Iran today. Interesting places, attractions and interesting facts
Today, after thousands of years of its development, Iran is a very colorful eastern state, whose life and existence very reliably confirms the popular saying - “The East is a delicate matter.” Translated from Persian, Iran means the country of the Aryans, the ancient people who became the ancestor of the white, superior race, for the purity of which a variety of rulers and religious movements have eternally fought.
Getting to know the country begins, as in a number of cases, with the country's air gates, the country's two largest airports. Previously, all international and domestic flights were received and served by Mehrabad Airport. Since 2007, the new, ultra-modern Ayatollah Khomeini Airport began to handle the bulk of international flights.
Tehran is the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Currently, Tehran is a huge city, which is one of the largest cities in the world both in terms of area and population. The city today is home to up to 9 million people, and its neighborhoods and surrounding areas are spread over an area of 700 km 2 . The capital of Iran is a city of contrasts, where, next to the fashionable hotels of the era of the reign of the Shah Pahlavi, there are neighborhoods of the poor, of the most varied construction. Today, the capital of Iran is experiencing a construction boom and many buildings being erected in the city meet the most modern requirements and amaze with their design and exoticism. The factor of high seismicity of the region plays a significant role in architecture, therefore many buildings and structures are built taking into account increased seismic resistance and increased safety requirements. Tehran, as the capital of the state, meets all today's requirements. The city has an excellent transport infrastructure; excellent roads connect the capital with almost all major cities and towns in the country.
Tehran is famous for its museums, of which there are a great many in the city. The government of the country, and especially the mayor’s office, treats the historical heritage of the city very carefully. In addition to museums, Tehran is famous for its mosques, which amaze visitors with their splendor and interior decoration. In the morning and evening hours, when the mullahs read namaz, Tehran resembles a fairy-tale city, where everything freezes and freezes in humble prayer. Among the numerous architectural masterpieces of Tehran, it is especially worth highlighting the famous Shah’s Takht-e-Marma palace, the parliament building and the unique, grandiose in size, Meydani Imam Square. For tourists special interest presents a visit to the palaces of Alikapu, Shah Qajar Fat Ali and the Tokrol Tower.
Numerous shops and shops will be a pleasant addition to any city excursion. However, no matter how many impressions visiting and sightseeing in Tehran brings, nothing can compare in its splendor and scale to a visit to the city bazaar, which is the largest oriental bazaar in the world. The effect of trade, the mass of all kinds of shops and workshops where they can make a beautiful oriental sword or dagger in front of spectators, a huge number of teahouses, cafes and restaurants of oriental cuisine, all this is collected here in one place and really amazes the imagination of the visiting layman.
Other cities of Iran. Cultural attractions and historical monuments
Among the largest cities and interesting attractions are Isfahan, Shiraz and Tabriz. Each of these cities is unique and remarkable in itself. Ancient history These cities are inextricably linked with the formation of the Shah's state and the development of a modern Islamic state. The number of architectural monuments and cultural heritage located in Tabriz and Isfahan would be enough to cultural development and tourist attractiveness of a particular country. Isfahan is famous for its pigeon farms. At the entrance to the city you can find unique and amazing structures of cyclopean size. Even the ancients used bird droppings as fertilizers in the fields, creating massive dovecotes and shelters for these birds. In Iran, the pigeon is considered a sacred animal and today, in tribute to tradition, pigeon farms continue to supply surrounding farms and crops with bird droppings.
For tourists who want to learn more about the Near and Middle East, it’s time to visit the ancient city of Bam, the fortress of Bam, which is the ancient cultural capital of the Median state. Here are the unique citadel of Ark-e-Bam, the astronomical complex of Mirza Naim, and the building of a caravanserai. Literally a few hundred kilometers north of Bam lies the capital of ancient Media, old City Hamadan. Today it's big Cultural Center Iran, and in past millennia Hamadan was considered the capital of ancient Persia. Here you should definitely visit the mausoleum and museum of the ancient philosopher Avicenna, visit the ancient city park and see the famous Parthian stone lion Sang-Shir, which for a long time was a symbol of the Persian state.
The palace of King Darius, located in Hamadan, is considered especially revered by tourists and many pilgrims in Iran. Here, nearby are the Burj-e-Qurban tower and Bu Ali University, considered one of the most ancient educational and scientific centers in the world.
Of particular note is the Iranian city of Yazd, which is famous for its water museum. It was in this city that for the first time in the world, a technical water supply project was carried out by a person on the scale of the city and the whole country. Water in Iran has always been highly valued, therefore, the qanat, the so-called channels for water flows, created in ancient times, became a real wonder of the world at that time. The seaside resort of Kish, which has now received international status, is very popular among the middle class population and the wealthy elite. The tourism infrastructure is actively developing here, a large number of restaurants and hotels are being built, the local airport is being improved, and access roads are being modernized.
Due to the uniqueness of its natural landscape, the country is rich in caves. The most famous among them can be found in the provinces of Iranian Kurdistan and Iranian Azerbaijan. Between November and April, the mountain slopes of Elborz are perfect for ski lovers. From the point of view of tourism development, Iran has a unique status, simultaneously possessing all the components for the development of tourism in its most popular form.
Among the wonders related directly to Iran is the Iranian calendar. The solar hijri, as the calendar is called in other words, is an official calendar that was developed with the participation of Omar Khayyam. According to the Iranian calendar, chronology is calculated from the Hijra, the time of the Prophet Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Dedina. According to the Iranian calendar, the beginning of the year falls on the spring festival, Nowruz, which coincides with the vernal equinox.
As for other features that characterize Iran, one can write endlessly here. The country is so unique and inimitable that getting to know it and seeing all its attractions, understanding the cultural characteristics of Islamic Iran and the way of life in a short period of time is not realistic.
Iran's place in the world, its contribution among other countries in terms of influence on cultural and economic development, is invaluable. Thanks to its enormous oil wealth, the country is one of the top ten exporters of black gold, possessing 10% of the world's oil reserves. The country publishes more copies of the Koran than all Muslim countries combined. Thanks to the Islamic revolution, the country has set a course for universal literacy of the population. The pace of literacy development in Iran is amazing in its growth, far ahead of the enlightened monarchies of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with their high level life.
With all the complexity of the political situation created today around Iran, the country is worthy of the attention of the world community, to be open to international contacts and tourism development.
Islamic Republic of Iran(Persian. جمهوری اسلامی ایران - Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Irɒ́n), abbreviated - Iran(pers. ایران [ʔiˈɾɒn]), until 1935 also Persia- state in . The capital is a city.
The Achaemenid Empire at its peak
After the death of Cambyses and the subsequent civil strife in his inner circle and riots throughout the country, Darius Hystaspes came to power. Darius quickly and firmly restored order to the empire and began new conquests, as a result of which the Achaemenid Empire expanded to the Balkans in the west and to the Indus in the east, becoming the largest and most powerful state that had ever existed at that time. Darius also carried out a number of internal reforms. He divided the country into several administrative units - satrapies, and for the first time in history the principle of separation of powers was implemented: the troops were not subordinate to the satraps and at the same time the military leaders had no administrative power. In addition, Darius carried out a monetary reform and introduced the gold darik into circulation. Combined with the construction of a network of paved roads, this contributed to an unprecedented leap in trade relations.
