Country Guide • Iran

Flag of Iran

Iran in the Middle East borders the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan.

Official NameIslamic Republic of Iran
Area1,648,000km² (636,296mile²)
Population68,100,000
ContinentMiddle East
Population per mile²107
Capital CityTehran
Religions91% Shiite Muslims, 8% Sunni Muslims, less than 1% of the population are Christian, Jewish or Zoroastrian
LanguagePersian
GovernmentIslamic Republic
CurrencyRial
GDP$456 billion
GDP per Head$7,000
Natural ResourcesPetroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, sulphur and zinc
Land UseArable Land 10%
AgricultureGrains including wheat and rice, sugarbeets, fruits, nuts, cotton; dairy products, wool and caviar
IndustryOil, gas, carpets, food processing (particularly sugar refining and vegetable oil production) and armaments
TourismIran is still a dangerous country to visit at present and you should be vigiliant at all times. Those that do travel there will be able to view magnificent ruins of ancient cities, plus glorious mosques and mausoleums and many museums in case you have missed some of the history! There is trekking and budget-priced skiing for the more adventurous
Natural HazardsPeriodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the north east
Health RisksDiarrhoea, malaria, cholera, schistosomiasis and altitude sickness
ClimateIran has a continental climate, but much of the country has a desert climate too. Summers are fairly hot winters can be extremely cold. Generally, rainfall occurs from October to May with annual average precipitation in the coastal areas between 31 to 79 inches while high humidity is also common along the coastal areas. Average temperature ranges in Tehran are from -3 to 7°C in January to 22 to 37°C in July
TimeGMT/UTC+3.5 hours
National DaysThere are numerous public holidays and we have listed these below:
January 14 - Birthday of Imam Reza
February 11 - Victory of the 1979 Islamic Revolution
February 12 - Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
March 5 - Islamic New Year
March 13 - Tassou’a
March 14 - Ashoura
March 20 - Oil Nationalisation Day
March 21-25 - Nowrooz (Iranian New Year)
April 1 - Islamic Republic Day
April 2 -Sizdah-Bedar (Public Outing Day to end Now Rooz)
April 23 - Arba’in-e Hosseini
May 1 - Death of the Prophet and Martyrdom of Imam Hassan
May 19 - Prophet’s Birthday and Imam Sadeq
June 4 - Death of Imam Khomeini
June 5 - Anniversary of Uprising Against the Shah
September 10 - Birthday of Iman Ali
September 24 - Leilat al-Meiraj (Ascension of the Prophet)
October 12 - Birthday of Imam Mahdi
November 16 - Martyrdom of Imam Ali
November 21 - Quds Day
November 26-28 - Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
December 20 - Martyrdom of Imam Sadeq
VisasAll foreign nationals need a visa to visit Iran. You should take sensible precautions and make sure that your travel documentation is in order and check the expiry date of their visa before travelling. Visa applications should be lodged well in advance of the date of travel to Iran. If you overstay your visa you can be required to remain in Iran until the situation has been resolved
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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The content above is for information purposes only and we have tried to ensure that the information is as accurate as possible. We cannot accept any responsibility for any inconvenience, loss or injury as a result of the information above. You should always check and verify any critical information like visas, health and safety and customs with the relevant authorities before you travel since information can change at any time.