Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (also known as Persia), is a West Asian country bordering several nations including Iraq, Turkey, and Afghanistan. With a population exceeding 92 million and a land area of over 1.6 million square kilometers, it ranks among the world's largest countries by size and population. Characterized by its mountainous terrain, Iran is divided into 31 provinces and five regions. Tehran serves as its capital, largest city, and financial center. It is also a multi-ethnic country.
In 1905, the Persian Constitutional Revolution began, leading to the establishment of an Iranian parliament.
In 1911, the Persian Constitutional Revolution ended, leading to the establishment of an Iranian parliament.
After the 1921 coup d'état, the Qajar dynasty was replaced with the Pahlavi dynasty.
In 1925, Reza Shah established the Pahlavi dynasty by ousting the last Qajar shah.
Since 1925, all male citizens aged 18 in Iran must serve around 14 months in the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces (IRIAF) or Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
In 1928, Kamal-ol-molk established a new Iranian school of fine art, influencing painting norms and adopting a naturalistic style.
In 1935, Reza Shah requested the international community to use Iran's native and original name, Iran, instead of Persia.
In August 1941, the British and Soviet forces invaded Iran, deposing Reza Shah and replacing him with his son Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Iran also became the major conduit of Allied Lend-Lease aid to the Soviet Union.
On September 16, 1941, Reza Shah was forced to abdicate by the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran.
From 1947 to 1951, Parliament became chronically unstable, and Iran saw the rise and fall of six different prime ministers.
Tehran's first modern art gallery, Apadana, was opened in 1949 by Mahmud Javadipur, Hosein Kazemi, and Hushang Ajudani.
From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of Iran's population increased from 27% to 60%.
From 1947 to 1951, Parliament became chronically unstable, and Iran saw the rise and fall of six different prime ministers.
In 1951, Prime Minister Mohammed Mosaddeq nationalized the British-owned oil industry, leading to the Abadan Crisis.
In 1952, Mosaddeq was briefly removed from power but quickly re-appointed by the Shah.
In 1952, the government of Iran assumed control of commercial fishing operations.
In August 1953, Mosaddeq forced the Shah into a brief exile after a failed military coup.
In 1953, an Anglo-American coup occurred in Iran due to Mohammad Mosaddegh's attempts to nationalize the oil industry.
In 1956 Iran's population was approximately 19 million
In 1960, Ali Javan co-invented the first gas laser.
Between 1976 and 2004, there was increased attention focused on producing fish from inland waters in Iran. The combined take from inland waters by the state and private sectors increased from 1,100 tons to 110,175 tons.
On November 4, 1979, Iranian students seized US embassy personnel, beginning the Iran hostage crisis.
In December 1979, the new theocratic Constitution was approved, establishing Ayatollah Khomeini as the Supreme Leader of the country.
In 1979, the Iranian Revolution overthrew the monarchy, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was established by Ruhollah Khomeini.
The Iran hostage crisis, which began on November 4, 1979, ended in January 1981 with the release of fifty-two hostages after 444 days.
By 1982, Iranian forces had pushed the Iraqi army back into Iraq.
Since the Revolution, Iran has built a network of state and non-state actors, starting with Hezbollah in Lebanon in 1982.
In 1988, Khomeini accepted a truce mediated by the United Nations, ending the Iran-Iraq war.
Following Khomeini's death on June 3, 1989, the Constitutional Reform Council named then president Ali Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, and made a number of changes to Iran's constitution.
During the 1989 Iranian constitutional referendum, the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) was formed to protect national interests, the revolution, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty, as mandated by Article 176 of the Constitution.
In 1989, President Akbar Rafsanjani concentrated on rebuilding the economy with pro-business policies while adhering to the revolution's ideology. He supported a free market domestically and a moderate international position.
April 2024 was the first time since 1991 that Israel was directly attacked by a state force.
From 1996 through 2004, Iran increased its publication output nearly tenfold.
In 1997, moderate reformist Mohammad Khatami succeeded Rafsanjani, advocating for freedom of expression, constructive diplomatic relations, and a free-market economic policy.
In 2000, Juan José Linz described the Iranian regime as combining totalitarianism's ideological bent with authoritarianism's limited pluralism.
Over the period from 2001 to 2011, Iran exported technical and engineering services worth over $20 billion.
From 1950 to 2002, the urban proportion of Iran's population increased from 27% to 60%.
According to a 2003 estimate, Persians made up 51% of the population, while Azerbaijanis made up 24%, Gilaks and Mazenderanis 8%, Kurds 7%, Arabs 3%, Lurs 2%, Balochis 2%, Turkmens 2% and other groups make up the remaining 1%.