Darius patronized Zoroastrianism and considered priests to be the core of Persian statehood. Under him, this first monotheistic religion became the state religion in the empire. At the same time, the Persians were tolerant of the conquered peoples and their beliefs and culture.
The heirs of Darius I began to violate the principles of internal structure introduced by the king, as a result of which the satrapies became more independent. There was a rebellion in Egypt, and unrest began in Greece and Macedonia. Under these conditions, the Macedonian commander Alexander began a military campaign against the Persians, and by 330 BC. e. defeated the Achaemenid Empire.
Parthia and Sassanids
Sasanian Empire at the beginning of the 7th century
After the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. e. his empire broke up into several separate states. Most of the territory of modern Iran went to Seleucia, but the Parthian king Mithridates I soon began campaigns of conquest against the Seleucids and included Persia, as well as Mesopotamia, into his empire. In 92 BC. e. a border was drawn between Parthia and Rome along the bed of the Euphrates, but the Romans almost immediately invaded the western Parthian satrapies and were defeated. In a return campaign, the Parthians captured the entire Levant and Anatolia, but were driven back to the Euphrates by the troops of Mark Antony. Soon after this, fires broke out one after another in Parthia. civil wars, caused by Rome's intervention in the struggle between the Parthian and Greek nobility.
In 224, Ardashir Papakan, the son of the ruler of the small town of Kheir in, defeated the army of the Parthians of Artaban IV and founded the second Persian Empire - Iranshahr ("Kingdom of the Aryans") - with its capital in, becoming the founder of a new dynasty - the Sassanids. The influence of the aristocracy and the Zoroastrian clergy increased, and persecution of non-believers began. Administrative reform has been carried out. The Sassanids continued to fight the Romans and the nomads of Central Asia.
Ahura Mazda (right) gives Ardashir a symbol royal power- ring. III century n. e.
Under King Khosrow I (531-579), active expansion began: Antioch was captured in 540, and Egypt in 562. The Byzantine Empire became tax dependent on the Persians. The coastal areas of the Arabian Peninsula were occupied, including. At the same time, Khosrow defeated the Hephthalite state on the territory of modern. Khusrow's military successes led to a flourishing of trade and culture in Iran.
The grandson of Khosrow I, Khosrow II (590-628) resumed the war with Byzantium, but suffered defeat after defeat. Military expenses were covered by exorbitant taxes on merchants and levies on the poor. As a result, uprisings began to break out throughout the country, Khosrow was captured and executed. His grandson, Yazdegerd III (632-651) became the last Sasanian king. Despite the end of the war with Byzantium, the collapse of the empire continued. In the south, the Persians faced a new enemy - the Arabs.
Arab conquest
Arab raids into Sasanian Iran began in 632. Most crushing defeat The Persian army suffered at the Battle of Qadisiyah in 637. The Arab conquest of Persia continued until 652, and it was incorporated into the Umayyad Caliphate. The Arabs spread Islam to Iran, which greatly changed Persian culture. After the Islamization of Iran, literature, philosophy, art, and medicine developed rapidly in the Caliphate. Persian culture became the basis for the beginning of the Golden Age of Islam.
In 750, the Persian general Abu Muslim led the Abbasid campaign against the Umayyads to, and then to the capital of the Caliphate -. In gratitude, the new caliph granted the Persian governors a certain autonomy, and also took several Persians as viziers. However, in 822, Tahir ben-Hussein ben-Musab, the governor of Khorasan, declared the independence of the province and declared himself the founder of a new Persian dynasty - the Tahirids. Already by the beginning of the Samanid reign, Iran had practically restored its independence from the Arabs.
Turkic and Mongol conquests
Ghaznavid Empire in the 12th century.
Despite the adoption of Islam by Persian society, Arabization in Iran was not successful. The introduction of Arab culture met resistance from the Persians and became the impetus for the struggle for independence from the Arabs. The revival of the Persian language and literature, which peaked in the 9th-10th centuries, played an important role in restoring the national identity of the Persians. In this regard, Ferdowsi's epic “Shahnameh”, written entirely in Farsi, became famous.
In 962 Turkic commander Alp-Tegin opposed the Samanids and founded the Turkic state of the Ghaznavids with its capital in (). Under the Ghaznavids, Persia's cultural flourishing continued. Their followers, the Seljuks, moved the capital to .
In 1220, the northeast of Iran, which was part of the Turkic Khorezm kingdom, was attacked by the troops of Genghis Khan. The whole of Khorasan was devastated, as well as the territories of the eastern provinces of modern Iran. About half the population was killed by the Mongols. The conquest of Iran was completed by Genghis Khan's grandson Hulagu. In the state he founded, his descendants, the Ilkhans, ruled until the middle of the 14th century.
Great Turkic ruler and commander Emir Timur, more popular in the west as Tamerlane established control over Iran. Tamerlane brought thousands of skilled craftsmen from Iran to his capital, who built masterpieces of world architecture in Samarkand. For example, masters built the Gur Emir mausoleum in Samarkand. During the reign youngest son Timur Shahrukh marks the flowering of science and culture in Iran. It continued during the reign of the Timurid Sultan Hussein Baykara.
The centralization of the Iranian state resumed with the rise to power of the Qizilbash Safavid dynasty, which put an end to the rule of the descendants of the Mongol conquerors.
Dynasties (1501-1979)
Shia Islam was adopted in Iran as the state religion under Shah Ismail I of the Safavid dynasty. After defeating Alvand Khan, the ruler of the Turkic state of Ak-Koyunlu, near Sharur (in), Ismail victoriously entered, where in July 1501 he proclaimed himself Shah of Azerbaijan. Ismail soon subjugated all of Iran - and in May 1502 he crowned himself Shah of Iran. The city became the capital of the Safavid state; subsequently the capital was moved to, and from there to. The Safavid Empire reached its greatest prosperity under Abbas I, defeating the Ottoman Empire and annexing the territories of modern, parts of, territories, parts of and, as well as provinces and on the shores of the Caspian Sea. Thus, Iran's possessions already extended from the Tigris to the Indus.
The conquered territories brought wealth and prosperity to Iran. Culture began to flourish. Iran became a centralized state and modernization was carried out armed forces. However, after the death of Abbas the Great, the empire fell into decline. Mismanagement led to the loss of Baghdad. In 1722, the Ghilzai Afghans raided Iran, immediately taking Isfahan, and installed Mahmud Khan on the throne. Then Nadir Shah, the commander of the last Safavid ruler, Tahmasp II, killed him along with his son and established Afsharid rule in Iran.
