State structure. Iran is a unitary state
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 highest peak in the country is 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 lies not with the President, but with the “Supreme Leader”, who is elected by an 86-member Council of Experts (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 the south of Iran the average air temperature is +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 - +27C
- July - +30С
- 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 are now operating in Iran - 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
Previously, Iran was called Persia; the country is still called that way in many works of fiction. Often the culture of Iran is called Persian, Iranian civilization is also called Persian. The Persians are the indigenous population of Iran, as well as the people living in the countries of the Persian Gulf, the people living near the Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Northern India.
Officially, the Iranian state is called the Islamic Republic of Iran. The name of the country "Iran" is currently used for modern civilization, now the Persians are called Iranians, they are a people living in the territory between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Iranians have lived in this territory for more than two and a half thousand years.
The Iranians have a direct connection with the peoples who called themselves Aryans, who also lived in this territory in ancient times, they were the ancestors of the Indo-European peoples of Central Asia. Over the years, there have been invasions of the Iranian civilization, and due to this, the empire has undergone some changes.
Due to invasions and wars, the composition of the country's population gradually changed, the state expanded, and the peoples who fell into it spontaneously mixed. Today we see the following picture: as a result of a large number of migrations and wars, the territory and culture of Iran are claimed by peoples of European, Turkic, Arab and Caucasian origin.
Many of these peoples live in the territory of modern Iran. Moreover, the inhabitants of Iran prefer that the country be called Persia, and they are called Persians, in order to indicate their similarity and continuity in relation to the Persian culture. Often the Iranian population wants nothing to do with the modern political state. Many Iranians have emigrated to the United States of America and Europe, but even there they do not want to compare themselves with the modern Islamic Republic of Iran, created in 1979.
Formation of a nation
The Iranian people are one of the oldest civilized peoples in the world. During the Paleolithic and Mesolithic times, the population lived in caves in the Zagros and Elborz mountains. The earliest civilizations in the region lived in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains, where they developed agriculture and animal husbandry, and established the first urban culture in the Tigris-Euphrates basin.
The emergence of Iran dates back to the middle of the 1st millennium BC, when Cyrus the Great created the Persian Empire, which existed until 333 BC. The Persian Empire was conquered by Alexander the Great. In the sixth century BC, Persia regained its independence, and the Persian kingdom existed until the seventh century AD.
The country was included in the Medina, and later in the Damascus caliphate with the advent of Islam on the territory of Persia. The original religion of the Zoroastrians practically disappears, having been completely suppressed by Islam. Up to the present day, the same plot of events has been repeated in Iranian history: the conquerors of Iranian territory ultimately themselves become admirers of Iranian culture. In a word, they become Persians.
The first of these conquerors was Alexander the Great, who swept through the area and conquered the Achaemenid Empire in 330 BC. Alexander died soon after, leaving his generals and their descendants on this land. The process of dismemberment and conquest of the country ended with the creation of a renewed Persian Empire.
At the beginning of the third century AD, the Sassanids united all territories to the east, including India, and successfully began to cooperate with the Byzantine Empire. The second Great Conquerors were the Arab Muslims who came from Saudi Arabia in 640 AD. They gradually merged with the Iranian peoples, and by 750 there was a revolution that pushed the new conquerors to become Persians, but interspersed with elements of their culture. This is how the Baghdad Empire emerged.
The following conquerors who came with a wave of Turkic peoples to the lands of Iran in the eleventh century. They established courts in the northeastern part of Khorasan and founded several large cities. They became patrons of Persian literature, art and architecture.
The successive Mongol invasions of the thirteenth century occurred during a period of relative instability that lasted until the early sixteenth century. Iran regains its independence with the rise to power of the Persian Safavid dynasty. They established Shiism as the state religion. And this period became the heyday of Iranian civilization. The Safavid capital, Isfahan, was one of the most civilized places on earth, long before the emergence of most cities in Europe.
The subsequent conquerors were Afghans and Turks, however, the result was the same as that of the previous conquerors. During the period of the Qajar conquest of Iran from 1899 to 1925, Persia came into contact with European civilization in a most serious way. The Industrial Revolution in the West has seriously shaken Iran's economy.
The lack of a modern army with the latest military weapons and transport leads to large losses of territory and influence. Iranian rulers made concessions, allowing the agricultural and economic institutions of their European competitors to develop. This was necessary in order to attract the funds necessary for modernization. Most of the money went directly into the pockets of the rulers.