In 2003, the devastating Bam earthquake occurred in Iran.
Since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003, Iran has financed and trained militia groups in Iraq.
Between 1976 and 2004, the combined take from inland waters by the state and private sectors increased from 1,100 tons to 110,175 tons.
During Yemen's civil war, Iran provided military support to the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia movement fighting Yemen's Sunni government since 2004.
From 1996 through 2004, Iran increased its publication output nearly tenfold, and ranked first in output growth rate, followed by China.
In 2004, Iran opened its first wind-powered and geothermal plants.
The Iranian Space Agency (ISA) was established in 2004.
The 2005 presidential election brought conservative populist and nationalist candidate Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to power, known for his hardline views and nuclearization policies.
In 2006, Iranian scientists successfully cloned a sheep at the Royan Research Centre in Tehran.
In 2006, the election results in Iran were widely disputed, resulting in protests.
From 2008 to 2009, Iran experienced a significant leap in annual industrial production growth rate, rising to 28th place from 69th.
In 2008, the Library of Congress issued slightly different population estimates: 65% Persians (also including Gilaks and Mazenderanis), 16% Azerbaijanis, 7% Kurds, 6% Lurs, 2% Arabs, 2% Balochis, 1% Turkic tribal groups, and non-Persian, non-Turkic groups less than 1%.
In 2008, there were nearly 100 passenger cars for every 1,000 inhabitants in Iran.
From 2008 to 2009, Iran leaped to 28th place from 69th in annual industrial production growth rate.
In 2009, Iran became an orbital-launch-capable nation and placed its domestically built satellite Omid into orbit, using the Safir expendable launch vehicle.
In 2009, Iran's first solar thermal plant began operations.
In 2010, Iran's economic reform plan was to cut subsidies gradually and replace them with targeted social assistance, aiming to move towards free market prices and increase productivity and social justice.
In 2010, the "traditional skills of carpet weaving" in Fars Province and Kashan were inscribed to the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List.
In 2010, the Iranian humanoid robot Sorena 2, designed by engineers at the University of Tehran, was unveiled.
The Iranian government aimed to achieve 53 GW of installed capacity by 2010 by commissioning new gas-fired plants and adding hydropower and nuclear generation capacity.
As of 2011, approximately 66 Iranian industrial companies were involved in carrying out projects across 27 different countries.
In 2011, Iran had a road network of 173,000 kilometers (107,000 mi), with 73% being paved.
Iran's first nuclear power plant went online in 2011.
According to a 2012 study by SCImago, Iran would rank fourth in research output by 2018, if the trend persisted.
In 2013, centrist and reformist Hassan Rouhani was elected president, focusing on personal freedom, information access, women's rights, and improved diplomatic relations.
In 2013, the Setad, a state-owned enterprise under the Rahbar, was valued at $95 billion.
Following Iraq's struggle against ISIS in 2014, companies linked to the IRGC such as Khatam al-Anbiya, started to build roads, power plants, hotels and businesses in Iraq, creating an economic corridor.
In 2014, Iranian mathematician Maryam Mirzakhani became the first woman, and Iranian, to receive the Fields Medal, the highest prize in mathematics.
The instability in Yemen, starting in 2014, has allowed Iran to build strong alliances and footholds beyond its borders.
In 2015, Iran and the P5+1 agreed to the Joint Comprehensive Plan on Action (JCPOA), which aimed to end economic sanctions in exchange for restrictions on Iran's production of enriched uranium.
In 2015, The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was reached in Vienna, between Iran, the P5+1 (UN Security Council + Germany) and the EU.The negotiations centered around ending the economic sanctions in exchange for Iran's restriction in producing enriched uranium.
As of 2016, the literacy rate among people aged 15 and older in Iran was 86%, with men (90%) significantly more educated than women (81%).
In 2016, Qeshm became a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The Simorgh launch vehicle, successor to the Safir, was launched in 2016.
In 2017, Iranian protests swept across the country in response to the economic and political situation, with thousands of protesters arrested.
According to a 2012 study by SCImago, Iran would rank fourth in research output by 2018, if the trend persisted.
As of 2018, Iran's population growth rate was about 1.39%.
In 2018, the Tehran Metro, the largest in the Middle East, recorded 820 million trips.
In 2018, the US under the Trump Administration withdrew from the JCPOA deal and imposed new sanctions.
According to a 2019 study by Isabel Campos-Varela et al., Iran recorded the highest proportion of retracted publications globally, with 15.52 retractions per 10,000 publications.
In 2019, Iran discovered a southern oil field containing 50 billion barrels.
In 2019, the Iranian government registered the Vank Cathedral, in Isfahan, as a World Heritage Site.