First of all, Nadir Shah changed the state religion to Sunnism, and then defeated Afghanistan and returned Kandahar to Persia. Retreating Afghan troops fled to . Nadir Shah urged the Indian Mogul, Mohammed Shah, not to accept them, but he did not agree, then the Shah invaded India. In 1739, Nadir Shah's troops entered, but soon an uprising broke out there. The Persians carried out a real massacre in the city, and then returned to Iran, completely plundering the country. In 1740, Nadir Shah made a campaign in Turkestan, as a result of which the borders of Iran advanced to the Amu Darya. In the Caucasus, the Persians reached. In 1747, Nadir Shah was assassinated.
Persia on the map late XIX century.
Coat of arms of the Shah of Iran on a 1938 banknote
In 1750, power passed to the Zend dynasty led by Karim Khan. Karim Khan became the first Persian in 700 years to become the head of state. He moved the capital to . The period of his reign is characterized by a virtual absence of wars and cultural flourishing. The power of the Zends lasted only three generations, and in 1781 it passed to the Qajar dynasty. The founder of the dynasty, the eunuch Agha-Mohammed Khan, carried out reprisals against the Zends and the descendants of the Afsharids. Having strengthened the power of the Qajars in Iran, Mohammed Khan launched a campaign against Georgia, defeating and killing more than 20 thousand inhabitants of the city. The second campaign against Georgia in 1797 did not take place, since the Shah was killed by his own servants (Georgian and Kurdish) in Karabakh. Shortly before his death, Mohammed Khan moved the capital of Iran to.
As a result of the series unsuccessful wars With the Russian Empire, Persia under the Qajars lost the territory now occupied by Azerbaijan and Armenia. Corruption flourished, control over the outskirts of the country was lost. After prolonged protests, a Constitutional Revolution took place in the country in 1906, as a result of which Iran became constitutional monarchy. In the summer of 1918, British troops occupy all of Iran. On August 9, 1919, the Anglo-Iranian Agreement was signed, establishing full British control over the country's economy and army. In 1920, the Gilan Soviet Republic was proclaimed in Ostan, which would exist until September 1921. On February 21, 1921, Reza Khan Pahlavi overthrew Ahmed Shah and was declared the new Shah in 1925. On February 26, 1921, the RSFSR signed a new treaty with Iran, recognizing the full independence of Iran.
Pahlavi coined the term “Shakhinshah” (“king of kings”). Starting from the Persian New Year, that is, from March 22, 1935, the name of the state was officially changed from Persia to Iran. Large-scale industrialization of Iran began, and the infrastructure was completely modernized. During World War II, the Shaheenshah also refused the Soviet Union's request to station its troops in Iran. Then the Allies invaded Iran (see “Operation Concord”), overthrew the Shah and took control of the railways and oil fields. In 1942, Iran's sovereignty was restored, and power passed to the Shah's son, Mohammed. However, the Soviet Union, fearing possible aggression from Turkey, kept its troops in northern Iran until May 1946.
Mohammed Mossadegh
After the war, Mohammad Reza pursued a policy of active Westernization and de-Islamization, which did not always find understanding among the people. In 1951, Mohammed Mossadegh became Chairman of the Government of Iran, who was actively engaged in reform, seeking a revision of agreements on the distribution of profits of the British Petroleum company. The Iranian oil industry was nationalized. However, in the United States, a coup plan was immediately developed and with the active participation of British intelligence services, carried out in August 1953 by the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, Carmit Roosevelt. Mossadegh was removed from his post and imprisoned. Three years later he was released and placed under house arrest, where he remained until his death in 1967.
In 1957, the secret police SAVAK was founded.
In 1963, Ayatollah Khomeini was expelled from the country as a result of a series of radical reforms (the White Revolution). Transformations and de-Islamization led to active anti-government propaganda. In 1965, Prime Minister Hassan Ali Mansour was mortally wounded by members of the Fedayan Islam group. In 1973, as part of the policy of strengthening the power of the Shah, all political parties and associations were banned. By the end of the 1970s, Iran was gripped by mass protests that resulted in the overthrow of the Pahlavi regime and the final abolition of the monarchy. In 1979, an Islamic revolution took place in the country and an Islamic republic was founded.
Islamic republic
Ayatollah Khomeini
The Islamic Revolution in Iran was the transition from the Shah's monarchical Pahlavi regime to an Islamic republic led by Ayatollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and the founder of a new order. The beginning of the revolution is considered to be mass anti-Shah protests in January 1978, suppressed by government troops. In January 1979, after the country was paralyzed by constant strikes and rallies, Pahlavi and his family left Iran, and on February 1, Khomeini arrived in exile in Iran. The Ayatollah was greeted by millions of jubilant Iranians. On April 1, 1979, after a popular referendum, Iran was officially declared an Islamic republic. On December 3 of the same year, a new constitution was adopted.
The internal political consequences of the revolution were manifested in the establishment of a theocratic regime of the Muslim clergy in the country and the increasing role of Islam in absolutely all spheres of life. There have also been fundamental changes in foreign policy. Iran's relations with Iran have become extremely strained. Diplomatic relations were severed on November 4, 1979, when the US embassy in Tehran was seized and diplomats were held hostage for 444 days. The invaders (students, among whom, according to some sources, may have been Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who later became the president of Iran, then an IRGC special forces officer and an activist of the youth organization “Institution for Unity Cohesion” - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad) claimed that they were pursuing CIA agents who were planning to overthrow the revolutionary government. They also demanded the extradition of the fugitive Shah. Only in 1981, through mediation, was the crisis resolved and the hostages released to their homeland.
Iran-Iraq War
Meanwhile, the President of neighboring Iraq, Saddam Hussein, decided to take advantage of internal instability in Iran and its strained relations with Western countries. Iran was (not for the first time) presented territorial claims in relation to areas along the coast of the Persian Gulf east of the Shatt al-Arab River. In particular, Hussein demanded the transfer to western Iraq, where the majority of the population were Arabs and there were huge oil reserves. These demands were ignored by Iran, and Hussein began preparing for a large-scale war. On September 22, 1980, the Iraqi army crossed the Shatt al-Arab and invaded Khuzestan, which came as a complete surprise to the Iranian leadership.
Iran-Iraq War
Although Saddam Hussein achieved considerable success in the first months of the war, the advance of the Iraqi army was soon stopped, Iranian troops launched a counteroffensive and by mid-1982 drove the Iraqis out of the country. Khomeini decided not to stop the war, planning to “export” the revolution to Iraq. This plan relied primarily on the Shia majority eastern Iraq. Now already Iranian army invaded Iraq with the intention of overthrowing Saddam Hussein. However, in subsequent years, Iran's military successes were insignificant, and in 1988 the Iraqi army launched a counteroffensive and liberated all territories occupied by Iran. After this, a peace agreement was signed. The Iran-Iraq border remains unchanged.
During the war, Iraq benefited from political, financial and military support most Arab countries, the Soviet Union, China, as well as the United States and its allies. Iran was supported in one way or another by China, the USA, Israel and some other countries. During the fighting, the Iraqi army repeatedly used chemical weapons, including against Iranian civilians. More than 100,000 people in Iran may have died from toxic agents. Iran's total casualties in the eight-year war exceed 500,000.