A few years later, the country returns to prosperity thanks to the founding of a new dynasty. In 1906, a constitutional monarchy was proclaimed in Iran, which existed until 1979, when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown from the throne. In January 1979, Ayatollah Khomeini proclaims Iran an Islamic republic.
Ethnic relations of Iran
In Iran, there are generally no inter-ethnic conflicts, especially considering the fact that a huge number of different nationalities live there. It is safe to conclude that no one persecutes or terrorizes ethnic minorities in Iran, much less open discrimination exists.
Some groups living in Iran have always strived for autonomy. One of the main representatives of such peoples are the Kurds living on the western border of Iran. These people are fiercely independent and constantly pressure the Iranian central government to make economic concessions towards them and accept their autonomous decision-making powers.
However, outside of urban areas, the Kurds already exercise impressive control over their regions. Iranian government officials navigate these areas very easily. Kurds in Iran, along with their brethren in Iraq and Turkey, have long wanted to create an independent state. The immediate prospects for this are rather dim.
Nomadic clan groups in the southern and western regions of Iran also pose some problems for the country's central government. These peoples herd their goats and sheep and, as a result, are constantly nomadic for more than half the year, these peoples have always been historically difficult to control.
These peoples are, as a rule, self-sufficient, and some of them are quite wealthy people. Attempts to settle relations with these tribes have often met with violence in the past. They are currently trying to negotiate a fragile peace with the Iranian central government.
The Arab population in the southwestern Persian Gulf province of Khuzestan has expressed its desire to break away from Iran. During the conflict between Iran and Iraq, Iraqi leaders supported the separatist movement as a way to counter Iranian officials. Severe social persecution in Iran was directed at the religious. Periods of relative calm alternated with periods of discrimination over the centuries. Under the current law of the Islamic Republic, these minorities have had a difficult time.
Although in theory they should have been protected as "People of the Book" under Islamic law, Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians faced charges of spying for Western countries or for Israel. Islamic officials also have a vague understanding of their tolerance for alcohol consumption, as well as relative freedom in relation to the female sex.
One group, which was widely persecuted, dates back to the nineteenth century, but its religion was seen as a heretical strain of Shia Muslims.
The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the Aryan tribe - “noble”.
Capital of Iran. Tehran.
Iran Square. 1648000 km2.
Population of Iran. 66129 thousand people
Location of Iran. Iran is a state in the southwest. It borders with, and in the north, with and - in the east and and - in the west. It is washed in the north and by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf in the south.
Administrative divisions of Iran. 24 ostans (provinces).
Iranian form of government. Theocratic parliamentary republic.
Head of State of Iran. President (secular head of state), elected for a term of 4 years. The head of the country (spiritual head of state) is the Ayatollah.
Supreme Legislative Body of Iran. The unicameral parliament is the Assembly of the Islamic People (Majlis), whose term of office is 4 years.
Supreme executive body of Iran. Absent.
Major cities of Iran. Mashhad, Tabriz, Shiraz.
Official language of Iran. Farsi (Persian). Religion. 94% of the population is Shiite.
Ethnic composition of Iran. 51% - Persians, 24% - Azerbaijanis, 8% - Gilaks and Mazandarans, 7% - , 3% - Arabs, 2% - Lurs, 2% - Balokhi, 2% - .
Currency of Iran. Iranian rial = 100 dinars.
Iran. According to climatic conditions, Iran can be divided into three zones: the hot coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, but the arid climate of the central highlands and the cold climate in the Elbrus region. The average temperature in January is from + 2°C in the north to + 19°C in the south; in July - respectively + 25°C and + 32°C. Less than 500 mm falls per year, only on the northern slopes of Elbrus - 2000 mm.
Flora of Iran. In the Zagros Mountains there are areas where oak, walnut, elm, and pistachio trees grow. On the slopes of the Elbrus Mountains and in the Caspian Valley, a large number of ash, elm, elm, oak, and birch grow. cacti and thorns grow in areas.
Fauna of Iran. The fauna of Iran is quite diverse. Rabbit, fox, wolf, hyena, jackal, leopard, deer, porcupine, ibex (mountain goat), bear, tiger, badger live here. There are a large number of pheasants and partridges, and on the Gulf coast - flamingos and pelicans. Beluga, herring and sturgeon are found here.
