Located on the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Iran is a young nation with an ancient history- modern Iran was once the heart of mighty Persian Empire (559-330 B.C.). After the fall of the empire, Persian cultural achievements continued under Greek, Arab, and Mongol rule. It was not until the 16th century that Persian rulers gained power. The Islamic Republic of Iran was declared after the Islamic Revolution of 1978-1979.

Today, Iran is a melting pot of cultures. Present-day Iran retains a strong political presence in the Middle East.

The Iranian flag consists of horizontal green, white, and red bands. The colour green stands for the Islamic faith, white for peace, and red for the Iranian people’s readiness to shed blood for their country. At the top and bottom edges of the white band are the words “Allah-o-Akhbar, Arabic for “God is great”. In the centre of the flag is Iran’s national symbol, which is based on the word Allah, or “God” in calligraphic script. In 1979 it replaced the pre-revolutionary flag, which bore the lion symbol of Pahlavi dynasty.''

Covering an area of 1,648,000 square kilometers (636,296 square miles), Iran is one of the largest countries in the world. In terms of altitude, it is one of the highest countries in the world. Except for its narrow coastal strips, Iran lies on a plateau with an average elevation of about 1,219. Much of central and eastern Iran consists of vast, flat deserts of rock, sand, and salt.

Even though some experts argue that Iran’s large and young population is its greatest potential resources, iran’s most valuable natural resource is oil. The country has deposits of iron and copper, and its vast natural gas fields supply most of its cities with gas for domestic and industrial use. Large industries throughout Iran include mining and automobile, textile, and carpet manufacturing.

Up to 25 per cent of Iranians speak Turkic languages. The largest Turkic-speaking group is the Azerbaijanis, a people who occupy northwestern Iran and the neighbouring Republic of Azerbaijan. Like other Iranians, Azerbaijanis are Shiite Muslims. Most of Iran’s minority peoples, including Kurds, Lurs, Arabs, and Baluchis live close to the borders. The Iranian government works hard at encouraging these groups to feel a sense of belonging in Iran, regardless of their ethnic origins.