In 1997, Mohammed Khatami was elected President of Iran, proclaiming the beginning of a policy of tolerant attitude towards culture and the establishment of closer ties with Western countries. At the end of the 90s, European states began to restore those interrupted by the revolution. economic ties with Iran. Nevertheless, the United States remained unchanged in its position. The American leadership has accused Iran of sponsoring terrorism and developing weapons of mass destruction. Later, US President George W. Bush labeled Iran as an “Axis of Evil” country.
State structure
Current Iranian President Hassan Rouhani
According to the constitution adopted in 1979, Iran is an Islamic republic. As of 2018, Iran is one of the few existing theocracies in the world.
The head of state is Senior leader. It determines the general policy of the country. Rahbar - supreme commander Iranian Armed Forces, head military intelligence. The Supreme Leader appoints people to key positions in the state: the presidents of the courts, the head of the police and the commanders of all branches of the military, as well as six of the twelve members of the Council of Guardians of the Constitution. The senior leader is elected by the Council of Experts and is accountable to it.
The second most important official in Iran is the president. The President is the guarantor of the constitution and the head of the executive branch. Decisions on key issues are made only after the approval of the Senior Manager. The President appoints members of the Council of Ministers and coordinates the work of the government. Ten vice-presidents and 21 government ministers are confirmed by parliament. Although the President appoints the Secretaries of Defense and Intelligence, nominations must be approved in advance by the Supreme Leader. The President is elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term. Presidential candidates must be pre-approved by the Guardian Council.
The legislative branch is represented by a unicameral parliament - Majlis(Persian. مجلس شورای اسلام - “Islamic Consultative Council”). The upper house was disbanded after the revolution in 1979. The Majlis consists of 290 members elected by popular vote for a four-year term. Parliament's responsibilities include drafting legislation, ratifying international treaties and drawing up budgets. All candidates for deputies of the Majlis are also approved by the Council of Guardians.
Unrest in Iran in 2009
Council of Guardians of the Constitution consists of 12 members, 6 of whom are appointed by the Chief Executive. The remaining 6 members are appointed by parliament on the proposal of the chairman Supreme Court. The Guardian Council approves candidates for key positions, including candidates for the presidency, members of the government and parliament. The main responsibility of the Council is to check bills for compliance with Islamic law. If there are disagreements with Sharia, the bill is sent for revision. In addition, the Council has the right to veto any decision of the Mejlis.
Expediency advice allows controversial issues arising between the Majlis and the Guardian Council. The Expediency Council is also an advisory body to the Supreme Leader. Chairman of the Council - former Iranian President Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani - personal advisor Rahbara.
Expert advice consists of 86 members of the Islamic clergy and meets for a week every year. The Council of Experts elects the Supreme Leader and has the right to remove him from office at any time (although there has been no such precedent: the current Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is only the second in the history of the country, while the first, Khomeini, died while still in office). Meetings of the Council are closed. Council members are elected by popular vote for an eight-year term.
Local authorities are present in all cities and villages of Iran and are elected by popular vote for a four-year term. City (rural) councils elect the mayor, monitor the work of the bureaucracy, and are responsible for the development of education, medicine, housing and communal services and other everyday issues. For the first time elections in local councils took place in 1999. Since the activities of the councils are exclusively administrative and executive in nature, candidates for council members do not require approval by the Council of Experts.
Judicial system comprises People's Court, dealing with civil and criminal cases, and Revolutionary Court, whose competence includes special crimes, including against the state. The verdict of the Revolutionary Court is not subject to appeal. In addition, there is Special spiritual court. The decisions of this court are also not subject to appeal; it operates separately from the general judicial system. The highest authority The spiritual court is Rahbar. He also appoints the chairmen of the People's and Revolutionary Courts.
Human rights
The laws of the Islamic Republic are based on Islamic law. The state apparatus is closely intertwined with the Islamic clergy. In this regard, there are restrictions on human rights, primarily related to religion. In particular, in the government system there is a special body - the Council of Guardians of the Constitution, whose activities prohibit non-Muslims from holding senior government positions, and members of parliament from drawing up bills that contradict Sharia. According to the Constitution (Article 13), in addition to Islam, only three religions are recognized: Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism; believers of all other religions (Buddhists, Baha’is, etc.) are considered “unprotected infidels”; they cannot be represented in parliament and have virtually no legal rights.
Sexual minorities are also persecuted. Homosexual intercourse is a criminal offense punishable up to death penalty(cm. LGBT rights in Iran). Cases of execution of minors are not uncommon: the most widely publicized case was the case of two 16-year-old teenagers Mahmoud Asgari and Ayaz Marhoni, who were accused of raping a minor and publicly hanged in the city square in the presence of a huge crowd of onlookers (they were also charged with drinking alcoholic beverages, disturbing public order and theft in the central square in). It is characteristic that the execution took place two weeks after the victory of the extremely conservative politician Ahmadinejad in the presidential elections.
One of the opposition leaders (Mehdi Karoubi) accused the Iranian authorities of using torture against political prisoners. An article posted on his party's website mentions cases of brutal rape of prisoners.
Iran ranks second in the world (after) in the number of executions. The country executed at least 215 people in 2006, including seven minors, in violation of the international convention on children's rights. According to statistics from human rights group Amnesty International, Iran executed more than 200 people for serious crimes in 2007.
There are some restrictions on press freedom: after the conservative wing came to power, most pro-reformist newspapers were closed. Broadcasting of Western music is prohibited. The restrictions do not only apply to print media and television. The Internet is also censored. The activities of providers, including commercial ones, are controlled by the Ministry of Information. All newly registered websites in the .ir domain are subject to verification, and there is automatic email filtering. Pornographic and anti-Islamic sites are prohibited. The websites of opposition organizations are mainly located on foreign servers.
Human rights organizations are also persecuted in Iran. For example, the case of the authorities of this country confiscating the Nobel Peace Prize and the Legion of Honor from the famous Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, as well as the closure of her Human Rights Center, received wide international resonance.
Foreign policy
Khatam Al-Anbiya Mosque on the territory of the residence of the Iranian Ambassador in Moscow
Until 1979, Iran was a generally pro-Western state. The Islamic Revolution of 1979, which took place in the wake of anti-Americanism, radically changed foreign policy countries. The victory of the Islamic Revolution was marked by an international scandal with the taking of hostages at the American embassy in . This crisis entailed a deterioration in relations with all Western countries, and also served as a reason for the severance of diplomatic relations with, which have not yet been restored.
The revolution coincided with the entry of Soviet troops into Afghanistan, which had an extremely negative impact on relations with the USSR. Iran maintained diplomatic relations with Soviet Union, however, proposals from the Soviet leadership to hold a bilateral meeting were ignored. It is also known that in 1988, the Ayatollah sent Gorbachev a telegram in which he suggested that he build an Islamic republic in the USSR.