Rivers and lakes of Iran. mostly low-water. The main navigable river of the country is Karun. The largest lake is Urmia (Rezaie).
Sights of Iran. Bastan Museum, Imam Mosque, Aqa Shrine, burial place of Ayatollah Khomeini, Shahiyad Tower, Ethnographic Museum in Tehran. Tombs of the Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi, Qom Museum and Pars Museum in Shiraz. Tomb of Esther and Avicenna's tomb in Hamadan. Tomb of Omar Khayyam in Nishair and many others.
Useful information for tourists
As a result of the unstable situation, there are practically no foreign tourists in the state.
Basic moments
Iran occupies most of the Iranian Plateau, which consists of an alternation of high plains, mountain ranges and intermountain basins. Low-lying plains adjoin the shores of the Caspian Sea, the Persian and Oman Gulfs. In most of the country, the climate is continental, on the Caspian coast it is subtropical, on the coast of the Oman and Persian Gulfs it is tropical, with an insignificant amount of precipitation and high “greenhouse” air humidity. On the Iranian Plateau, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 100–200 mm per year; in some desert inland areas there is no precipitation for several years in a row. Natural conditions allow the cultivation of a wide variety of crops - rice, tea, date and banana palms, pistachios, citrus fruits. The basis of the country's economic development are oil and gas resources and the developing mining industry.
Iran, along with Afghanistan, is one of the most multinational states in South-West Asia. More than 60 peoples, ethnic groups and tribes live here, belonging mainly to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family (75%) and to the Turkic group of the Altaic language family (over 20%). The main ethnic community - the Persians - makes up the majority of the urban population, and also occupy the main settlement area in the central and southern parts of the country. To the north live ethnically close Gilyans, Mazenderans, Talysh, to the west - Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiars, to the east - Afghans, Baluchis, Tajiks. The second largest ethnic community - Azerbaijanis - inhabits the northwestern part of the country.
The capital of Iran, Tehran, located on a vast foothill plain, at the foot of the extinct Elborz volcano, is a major transport hub, industrial and cultural center. Among the architectural sights of the capital, the Golestan Palace, the Sepah Salar Mosque, the buildings of the Majlis and the Senate are noteworthy. Other large cities of the country: Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Abadan, Khorramabad, Kerman, Mashhad.
Geography
Iran is located in southwest Asia at the junction of the Near and Middle East. From the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, from the south by the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Iran borders by land with seven countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey; and also shares the Caspian Sea with Russia and Kazakhstan, the Persian Gulf with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the UAE, and the Gulf of Oman with Oman.
In terms of territory (1,648,000 km²), Iran ranks 17th in the world. Iran would fit five countries the size of Germany. At the same time, the area of Iran is half the size of Yakutia. Almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of the lowlands of Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan in the north and Khuzestan in the southwest, is located at an altitude of at least 900 m above sea level. The Zagros mountain range stretches from northwest to southeast.
Due to its arid climate and mountainous terrain, Iran does not have sufficient water resources. There is only one navigable river in the country - the Karun. The largest lake is Urmia, located in the north-west of Iran. However, Iran is rich in mineral resources, especially hydrocarbons. Iran has the world's third-largest oil reserves, the second-largest natural gas reserves, and large reserves of coal, iron ore, manganese and zinc.
Most of Iran's territory is covered with mountains. The main mountain system, Zagros, stretches for 1500 km from northwest to southeast. A considerable number of Zagros peaks exceed 3000 m in height, and in the highest mountain region (Fars) - 4000 meters. Another major mountain range, Elborz, runs along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. Elborz is home to the highest point in Iran - the extinct Damavand volcano (5610 m above sea level).
The area between Zagros and Elborz is occupied by the Central Plateau, where the average altitude above sea level is 900 m. The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two large saline deserts: Dashte-Kevir and Dashte-Lut. With the exception of a few oases, this territory is uninhabited.
Iran has only two vast lowlands: the Khuzestan Plain in the southwest, and the Caspian coastal lowland in the north. The first is a continuation of the Mesopotamian Plain and goes deep into Iranian territory for 120-160 km, where it is interrupted by the Zagros chain. The height throughout the plain does not exceed 3-5 meters above sea level. The Caspian lowland stretches along the sea coast for 640 km, while its width does not exceed 40 km. In some places, the coastline is separated from the foot of Elborz by 2 km. Along most of the coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs there are no plains as such, since the Zagros reaches directly to the coastline.
