Iran

By Raya Wagner

Leaders

Chief of State: Ayatollah Ali

Khamenei

President: Hassan Rouhani

Location

Located in the Middle East, bordering

the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf,
and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq
and Pakistan
Known as Persia until 1935, Iran
became an Islamic republic in 1979
after the ruling monarchy was
overthrown
Capital: Tehran

Population

Population 81,824,270

0-14 years: 23.69% (male 9,937,715

/female 9,449,716)
15-24 years: 17.58% (male 7,386,826
/female 6,998,188)
25-54 years: 46.87% (male 19,534,794
/female 18,817,480)
55-64 years: 6.58% (male 2,650,049
/female 2,731,997)
65 years and over: 5.28% (male
1,990,961/female 2,326,544)

Religion
Muslim (official) 99.4%
(Shia 90-95%, Sunni 510%)
other (includes
Zoroastrian, Jewish, and
Christian) 0.3%
unspecified 0.4%

Ethnic Groups

Persian
Azeri
Kurd
Lur
Baloch
Arab
Turkmen and Turkic tribes

citizenship by birth: no

citizenship by descent only: the

father must be a citizen of Iran

dual citizenship recognized: no

residency requirement for

naturalization: 5 years

Citizenship

Agriculture - products
wheat, rice, other grains, sugar
beets, sugarcane, fruits, nuts,
cotton, dairy products, wool,
caviar

Industries

petroleum
petrochemicals
gas
fertilizers
caustic soda
textiles
cement and other construction
materials,
food processing (particularly sugar
refining and vegetable oil production)

Education Level
total: 15 years
male: 15 years
female: 15 years

Exports
Iran is the 56th largest export economy in the world. The top exports
of Iran are

Crude Petroleum($37.2B),
Ethylene Polymers ($2.7B),

Iron Ore($1.58B),
Acyclic Alcohols ($1.23B) and Other Nuts ($921M),

Wheat ($2B),

Rice ($1.31B),

Corn($1.19B),

Soybean Meal ($1.08B)

Pre WWII Situation

The Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Iran also
known as Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Persia
was the invasion of the Empire of Iran during
World War II by Soviet, British and other
Commonwealth armed forces. The invasion
lasted from August 25 to September 17 1941,
and was codenamed Operation Countenance.
The purpose was to secure Iranianoil fields and
ensure Allied supply lines for the Soviets,
fighting against Axis forces on the Eastern
Front

Cold War Situation

The Nazis invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941, placing Iran in a squeeze. The Germans wanted to use the
country as a base against the Soviet Union, while the Allies needed Iran as a supply route to the Soviets.

On August 25, 1941, after Reza Shah refused to dislodge the Germans, 40,000 Russian troops entered Iran from the
north while 19,000 British troops entered from the south to protect the oil fields of Ahwaz and the refinery at Abadan,
the largest in the world.

In September, under Allied pressure, Reza Shah abdicated in favor of his son, Mohammad Reza. By this time, Iran
was once again divided into three zones with Soviet troops occupying the north and the British holding firm in the
south.

Customs and Traditions

Sizdah Be-dar is celebrated on the thirteenth day of Nowruz, the Iranian New Year. It is celebrated by leaving houses to join nature, and
spending the day outdoors.

The first 12 days of the year are very important, because they symbolise order in the world and in the lives of people. The 13th day
marks the beginning of the return to ordinary daily life