The revolution ruined relations not only with the West, but also with Arab world. In 1980, it invaded the oil-rich region, starting the Iran-Iraq War. Having driven Iraqi troops out of Iran, the country's leadership planned to “export” the Islamic revolution to Iraq with the help of a counteroffensive. However, due to the rapid depletion of troops and the use of chemical weapons these plans were unsuccessful. Meanwhile, Iranian-American relations became even more complicated after the U.S. missile cruiser, which was in the Persian Gulf, shot down an Iranian passenger plane.
After the end of the Iran-Iraq War and with the death of Khomeini, Iran's relations with Europe began to gradually improve, which was largely facilitated by Rafsanjani's pragmatic policy. New relations were built with the independent republics of the collapsed USSR. In particular, Iran condemned Chechen separatism, thereby providing tacit support to Russia in this matter. Today Iran is taking part in economic recovery. Largely thanks to the diplomatic efforts of Iran, Russia was able to partially restore its lost influence in the Middle East and in. Russia agreed to continue the construction of a nuclear power plant begun under Pahlavi.
However, Iran's relations with the United States remain tense. This was largely facilitated by the victory of the ultra-conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the presidential elections in Iran in 2005. His harsh statements regarding this spoiled relations with this state. The US and Israel accuse Iran of sponsoring terrorist organizations (in the US, Israel and the EU, Hezbollah, in particular, is considered a terrorist organization) and developing nuclear weapons. According to unconfirmed reports, the United States is preparing a missile attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran has diplomatic missions in most countries of the world. At the same time, like many other Islamic states, Iran does not recognize Israel. In official statements of the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Israel is referred to as the “Zionist regime.” There are no diplomatic relations with the United States either. Iran is a member of the UN (since 1945), OIC, OPEC, SAARC, and is also an observer at the SCO.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Russia since January 2009, Reza Sajjadi, has been blogging about Iran in Russian.
In 2012, Iran became the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement, becoming in August for 3 years the chairman country of this movement, which is the second largest international structure after the UN.
Territorial disputes
There are territorial disputes between Iran and over three islands in the Strait of Hormuz that control the entrance to the Persian Gulf. In the late 1940s, the islands were alternately owned by the sheikhs of the emirates of Abu Dhabi and those under British protectorate. In 1971, after leaving the region, the islands were supposed to go to the UAE, which included both of these emirates, but they were captured by the Shah's Iran. The islands still maintain a significant military contingent.
There are also claims to the territories of Azerbaijan and Afghanistan and part of the territory of Pakistan.
Geography
Mount Damavand Amol
Iran is located in southwest asia. In terms of area (1,648 thousand km²), the country ranks seventeenth in the world. Iran borders on (border length - 611 km (with - 179 km) and (36 km) in the northwest, with (992 km) in the northeast, with (909 km) and (936 km) in the east, with ( 499 km) and (1458 km) in the west. In the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, in the south - by the Persian and Oman Gulfs of the Arabian Sea.
Dasht-Kevir
Most of Iran's territory is located on the Iranian Plateau, with the exception of the Caspian Sea coast and. Iran is a generally mountainous country. Dozens mountain ranges and ridges separate river basins and plateaus from each other. The most populated western part of the country is also the most mountainous, where the Caucasus Mountains and Elborz are located. The Elborz chain has the most high point Iran - Damavand peak (5604 m). The east of Iran is mainly covered with saline deserts and semi-deserts, including the largest - Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut. The dominance of deserts in this region is explained by the impossibility of penetration of moist air masses from the Arabian and Mediterranean seas from behind the mountains. With the exception of a few oases, these deserts are practically uninhabited.
Large plains are found only in the north of Iran along the coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as in the southwest - at the mouth of the Shatt al-Arab River along the shore of the Persian Gulf. Shallower plains occur along the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman.
Climate
The climate of Iran varies from arid, characteristic of the predominant territory of the country, to subtropical along the coast of the Caspian Sea and in the northern forest areas. There, in winter the temperature rarely drops below 0°C, and in summer it rarely exceeds 29°C. The average annual precipitation is 1700 mm in the west of the Caspian region and 680 mm in its east. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros Mountains, winter temperatures are almost always below 0°, heavy snowfalls and strong winds are typical. In central and eastern regions The country has an arid climate with an average annual precipitation of less than 200 mm and average summer temperatures above 38°C. On the plains along the shores of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, winters are generally mild and summers are hot and humid. The average annual precipitation is 135-355 mm.
Main cities
67.5% of Iran's population lives in cities. By 2030, this value is expected to reach 80%. The largest city- with a population of 8.7 million people (14 million in the metropolitan area). More than half of the country's industrial power is concentrated in Tehran, including automotive, electronics, weapons, chemical, and food production. The second largest city is the holy city of the Shiites.
Cities with population:
Cities of Iran with a population of 300 thousand people. and more (as of 2016)
Administrative divisions of Iran
Basic administrative unit Iran are ostans (pers. استان - ostān; pl. h. - استانﻫﺎ - ostānhā), which are divided into shahrestans (Persian شهرستان ), and those in turn are divided into bakhshi (Persian بخش ). The largest city in Ostan is most often its capital (Persian: مرکز - markaz). Each stop is governed by a governor (ostandar - استاندار). Iran is divided into 31 regions:
| 20. Hormozgan |
Iran is an industrial country with a developed oil industry. There are oil refining and petrochemical enterprises. Extraction of oil, coal, gas, copper, iron, manganese and lead-zinc ores. Mechanical engineering and metalworking, as well as the food and textile industries are widely represented. Handicraft production of carpets and hardware has been developed. Among the most important agricultural crops are: wheat, barley, rice, legumes, cotton, sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, tea, nuts, pistachios. Livestock farming is based on the breeding of sheep, goats, camels, and cattle. 7.5 million hectares of land are irrigated. 45% of budget revenues come from oil and gas exports, 31% from taxes and fees. In 2007, GDP was $852 billion. GDP growth was 5%; in 2008 growth of 7% is predicted. Inflation is 15.8%.