There are no large rivers in Iran, and only one is navigable - the Karun. The Karun originates in the Zagros (Ceharmehal and Bakhtiaria) and flows mainly through the territory of Khuzestan in the southwest of the country. River transport is used mainly on the 180 km downstream section between the cities of Ahwaz and Khorramshahr, where the Karun flows into Arvandrud (Shatt al-Arab). The total length of the river is 950 km. Other significant rivers: Karhe, Dez and Zayande. There are a large number of small short rivers in the north of Iran, especially in Mazandaran. All of them flow down from Elborz and flow into the Caspian (Khazar) Sea. The rivers in central Iran are full only during a short period of snowmelt in the mountains, but for most of the year they dry up.
One of the few bodies of water that never dries up is the salt lake Urmia in Southern Azerbaijan. However, the salt content there is so high that it does not allow supporting life in the lake. Other lakes: Bakhtagan, Gavkhuni, Neyriz, Parishan, Neor, Save. A group of small salt lakes is located in the east of Iran - in Sistan and Baluchestan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are a few fresh lakes in Elborz, north of Tehran.
Climate
Iran has an arid climate. Along the coast of the Caspian Sea - subtropical. In the north of the country, in winter the temperature often drops below 0°, in July it occasionally reaches 30°. The average annual precipitation is 1700 mm in the humid western regions and 680 mm in the dry eastern regions. In summer, temperatures in deserts can exceed 40°. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros Mountains, winter temperatures are almost always below 0°, with heavy snowfall and strong winds. The coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs is located in a zone of hot and humid tropical climate, the temperature ranges from +16-18°C in winter to +24-30°C in summer, with relatively large amounts of precipitation (up to 1000 mm on the mountain slopes, up to 600 mm in flat areas).
Population
Since the Islamic Revolution, the country has been experiencing a constant population explosion. Since 1979, the population has doubled and in 2006 reached 70 million people. However, in the 90s, the birth rate decreased noticeably. According to forecasts, Iran's population will reach 90 million by 2050. More than a third of the population is under 30 years of age. The literacy rate is 79%. Urbanization - 67%. The fertility rate is 1.87 (2.15 is required for reproduction of generations). The number of Iranians abroad exceeds 4 million. Most of them emigrated to Australia, North America and Europe after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In addition, Iran itself is home to more than a million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Waziristan.
The Constitution of Iran guarantees every citizen, regardless of nationality and religion, social protection: pension, unemployment benefits, disability, health insurance. Education and medical services are free. Average annual per capita income is US$2,700 (2006). About 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Iran is a multinational state. Persians make up the majority of the country's population. 70% of the population belong to the Iranian peoples - the ancestors of the Indo-European group of languages, descended from Aryan tribes that migrated to Iran from Central Asia. The majority of the population, in addition to the official language (Farsi), also speaks at least one of the Iranian languages. Persians and Iranian peoples make up 64% of the population, Azerbaijanis - 21%, Kurds - 9%, Arabs - 2%, Baluchis and Turkmens - 2% each. In addition, there are national minorities of Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians and Pashtuns.
Most Iranians are Muslims. 90% of the population are Shiites (state religion). Along with Iraq and Bahrain, Iran is one of the states where Shiites make up more than half of the population. There are two holy cities of Shiites in Iran: Mashhad (mausoleum of Imam Reza) and Qom. Qom is the most important religious center of Islam with many Islamic seminaries and universities.
Sunnis make up about 8% of the population. The other 2% includes Baha'is, Mandaeans, Hindus, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. The last 3 are officially recognized and protected by the constitution. Representatives of these religions have reserved seats in the Majlis, while even Sunnis do not have such a privilege. At the same time, Baha'is (the largest religious minority) are persecuted. Iran's political system, based on religion, implies a curtailment of some rights and freedoms. In particular, there is gender inequality (although this is not as pronounced as in most other Muslim countries). Homosexuality is a criminal offense and is punishable by death in most cases.
Iran's state-owned energy company Pars Special Economic Energy Zone announced in June 2008 that all unmarried employees are required to get married by the end of September. Failure to comply with management decisions is punishable by dismissal. Iran's economic problems have led to a demographic crisis - many Iranians are in no hurry to start a family. Civil servants loyal to government policy strive to change the existing order of things. For example, the governor of one of the provinces of Iran announced that only family people would be hired in government agencies.
