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Iran
In an area of 1,648,196 sq. km, the Islamic Republic of
Iran as the world's 17th largest country, is
situated in the South-West Asia.
The country is located between 44° 05'-63° 18' East
longitude and 25° 03'-39° 47' North latitude. It is
bordered on the north by Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea,
Armenia and Azerbaijan, on the east by Pakistan and
Afghanistan, on the south by the Persian Gulf and the
Gulf of Oman, and on the west by Turkey and Iraq. One of
the main geographical characteristics of the Islamic
Republic of Iran is it's climatic specialty, meaning
that four seasons temperature may be seen simultaneously
in different parts of the country.
Diverse geographical conditions, as well as the long
historical heritage, have played an important role in
shaping the Iranian society and culture. Even though the
country is rapidly moving toward a modern industrial
era, yet the rich traditional, religious and ethnic
values of the people have remained intact. More than 61
percent of the country's population live in the urban
areas and mostly work in business and industrial fields.
However, the inhabitants of the rural areas are engaged
in the agricultural activities.
The official language of the Islamic Republic of Iran is
Persian. However, a number of other languages and
dialects such as Azeri, Kurdish, Luri, Balouchi and
Arabic are spoken in some regions.
The vast majority of Iranians are Muslims, mostly of the
Shi'i. Zoroastrians, Christians of Indo-European
linguistic identity and the Jews are the religious
minorities of Iran.
According to the constitution of the Islamic Republic of
Iran, adopted in 1979, and amended in 1989, the
structure of the government consists of legislative,
judicial and executive powers, which function
separately. Meanwhile the powers are supervised by a
Supreme Religious Leader (Valie-Faghih), who is elected
by the Assembly of Leadership Experts.
The Islamic Consultative Assembly is the law making
organ and its members are elected for a 4 year term by
popular vote.
The laws adopted by this Assembly are enforced after
being approved by the Council of Guardians to determine
their constitutionality and conformity to Islam.
The Executive power is headed by the President, who is
elected for a 4-year term through direct popular vote.
The current President is Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
The President, Vice Presidents and Ministers form the
Cabinet. The Ministers obtain the vote of confidence
from the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Being appointed by the Leader, the Head of the Judicial
Power is the highest judicial authority. He nominates
the Minister of Justice to the President as a member of
Cabinet.
lran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state
ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village
agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service
ventures. Over the past several years, the government
has introduced several measures to liberalize the
economy and reduce government intervention. Earnings
from oil exports - which provide 85% of lran's export
revenues are providing less relief to Iran than usual
because of reduced oil prices.
The agricultural sector accounts for about one-fifth of
the gross domestic product GDP) and employs one-fourth
of the work force in Iran. Mining and manufacturing
account for almost one-sixth of the GDP and employ about
one-eighth of the labour force.
Iran has the largest gross national product (GNP) in the
Middle East, but its estimated GNP per capita is below
average for the region owing to lower productivity of
the factors of production.
Exports: Total value:
49,292 million US $ (2006)
Major Items:
Petroleum, gas, and petrochemical
products, mineral products, food products, carpet,
pistachio, caviar, skin and leather, handicrafts, fresh
& dried fruits, hides, iron and steel, chemicals,
textiles, refined copper
Imports: Total value:
75,537 million US $ (2006)
Major Items:
Road vehicle & machinery, base metals,
chemical products, iron, steel & manufactures, animal
and vegetable fats, chemicals & pharmaceuticals, food &
live animals, plastics, tobacco, and technical services
About one-eighth of the country is forested, mostly near
the Caspian Sea, with oak, beech, linden, elm, and a few
broad-leafed evergreens. The abundant wildlife of the
country includes wolves, foxes, leopards, lynx,
gazelles, and deer as well as goats and sheep.
lran's enormous proved reserves of petroleum are located
mostly in the southwestern part of the country near the
Persian Gulf. The country's oil reserves account for
about 9 percent of the total world reserves and rank
fifth in the world. Iran also has one-seventh of the
world's reserves of natural gas, and there are also
substantial reserves of coal and copper ore.
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