Main export items: crude oil and petroleum products, metal ores, fruits and nuts, carpets. The main buyers in 2008 were China 15.3%, Japan 14.3%, India 10.4%, South Korea 6.4%, Turkey 6.4%, Italy 4.5%. Main import items: heavy engineering products and chemical industry, automobiles, iron, steel, minerals, food, consumer goods, textiles, paper. The main suppliers in 2008 were the UAE 19.3%, China 13%, Germany 9.2%, South Korea 7%, Italy 5.1%, France 4.3%, Russia 4.2%. Iran is a key member of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which includes countries in southwest Asia and the Central Asian republics of the former USSR. Iran is actively developing economic ties with the countries of the region and aims to form a free trade area similar to the EU. Free trade and industrial zones are being developed in Chabahar and on Kish Island. According to Al-Arabiya TV channel, the Islamic Republic is now in its deepest crisis since its formation 32 years ago. Tehran is unable to cope with the economic challenges facing the country. The reason for this was the failed economic policy of President Ahmadinejad and the economic sanctions imposed on Iran by the world community. Energy
Iran has 16% of world reserves natural gas. The main deposits are located on the shelf of the Persian Gulf and in the northeast of the country. By 2010, it is planned to increase gas production in Iran to 290 billion cubic meters per year. At the same time, full-scale gas exports should begin. In 2005, Iran supplied 7 billion cubic meters of gas annually to. Currently, construction is underway on a gas pipeline from the South Pars field to a liquefied natural gas plant on Kish Island in the Persian Gulf. The construction of the Iran - - gas pipeline is being discussed. In 2005, the Iran-Armenia gas pipeline was opened. To expand gas exports, an attempt may be made to restore the IGAT gas pipeline network, including IGAT-1 with a capacity of 9.6 billion cubic meters per year, built in 1970 to supply gas to and, and IGAT-2 with a capacity of 27 billion cubic meters per year, construction which was not completed due to the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Both gas pipelines require reconstruction. Their reactivation could allow Iran to supply gas through the EU. As an alternative, the expansion of the existing gas pipeline from Iran to Turkey to . In 2005, Iran had 132 billion barrels of proven oil reserves (about 10% of world reserves). Iran produces 4.2 million barrels per day, of which about 2.7 million barrels are exported. Iran was the fourth largest oil exporter in the world (second in OPEC), as well as the largest supplier of oil to China. According to the Iranian constitution, the sale of shares in national oil production enterprises or the granting of oil concessions to foreign companies is prohibited. The development of oil fields is carried out by the state-owned Iranian National Oil Company (INNK). Since the late 1990s, however, foreign investors have come to the oil industry (French Total and Elf Aquitaine, Malaysian Petronas, Italian Eni, China National Oil Company, as well as Belneftekhim), who receive part of the produced oil under compensation contracts, and upon expiration of the contract, the fields are transferred to the control of INNK. Despite its enormous hydrocarbon reserves, Iran is experiencing a shortage of electricity. Imports of electricity exceed exports by 500 million kilowatt-hours. The national program developed in this regard implies reaching a level of 53 thousand megawatts of installed capacity by 2010. The program provides for the development of hydroelectric power and nuclear power. First Iranian nuclear power plant built in with the assistance of . Tourism
Interior of Sheikh Lutfallah Mosque Iran's tourism industry was severely damaged by the Iran-Iraq War but is currently being revived. In 2003, 300 thousand tourist visas were issued, the majority to pilgrims from neighboring Islamic states heading to and. In 2004, 1.7 million foreign tourists visited Iran. While for Muslims the main interest is probably in sacred places, Europeans are mainly interested in archaeological excavations and ancient monuments. In 2004, tourism industry revenues exceeded $2 billion. The development of tourism is greatly hampered by inadequate infrastructure. In terms of budget revenues from tourism, Iran is in 68th place. 1.8% of the population is employed in the tourism business. According to forecasts, this sector of the economy is one of the most promising in the country; in the coming years it is expected to increase by 10%. TransportValid in Iran right-hand traffic(steering wheel on the left). Iran has a developed transport infrastructure. The total length of roads is 178 thousand km, of which 2/3 are paved. There are 30 personal cars per 1000 people. Length railways- 8400 km (2005). There is a railway connection with Azerbaijan Newspapers and television and radio broadcasting
Broadcasting:
News agencies:
Armed forces
Armed forces Iran's armed forces consist of two main components: the Army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Both components report directly to the Chief Executive. In addition, there are Law Enforcement Forces (internal and border troops, police). In total, about one and a half million people serve in the armed forces. The reserve is 350 thousand. Iran also has a paramilitary organization within the IRGC - the Basij, where 90 thousand volunteers and 11 million reservists, including women, serve on a permanent basis. Thus, total number The armed forces, including reserves, in Iran exceed 12 million people. Iran's combat capabilities remain strictly confidential. IN last years production of ballistic missiles has been established, including the Shahab-3, the Dastan tank, and the modernized T-72 tank. And if previously Iran spent 3.3% of GDP on the military budget, which was much less compared to other countries in the Middle East, especially Israel, then recently arms costs in Iran have increased significantly, in addition, Iran has a satellite in space. Military-technical cooperation with ChinaTehran's cooperation with Beijing in the military sphere is perhaps even closer than with Moscow: in 1987-2002, the PRC supplied weapons and military equipment worth $4.4 billion to Iran. The PRC supplied fighter jets, anti-ship missiles, military transport aircraft, artillery pieces, medium tanks, as well as a number of technologies. Space achievementsHaving launched the Omid (Hope) satellite on February 2, 2009 using its own Safir-2 launch vehicle from the Semnan Cosmodrome, Iran became the tenth space power on its second attempt. At the beginning of February 2010, Iranian media reported that Iran sent a capsule with living organisms into space on its own Kavoshgar-3 launch vehicle. Iran also successfully launched a new satellite, Navid (New), into orbit on February 3, 2012. One of its tasks is to photograph the Earth's surface. Iran launched its first spacecraft with a monkey on board in January 2013. The Pioneer spacecraft with a monkey on board was launched into an orbit at an altitude of 120 km. According to Iranian television, the device returned to Earth without damage. The “capsule of life” was delivered into space by the Iranian-made Kavoshgar-5 launch vehicle. Earlier, the head of the Iranian space agency, Hamid Fazeli, explained that launching a monkey into space is a preparatory part of a project involving human space flight. Iran plans to carry out a manned space flight in the next 5-8 years. In February 2010, the Kavoshgar-3 launch vehicle carried mice, turtles and worms into space for scientific research. The next launch in 2011 was unsuccessful - the satellite with a monkey on board did not enter orbit. Iran has its own space agency. see also
Notes
Literature
Science articles
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brief information
On the territory of Iran, which is sometimes also called Persia, one of the most ancient civilizations in the world once formed. This country has amazing nature, beautiful mountains, ancient cities, balneological, ski and beach resorts. Iranians are very hospitable people and always welcome tourists who respect their religion.
Geography of Iran
Iran is located in South-West Asia. Iran borders Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia in the north and northeast, Iraq in the west, Turkey in the northwest, and Pakistan and Afghanistan in the east. In the north, the shores of Iran are washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, and in the south of the country there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The total area of this country is 1,648,000 square meters. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 5,619 km.
In the west of Iran there is the Elborz mountain system, as well as the Caucasus Mountains. In general, most of Iran's territory is occupied by mountains. The most high peak country - Damavand Peak, whose height reaches 5,604 meters. However, in the east of Iran there are deserts (for example, Dasht-e Kavir), and in the north there are large plains.
Capital
The capital of Iran is Tehran, which is now home to more than 8.8 million people. Archaeologists claim that human settlement on the site of modern Tehran existed already 7 thousand years ago.
Official language
The official language in Iran is Persian, which belongs to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family.
Religion
About 98% of Iran's population is Muslim (89% Shia Muslims and 9% Sunni Muslims).
Government of Iran
According to the current Constitution of 2004, Iran is an Islamic republic. Its head is the President, elected by universal suffrage for a term of 4 years. The President, by decree, appoints members of the Council of Ministers and controls their activities.
However, in Iran, real power does not belong to the President, but to “ Supreme Leader”, which is elected by the Council of Experts, consisting of 86 people (they are elected by the people).