Economy
Iran is the largest economy in the Middle East, second only to China, Japan, India and South Korea in terms of GDP in Asia.
Iran is an agrarian-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, agricultural products. Main import items: heavy engineering and chemical industry products, cars, iron, steel, mineral raw materials, textiles, paper.
Iran's main trading partners include China, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and Turkey. 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.
Culture
Religiosity is a special cultural trait of Iran as it permeates every aspect of life. Islam is the belief in one God and people are obligated to serve him in accordance with the Qur'an. In Arabic, "Islam" means submission, and "Muslim" is one who submits to the will of God. The most visible manifestations of Shiism in Iran are modest clothing and visiting mosques. The official language of Iran is Farsi, a Persian language from the Indo-European group. In addition, several regional languages are spoken here, such as: Azar, Kurdish, Arabic, and Lori (spoken by the Lors); and in many languages of 26 provinces of Iran: Gilaki, Baluchi, Turkmen, etc. After the adoption of Islam, the Arabic alphabet entered the Persian language. But there are no standard ways to transliterate Farsi into English.
Most Iranian art forms originated before the Arab conquest and reached their peak during the Islamic era, although art is rarely without religious influence. Persian carpets are an integral part of Iranian culture and the origin of this art form dates back to the fifth century BC. The most melodic music in Iran is the music of national minorities: Turkmen, Azars, Kurds and Lor. Persian poetry originated in the 9th century AD. and slowly developed from epic poems to unrhymed couplets, which form the bulk of the poetic treasury of Iran. Persian painting developed during the Seljuk dynasty, but was practically forgotten until the 16th century, and then transformed into calligraphy. In addition, the Persians produced metal products, glass, and wooden products. Great films are being made in Iran now. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the director of Gabbeh, is the most criticized and revered Iranian director.
Iranian cuisine is one of the most delicious in the world. The main ingredients are rice, bread, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. The meat, usually lamb or mutton, is cut into small pieces and cooked in a small amount of fat, but it rarely dominates the table. But unfortunately, travelers rarely get the chance to try true Iranian cuisine, since most local restaurants will offer you two or three types of kebabs or rice with vegetables. So for true gourmets, it is better to try to visit local residents or visit a restaurant in a high-level hotel. Tea is the national drink of Iran; here it is drunk strong and hot. But everywhere in Iran you can buy all kinds of fruit juices, milkshakes and yoghurts. Alcohol is prohibited by religion in Iran, although it is permitted to be drunk for religious purposes, in mosques and by non-Muslims with special permission.
Story
The first people who founded settlements on the Iranian plateau were, apparently, the Elamites. They founded the city of Shush in the southwest. The Aryans came here in the second millennium BC, and brought with them their culture and crafts. Persian history dates back to the 6th century BC, when King Cyrus the Great of the Achamenite dynasty began to rule the region. The Achamenite dynasty founded the first Persian Empire, which was the prototype of modern Iran.
In the 4th century BC. Alexander the Great conquered Persia after his victories over Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Despite three peace proposals from Darius III, Alexander captured Shush. From here he marched his armies across the mountains to the east and captured Persepolis. After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three parts, ruled by three dynasties. The Seleusids became the rulers of Persia. But they had difficulty controlling numerous ethnic groups, particularly the nomadic Parthians, who occupied much of Persia and remained there until the 3rd century AD. The Sassanites came from the central regions of Persia, which were not under Parthian control. They brought Zoroastrianism with them and began to develop cities and trade, but were eventually supplanted by the Arabs, who arrived in 637 AD.
The Arabs stayed here until 1050. They converted the local population to Islam, introduced a new Persian alphabet and introduced Islamic culture. The Arabs were driven out by the Turks, who took Isfahan in 1051. Despite numerous uprisings, the Turks maintained their dominance in the region until the 13th century, when the hordes of Genghis Khan arrived. At the end of the 14th century, the power of the Mongols weakened, and the Timurid dynasty reigned in Iran, but it was under pressure from the tribes of the Turkmen, Ottoman Turks and European Portuguese colonists.