In 2019, tourism in Iran had been rapidly growing, reaching nearly 9 million foreign visitors, making it the world's third fastest-growing tourism destination before the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2019 Iranian protests started on 15 November in Ahvaz, and spread across the country after the government announced increases in fuel prices of up to 300%.
On 8 January 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shortly after takeoff, killing all 176 occupants on board.
As of 2020, 70 million Iranians use high-speed mobile internet.
By 2020, Iran announced it would no longer observe any limit set by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
In 2020, IRGC general Qasem Soleimani was assassinated by the US, leading to heightened tensions and Iranian retaliation against US airbases in Iraq.
In 2021, Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi was elected president, succeeding Hassan Rouhani.
In 2021, Iran and China signed a 25-year cooperation agreement, strengthening relations with "political, strategic and economic" components.
In 2021, Iran's military spending increased for the first time in four years, reaching $24.6 billion, which accounted for 2.3% of the national GDP.
In 2021, Iranian tourists spent $33 billion on domestic tourism.
In August 2022, Russia launched an Iranian remote-sensing, Khayyam satellite, into orbit from Kazakhstan.
Further protests against the government began on 16 September 2022 after Mahsa Amini died in police custody following her arrest by the Guidance Patrol.
A group of UN experts in 2022 urged Iran to stop "systematic persecution" of religious minorities, adding that members of the Baháʼí Faith were arrested, barred from universities, or had their homes demolished.
In 2022, Iran ranked 154th in The Economist Democracy Index, highlighting its political system's challenges.
In 2022, Iran's state subsidies, including those for foodstuffs and petrol, totalled $100 billion for energy alone.
In 2022, Iran's unemployment rate was 9%.
In 2022, tourism expanded its share to 5% of Iran's economy.
By February 2023, Iran's population had grown to approximately 85 million.
As of November 2023, Iran had uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile content, close to weapon grade.
In November 2023, the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force (IRIAF) finalized arrangements to acquire Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, Mil Mi-28 attack helicopters, air defence and missile systems.
As of 2023, Iran produced 4% of the world's crude oil (3.6 million barrels per day), generating US$36 billion in export revenue.
In 2023, Iran produced 1.188 million cars, marking a 12% growth compared to the previous year. This achievement ranks Iran 16th globally in car manufacturing, surpassing the UK, Italy, and Russia.
In 2023, Iran's tourism experienced a growth of 43%, attracting 6 million foreign tourists, and the government ended visa requirements for 60 countries.
In the first seven months of 2023, travellers from other West Asian countries to Iran grew by 31%, surpassing Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, indicating Iran's growing appeal as a tourist destination.
Media reports from 2023 indicate that Iran continues to rank among the countries with the highest retraction rates of publications.
In January 2024, Iran launched the Soraya satellite into its highest orbit yet (750 km) using the Qaem 100 rocket, and successfully launched 3 indigenous satellites, The Mahda, Kayan and Hatef, into orbit using the Simorgh carrier rocket.
In February 2024, Iran launched its domestically developed imaging satellite, Pars 1, from Russia into orbit.
In April 2024, Israel airstrikes on an Iranian consulate, killing an IRGC commander. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks.
In April 2024, the NIOC (National Iranian Oil Company) discovered 10 giant shale oil deposits, totaling 2.6 billion barrels.
In May 2024, President Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash.
On 1 October 2024, Iran launched about 180 ballistic missiles at Israel in retaliation for assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Hassan Nasrallah and Abbas Nilforoushan. On 27 October, Israel responded to that attack by strikes on a missile defence system in the Iranian region of Isfahan.
In December 2024, the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, a close ally of Iran, was a severe setback for the political influence of Iran in the region.
As of 2024, Iran has the world's 19th largest economy (by PPP), characterized by a mixture of central planning, state ownership, village agriculture, and small-scale private ventures.
Despite being an energy superpower as of 2024-2025, Iran suffers from an energy crisis, manifested by many power outages.
In 2024, Iran was ranked 64th in the Global Innovation Index.
In February 2025, The New York Times reported that according to Karim Sadjadpour, there exist two parallel regimes in Iran: one controlled by military and intelligence forces reporting to the Rahbar, and another consisting of diplomats and politicians who engage with Western media and have limited knowledge of Iran's nuclear program.
Despite being an energy superpower as of 2024-2025, Iran suffers from an energy crisis, manifested by many power outages.
Iran plans to invest $500 billion in its oil industry by 2025.
Iran projects an investment of $32 billion in the tourism sector by 2026.
Studies project that Iran's population growth will continue to slow until it stabilises at around 105 million by 2050.
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