A special role in Iran belongs to the Council of Guardians of the Constitution (12 people). Members of this Council must check whether the laws adopted in Iran comply with the Constitution.
The right of legislative initiative in Iran has a unicameral parliament - the Majlis. It consists of 190 deputies elected by direct universal suffrage for 4 years.
Climate and weather
The climate in Iran is changeable. In the north along the coast of the Caspian Sea, the climate is subtropical. In the northwest, winters are cold (there is often a lot of snow), spring and autumn are warm, and summers are dry and hot. As for the south of the country, winters there are warm and summers are hot. In July in southern Iran average temperature air - +38C. In general, the average annual air temperature in Iran is +16.7C. The average annual precipitation is 213 mm.
Average air temperature in Iran:
January - +3.5C
- February - +6C
- March - +11C
- April - +16C
- May - +28C
- June - +27С
- July - +30C
- August - +28.5C
- September - +25C
- October - +18C
- November - +10C
- December - +5.5C
Sea in Iran
In the north, Iran is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. In the south of the country there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The length of the Caspian Sea coast in Iran is 740 kilometers, and the coastline along the Persian and Oman Gulfs stretches for 2,440 kilometers.
Iran includes several islands. The most famous of them is, perhaps, the island of Kish in the Strait of Hormuz, which is now a popular destination for beach holidays.
Rivers and lakes
There are not many rivers in Iran, which determines its geographical location. Moreover, only one of them is navigable – the Karun, which flows in the north-west of the country.
In the north-west of Iran there is also the most famous Iranian lake - Urmia, the salty waters of which are similar in their chemical composition to the water of the Dead Sea. Thanks to its waters, Lake Urmia is a very popular balneological resort in Iran.
History of Iran
According to archaeological finds, people lived on the southern shore of the Caspian Sea (i.e. in the territory of modern Iran) already in 10,000 BC. Scientists believe that this region managed to avoid all the “delights” of the Ice Age.
Previously, Iran was called Persia, however, now this name is also still used.
The first mention of Iranians dates back to 844 BC. (in Assyrian texts). In the 6th century, Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire, which was destroyed in 330 BC. Alexander the Great.
In subsequent centuries, Persia was invaded by the Parthians, Arabs, Mongols, and Seljuk Turks. In the middle of the 7th century, after Persia was conquered by the Arabs, Islam began to spread among the Iranians, displacing their ancient religion, Zoroastrianism.
Since 1502, representatives of the Safavid dynasty have become Shahs of Iran. During this era, Shah Ismail I of Iran made the Shia branch of Islam the state religion.
In the 18th-19th centuries, Iran fell into the sphere of interests of Great Britain and Russia. In the early 1900s, rivalry over oil intensified between Britain and Russia, both of which were vying for influence in Iran.
In 1921, army officer Reza Khan established a military dictatorship in Iran, and in 1925 he assumed the title "Shah".
In 1979, a revolution took place in Iran, as a result of which the Shah was overthrown and Iran became an Islamic republic. The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Ayatollah Khomeini.
Culture
Iran is a very conservative Muslim country. Perhaps this is why Iranians have preserved many of their customs and traditions. Most Iranian customs and holidays are religious in nature.
In March, Iranians celebrate Nowruz, which is dedicated to the beginning of the New Year (Iranians have their own calendar). Before the New Year, Iranians always do a thorough cleaning of their homes and also buy sweets and dried fruits for themselves, their relatives and friends.
Iranian cuisine
Iranian cuisine is very diverse. Each province of Iran has its own culinary traditions and very tasty dishes. The main food products are rice, meat (including chicken), fish, vegetables, nuts, and spices. However, Iranian cuisine has been significantly influenced by Greek, Arab, Turkish, and even Russian culinary traditions.
Ash-e Jow – thick soup made from barley beans, lentils and vegetables;
- Fesenjan – chicken with pomegranates in nut sauce;
- Kalam polo – pilaf with the aroma of cinnamon and saffron;
- Khoresht ghaimeh – stew with peas;
- Khoresht-e Aloo – stewed lamb with prunes;
- Kookoo – spiced omelette;
- Kufteh – spicy cutlets;
- Reshteh Polo – “green” pilaf (it is green because of the herbs added to it).
Alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Iran (Iranians smoke hookah instead of alcohol). But traditional Iranian soft drinks include yogurt, coffee and tea.
Sights of Iran
To get acquainted with the sights of Iran, you need to visit this country several times. Perhaps, in terms of the number (and their beauty) of attractions, Iran is second only to countries such as Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. The top ten best Iranian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Tomb of the Persian king Cyrus II in Pasargadae
- Abad Garden Museum in Tehran
- Golestan Palace in Tehran
- Friday Mosque in Isfakan
- Meybod Fortress
- Imam Mosque in Isfakan
- Tomb of the poet Hafez in Shiraz
- Ancient Ziggurat Choga Zembil
- Zoroastrian sanctuary in Yazd
- Ruins of the Assassin fortress Alamut
Cities and resorts
The largest Iranian cities are Keredj, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and, of course, Tehran.
It would seem that there should be many beach resorts in Iran, because... the country has access to the Caspian and Arabian seas, however, this is not yet the case. This is influenced, in part, by the political situation in which Iran finds itself.
However, in recent years, beach resorts have begun to develop in Iran. Thus, on the island of Kish (Shahid Zakeri, Laft, Bahman), located 17 km from the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, many high-class hotels have been built in recent years, as well as excellent conditions for diving. You can swim and sunbathe on Kish Island in winter. By the way, on Kish Island men are prohibited from wearing ties, because... they "are part of the Western way of life."
There are many mineral springs in Iran (most of them are in the north-west of the country). The most famous Iranian balneological resort is Temriz. In the vicinity of Termiz there is Lake Urmia, the water of which is similar in composition to the water of the Dead Sea.
We have already said that there are a lot of mountains in Iran (especially in the west of the country). Therefore, it is not surprising that several ski resorts- Dizin, Toshal and Ab Ali. Skiing season is from November to April. By the way, the Ab Ali ski resort was built back in 1953.
Of course, the infrastructure of Iranian ski resorts is not very developed. But these resorts have mineral springs, which slightly compensate for the shortcomings of the infrastructure.
Souvenirs/shopping
Tourists from Iran bring carpets, bags, scarves, blankets, towels, dishes, ceramics, baskets, jewelry, a variety of sweets, and hookahs as souvenirs.
Office hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 07:30-16:00
Thursday: 07:30-12:00
2. Modern calendar
Reforms of the beginning of the 20th century.
In Iran
In 1911, the Mejlis of Qajar Iran officially approved a state calendar based on the Jalali calendar with the names of the months in honor of the zodiac constellations and the naming of years according to the twelve-year animal cycle. It remained in use until the 1925 revolution.