Under the rule of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1722), Iran was part of the vast Persian Empire. The great Shah Abbas I and his successors preserved Shiism and restored Isfahan, but this dynasty fell in the early 18th century after the Afghan invasion. The Afghans were unable to retain power for long, and for some time Iran was ruled by successive weak kings. In 1779, Agha Mohammed Khan united the Turkish Gayars, entered Iran and moved the capital to Tehran. The Ghayar rulers ruled Iran peacefully until 1921 and managed to maintain neutrality during World War I, but were unable to avoid the partial occupation of Iran by British forces seeking control of oil.
One of the last gayar rulers put forward the idea of elections and a legislative assembly (Majlis), but the idea was realized only by the Persian Khan Reza, who became the first prime minister in 1923. He was faced with the task of pulling the country out of the abyss of the Middle Ages. Iran (the name was officially adopted in 1934) remained neutral during World War II, but the British and Russians established spheres of influence there to keep Germany out. In 1941, Reza was exiled to South Africa and his son Muhammad Reza followed him. After the war, the Americans insisted that the Russians leave the region, and the young Mohammad Reza, who received absolute power, began to establish contacts with the West.
The next 30 years saw a confrontation between the power of Reza, who received the title of Shah, and his regime of repression and modernization. The country's economic situation went from bad to worse due to mismanagement of oil, and the opposition met these changes with sabotage and mass demonstrations. The Shah's response was desperate armed attempts to suppress the rebellion with the support of the Americans, but in the end the Shah left the country on January 16, 1979. And a few weeks later, the recognized leader Ayatollah Khomeini, the head of the opposition, returned from exile and was welcomed by millions. The nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism of the Ayatollah led to the creation of the Islamic Republic and the US lost its influence here.
After some time, the Ayatollah was proclaimed Imam (leader), and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein made an adventurous attempt to capture Khuzestan, a region of Iran. It was an ill-considered move that plunged both countries into a war in which hundreds of thousands of people on both sides were killed. Peace negotiations began only in 1988. Western countries and the USSR supported Iraq, choosing the lesser of two evils, but at the same time supplied Iran with weapons, albeit at inflated prices.
On June 4, 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini died, leaving the question of a successor open. Two months later, Hoijat-ol-Eslam Rafsanjani became the elected president, and former president Ayatollah Ali Khomeini became the country's Supreme Spiritual Leader. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Iran, explaining that Iran supports Islamic terrorist groups, destabilizing the situation in the Middle East. Following the 1997 election of moderate Iranian President Hojat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammed Khatami, many hoped that relations with most countries in the world would improve. But Iran's relations with Germany (and most of Europe) deteriorated sharply in 1997 after the Iranian government was found to be involved in the murder of Iranian Kurdish emigrants in Germany several years earlier.
Khatami's election allowed women and young people to hope that the strictest rules of Islam would be somewhat relaxed. There is now a national dialogue in the country about easing government restrictions between the Khatami liberalists and the Khomeini fundamentalists, but so far it has only led to increased censorship and greater discrimination.
Iran is a unitary state. Administratively, it is divided into 25 provinces.
Iran is a republic in terms of its form of government, but the strong influence of Shiite political concepts gives the form of government in Iran greater specificity. The Constitution approved by a referendum on December 2-3, 1979, with subsequent (July 28, 1989) amendments is in force. The political regime is clerical-authoritarian. According to the Iranian Constitution and the law adopted in 1981, the activities of political parties and non-Islamic organizations are prohibited in the country. There are a number of pro-regime Islamic associations, in particular the Society of the Fighting Clergy.
State power is exercised by legislative, executive and judicial authorities independent from each other, under the control of the political and spiritual Head (Leader) of the country. This post is occupied by a theologian (faqih), who is determined and appointed by a special body - the Council of Experts. The responsibilities of the Head include determining the general line in the Iranian policy and monitoring the correctness of its implementation; command of the armed forces; declaration of war and peace; the appointment and removal from office of fakihs of the Council for the Protection of the Constitution, the head of the judiciary, the chairman of the broadcasting organization "Voice and Image of the Islamic Republic of Iran", the chief of the joint headquarters, the commander-in-chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the commanders-in-chief of the armed forces and internal troops; signing a decree on the appointment of the President after his election; declaring amnesty or commutation of sentences.
Legislative power belongs to the unicameral parliament, the Assembly (Majlis) of the Islamic Council, consisting of 270 deputies elected by direct and secret ballot for a period of 4 years. The Mejlis approves the composition of the government, adopts laws, ratifies treaties and agreements with foreign countries, approves the draft budget, the receipt and provision of loans and gratuitous assistance by the government.
