Here we are with another blog on the series “KNOW OUR WORLD”. In this blog, we will talk about a country, globally famous for its oldest, richest and most influential art heritages in the world which encompasses many disciplines including literature, music, dance, architecture, painting, weaving, pottery, calligraphy, metalworking and stonemasonry, i.e., Iran.
Iran covers an area of 1,648,195 km2, with a population of 83 million. It is the second-largest country in the Middle East.
Table of Contents
Major Statistics:
Let’s discuss some important aspects of this country first.
- Official Name: Islamic Republic of Iran
- Capital City: Tehran
- Religion: Islam
- National Anthem: Sorude Meliye Johmriye Eslami-ye Iran
- Language: Persian
- Currency: Iranian Rial
- National Animal: Persion Lion
- National Bird: Nightingale
- National Sports: Football
- National Flag:
- The national flag is more of a religious flag, which is known as parcham e Iran; this flag is a tricolor flag, which comprises green, white, and red color divided into 3 equal stripes. It also consists of the National emblem placed in the center of the flag on the white background. The Takbeer is written in white color at the bottom of the green color and the top of the red color.
- National Day: The national day of Iran is called Ruz e Jomhuri ye Eslami, which is celebrated in the first month of Iranian Persian Calendar, on 12 Farvardin.
Geography:
Iran is located in West Asia and borders the Caspian sea, Persian Gulf, and Gulf of Oman.
- Largest State (by area): Kerman
- Smallest State (by area): Alborz
Polity:
Iran is a republic in which the president, parliament and judicial system share powers reserved to the national government, according to its Constitution.
- President: Hassan Rouhani
- First President: Abolhassan Banisadr
Some Interesting Facts:
- Iran is not only the world’s fifth-biggest petroleum producer (about 4.1 million barrels a day) and 12th-biggest exporter (1.3 million barrels a day), it also has the world’s fourth-largest stock of proven crude oil reserves: 158.4 billion barrels.
- In addition to being one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, Iran is the global epicenter of Shia Islam. Between 90% and 95% of Iran’s roughly 80 million people are Shia, by far the largest concentration of Shia Muslims in the world.
- The weekend in Iran is Thursday and Friday. Thursday is like Saturday, banks and shops are open but some offices are closed, while Friday is like Sunday.
- Iran has one of the largest and most powerful armed forces in the Middle East.
- Air pollution in the capital city of Tehran is one of the worst in the world. Most parts in the city are covered in smog (Delhi people will relate). The bad air quality is responsible for 30,000 deaths every year in the country.
- One of the most interesting things about Iran is ‘The art of Taroof’. It is an art of etiquette where politeness is shown by everyone irrespective of their social standing. Taarof revolves around treating guests with the utmost respect.
- Iranians use their own calendar which is a solar calendar, meaning that its time reckoning is based on the Earth’s movements around the Sun.
- Iran is home to Zoroastrianism, one of the oldest religions in the world
So, this is all for this blog. We’ll keep updating you with such interesting blogs in future as well so that you don’t face any difficulty while appearing for competitive exams such as SSC CHSL, NET JRF, etc.
In the next blog, we would be discussing some interesting facts and trivia about the country Vietnam. Click here to Know Country – ‘Vietnam’.