After Shah Reza Pahlavi came to power on 11 Farvardin 1304 sol. X. The Iranian parliament adopts a new calendar, the Solar Hijri, in which the ancient Zoroastrian names of the months were restored. Not least of all, the adoption of these names was facilitated by the Zoroastrian candidate Keykhosrow Shahrukh, supported by a group of Iranian Muslim patriots. At the same time, the twelve-year animal cycle was officially prohibited, although it was still used in everyday life for a long time.
The new calendar is a simplified version of Jalali. The first six months consist of 31 days, the next five of 30 days, and the last of 29 days in normal years or 30 in leap years. The longer duration of the first half of the year corresponds to a longer period between the spring and autumn equinox. In general, the insertion of leap years in the calendar follows a 33-year cycle, sometimes replaced by 29 and 37 years.
On Esfand 24, 1354 AH/March 14, 1975, on the initiative of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, instead of the Hijra era, a new era was introduced - the Shahanshahi "royal" from the expected year of Cyrus the Great's accession to the throne. March 21, 1976 became the first day of the year 2535 of the Shahankhahi era. This innovation caused rejection among Islamic clerics and was generally ignored by society. In 1978, the Shah was forced to restore the Hijri era.
Although the 1979 revolution took place under the banner of Islamization and the rejection of everything associated with the heritage of the Pahlavi dynasty, after its completion the Iranian calendar was not changed and the Zoroastrian names of the months are still preserved.
In Afghanistan
In 1301 A.H./1922, following the example of Iran, the Iranian solar calendar with zodiac names of months. Moreover, in the Dari language, as in Iran, they are called by Arabic names, and they were translated literally into the Pashto language.
Initially, as in the Jalali calendar, the number of days of the months varied depending on the movement of the sun through the zodiac. Only in 1336/1957 was the Iranian system introduced with a constant number of days in months, but the names of the months themselves remained the same.
Month names
The Iranian year begins on the day of the vernal equinox, celebrated as Nowruz the most significant folk holiday in Iran, Afghanistan, also celebrated in many neighboring countries, where, however, other calendars are accepted.
| Number of days | Farsi in Iran | Kurdish | Dari in Afghanistan | Pashto in Afghanistan | Correspondence in the Gregorian calendar |
Zodiac sign | ||||||
| MFA | Original | Russian | Latin | Arabic letter | MFA | Original | MFA | Original | ||||
| 1 | 31 | færværdin | فروردین | Farvardin | Xakelêwe | خاکەلێوە | hamal | حمل | wray | ورى | March 21 April 20 | Aries |
| 2 | 31 | ordiːbeheʃt | اردیبهشت | Ordibehesht | Gullan | گوڵان | sawr | ثور | ɣwajai | غویى | April 21 May 21 | Taurus |
| 3 | 31 | chordɒːd | خرداد | Khordad | Cozerdan | جۆزەردان | dʒawzɒ | جوزا | ɣbarɡolai | غبرګولى | May 22 June 21 | Twins |
| 4 | 31 | tiːr | تیر | Shooting gallery | Pûşper | پووشپەڕ | saratɒn | سرطان | t͡ʃunɡɑʂ | چنګاښ | June 22 July 22 | Cancer |
| 5 | 31 | mordɒːd | مرداد | Mordad | Gelawêj | گەلاوێژ | asad | اسد | zmarai | زمرى | July 23 August 22 | a lion |
| 6 | 31 | ʃæhriːvær | شهریور | Shahrivar | Xermanan | خەرمانان | sonbola | سنبله | waʐai | وږى | August 23 September 22 | Virgo |
| 7 | 30 | mehr | مهر | Mehr | Rezber | ڕەزبەر | mizɒn | میزان | təla | تله | September 23 October 22 | Scales |
| 8 | 30 | ɒːbɒn | آبان | Aban | Xezellwer | گەڵاڕێزان | "aqrab | عقرب | laɻam | لړم | October 23 November 21 | Scorpion |
| 9 | 30 | ɒːzær | آذر | Hazard | Sermawez | سەرماوەز | qaws | قوس | Lindəi | لیند ۍ | November 22 December 21 | Sagittarius |
| 10 | 30 | dej | دی | Day | Befranbar | بەفرانبار | dʒadi | جدی | marɣumai | مرغومى | December 22 January 20 | Capricorn |
| 11 | 30 | bæhmæn | بهمن | Bachman | Rêbendan | ڕێبەندان | dalvæ | دلو | salwɑɣə | سلواغه | January 21 February 19 | Aquarius |
| 12 | 29/30 | esfænd | اسفند | Esfand | Resume | ڕەشەمە | hut | حوت | kab | كب | February 20 March 20 | Fish |
Seasons
The year is traditionally divided into four seasons of three months each:
- Spring: Farvardin, Ordibehesht, Khordad
- Summer: shooting range, mordad, shakhrivar
- Autumn: mehr, aban, azar
- Winter: dey, bahman, esfand
Definition of Leap Years
Leap years are defined differently than in the Gregorian calendar: a year is considered a leap year when dividing numerical value which at 33 the remainder is 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 22, 26 or 30; thus, there are 8 leap years in each 33-year period, and the average length of the year is 365.24242 days, giving an error of 1 day in 4500 years. The Iranian calendar is more accurate than the Gregorian calendar in this regard.
Days of the week
A week Iranian calendar starts on Saturday and ends on Friday official holiday.
- Saturday Shambe;
- Sunday Yekshambe;
- Monday Doshambe;
- Tuesday Seshambe;
- Wednesday Chaharshambe;
- Thursday Panjshambe;
- Friday Joma or Adina
The names of the days from Sunday to Thursday are the addition of a sequential numeral to the name of Saturday: Sunday “one-Saturday”, Monday “two-Saturday”, etc. The name of Friday Jome comes from Arabic word“meeting” refers to the traditional Friday congregational prayer of Muslims.
Compliance with the Gregorian calendar
The asterisk marks the years in which Nowruz falls on March 20 of the Gregorian calendar. In other years, Novruz March 21.
| Gregorian year | Year of the solar Hijri |
|---|---|
| 1999–2000 | 1378 |
| 2000–2001 | 1379* |
| 2001–2002 | 1380 |
| 2002–2003 | 1381 |
| 2003–2004 | 1382 |
| 2004–2005 | 1383* |
| 2005–2006 | 1384 |
| 2006–2007 | 1385 |
| 2007–2008 | 1386 |
| 2008–2009 | 1387* |
| 2009–2010 | 1388 |
| 2010–2011 | 1389 |
| 2011–2012 | 1390 |
| 2012–2013 | 1391* |
| 2013–2014 | 1392 |
| 2014–2015 | 1393 |
| 2015–2016 | 1394 |
| 2016–2017 | 1395* |
| 2017–2018 | 1396 |
| 2018–2019 | 1397 |
| 2019–2020 | 1398 |
| 2020–2021 | 1399* |
| 2021–2022 | 1400 |
Some dates
- 12 Bahmana 1357 February 1, 1979: Khomeini's arrival in Iran;
- 12 farvardin 1358 April 1, 1979: Proclamation of the Islamic Republic in Iran;
- 12 Mordad 1384 August 3, 2005: Ahmadinejad takes office as president.