History of Iran

History of Iran

Iran, officially known as the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country located in Western Asia. It has a population of over 83 million and its capital is Tehran. Iran has a rich history, with ancient civilizations such as the Persian Empire, and played an important role in the Islamic Golden Age. Iran is a culturally and ethnically diverse country, the majority of its population is Persian, but there are also significant populations of Azerbaijani, Kurdish, Lur, and Baloch people. Its economy is based largely on oil, natural gas, and petrochemical exports, but it also has a strong manufacturing sector. Iran is known for its rich cultural heritage, including poetry, music and architecture.

 When did Iran come into being?

 The modern state of Iran came into being after the overthrow of the Qajar dynasty in the Persian Constitutional Revolution of 1906-1911. The new government was based on a constitutional monarchy, with a parliamentary system and limited voting. On April 1, 1979, a revolution led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the monarchy and established the Islamic Republic of Iran with a theocratic system of government based on Islamic law (Sharia).

 How big is Iran?

 Iran is the 17th largest country in the world by land area, covering approximately 1.648 million square kilometers (636,296 sq mi). To give some perspective, that's about the size of Alaska in the US or slightly smaller than the entire continent of Europe.

 Is the government in Iran democratic or presidential?

 Iran's government is neither a pure democracy nor a pure presidential system, but a mixture of the two. Iran has a theocratic system of government, with ultimate political and religious authority vested in the Supreme Leader, a Shia Muslim cleric who is appointed for life. The President of Iran is elected by direct popular vote for a four-year term and is responsible for implementing the country's laws and policies. However, the President's powers are limited by the Supreme Leader, who has the final say on major domestic and foreign policy decisions. Iran's parliament, known as the Majlis, has the power to make laws and approve the national budget, but it also operates under the supervision of the Supreme Leader.