Control over the compliance of Mejlis decisions with the provisions of Islam and the Constitution of Iran is carried out by the Council for the Protection of the Constitution. The Council considers all decisions of the Mejlis, exercises control over the elections of the Council of Experts, presidential elections, elections to the Mejlis, as well as the conduct of general referendums.
The head of state is the President, directly elected for a term of 4 years. No one can hold this post for more than 2 consecutive terms. The President is responsible for the implementation of the Constitution, leadership of the executive branch (except for those issues that directly fall within the competence of the Head), heads the Cabinet of Ministers, appoints the ministers themselves and submits them to the Mejlis for approval, and signs treaties and agreements with other states.
In order to create guarantees of respect for national interests, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, the Supreme National Council for National Security operates under the chairmanship of the President.
As head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the President oversees the work of ministers and coordinates their activities. In cooperation with ministers, the President determines the program and policies of the government and organizes the implementation of laws.
The President is responsible to the Mejlis for the activities of the government. The Mejlis may express a vote of no confidence in the Cabinet of Ministers or any of the ministers, including based on the results of interpellation. In this case, the Cabinet or the relevant minister must resign.
The President can dismiss any member of the government or the Cabinet as a whole. In this case, he must receive a vote of confidence from the Mejlis regarding the new minister (new government). If the composition of the government has changed by half or more, the Cabinet of Ministers is obliged to receive a new vote of confidence from the Mejlis.
Legal system
general characteristics
The modern legal system of Iran is of a mixed nature; elements of the Muslim and Romano-Germanic legal systems are closely intertwined in it. The ratio of these elements throughout the twentieth century. was not the same.
Iran is one of the few Muslim states that escaped direct European colonization. The process of “Westernization” of the political and legal system began in 1906, when a Constitution based on the Franco-Belgian model was adopted, but the transformation of the judicial system and the adoption of sectoral codes (Commercial, Criminal, Civil and Civil Procedure) began only at the end 1920s The corresponding French models were taken as the basis for these acts.
As a result of the reforms of 1920-1930. scope Islamic law has narrowed significantly. Fiqh(Muslim legal doctrine) of the Jafarite persuasion retained its positions only in the field of personal status and determination of legal status waqfs(property withdrawn from circulation intended for charitable purposes).
New efforts to Westernize Iran, undertaken in 1960-1970. in conditions of aggravated social contradictions, led to the popular revolution of 1979, led by the radical Islamic clergy. The new regime set a course to transform Iran into an Islamic society, which meant the Islamization of the entire legal system.
The 1979 Constitution established the provision of mandatory compliance Sharia all laws adopted. In Iran, laws were issued aimed at consolidating in their articles the general principles of the Jafarite school of Islamic law. At the same time, the bulk of the previous codified legislation, borrowed from European countries, was only changed in accordance with Islamic legal principles.
Currently, norms and principles Islamic law have a profound impact on constitutional legislation and the existing form of government in Iran. They play a leading role in other branches of current law, ensuring the subordination of all aspects of social (political, economic, cultural) and personal life of citizens to Islamic norms, compliance with not only legal, but also moral norms, even relating to the clothing and form of leisure of Muslims.
The main source of law in Iran is the law. According to Article 4 of the Constitution, all civil, criminal, financial, economic, administrative, cultural, military, political and other laws and regulations must be based on Islamic norms. This article takes precedence over other articles of the Constitution, as well as laws and regulations, and the conclusion on the compliance of laws with Islamic norms is made by fuqahas (Islamic jurists) of the Council for the Protection of the Constitution and Islamic Norms.
The relationship between a norm of law and a norm of custom is established from the standpoint of the priority of legislation; a judge is obliged to apply a rule of law, even if, in his opinion, it contradicts custom (Article 9 of the Civil Procedure Code of 1939). Customary legal norms are subject to application in case of ambiguity, inconsistency or absence of a legal norm (Article 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure of 1939).
Judicial practice is not formally recognized as a source of law; the judge must make a decision on the basis of the law, and such a decision cannot be formulated as a general rule (Article 5 of the Civil Procedure Code of 1939). At the same time, judicial decisions, primarily made by the Supreme Court, are actually applied as binding by lower judicial bodies.
