Iran Country & Tourist Information

Location
Middle East.

Area
1,648,043 sq km (636,313 sq miles).

Population
68.5 million (UN estimate 2006).

Population Density
40.3 per sq km.

Capital
Tehran.
Population: 7 million (UN estimate, including suburbs, 2001).

Government
Islamic Republic since 1979.

Language
Persian (Farsi) is the most widely spoken language. Arabic is spoken in Khuzestan in the southwest, and Turkish in the northwest around Tabriz. English, French and (to a lesser extent) German are spoken by many businesspeople and officials.

Religion
Predominantly Islamic; mostly Shi’ite, with a minority of Sunnis. The 1976 census recorded 300,000 Christians, 80,000 Jews and 30,000 Zoroastrians.

Time
GMT + 3.5 (GMT + 4.5 from 20 March to 21 September).

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are of the round two-pin type.

Head of Government
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad since June 2005.

Head of State
Supreme Leader (Rahbar-e Moazam) Seyyed Ali Khameni since 1989.

Telephone
Country code: 98. Telephone booths are yellow.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone operators. Visitors are advised to check with their service provider before traveling. Coverage is limited to urban areas.

Internet
There are Internet cafes in Tehran and other cities.

Media
The struggle for influence and power in Iran is played out in the media. The relatively free press, a tangible achievement of former President Khatami’s government, has been targeted by conservatives. Many pro-reform publications have been closed and reformist writers and editors jailed. The conservative judiciary has also campaigned against the liberal media.


Post
Airmail to Western Europe can take at least two weeks. There are 10 main post offices in Tehran. Post boxes are yellow. Stamps can be bought at some cigarette kiosks.

Post office hours: Generally Sat-Thurs 0730-1500, but some main post offices stay open until 2100.

Press
• The main English-language papers are the Iran News, Kayhan International and Tehran Times.

Radio
• IRIB operates eight national networks, provinical services and an external service.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
8 Jan Eid-e Ghadir Khom.
29 Jan Tassoua.
30 Jan Ashura.
11 Feb Victory of Islamic Revolution.
10 Mar Arbaeen.
18 Mar Demise of  Prophet Mohammad.
20 Mar Martyrdom of Imam Reza.
8 Aug Birthday Imam Ali.
11 Aug Prophet Mohammad receives his calling.  
9 Sep Birthday Imam Mahdi.
13 Oct Eid-e Fitr (Ramadan Ends).
15 Oct Martyrdom Imam Ali.
18 Nov Martyrdom Imam Jafar Sadegh.  
20 Dec Eid-e Ghorban.

2008
8 Jan Eid-e Ghadir Khom.
19 Jan Tassoua.
30 Jan Ashura.
11 Feb Victory of Islamic Revolution.
10 Mar Arbaeen.
18 Mar Demise of  Prophet Mohammad.
20 Mar Martyrdom of Imam Reza.
8 Aug Birthday Imam Ali.
30 July Prophet Mohammad receives his calling.
9 Sep Birthday Imam Mahdi.
2 Oct Eid-e Fitr (Ramadan Ends).
15 Oct Martyrdom Imam Ali.
18 Nov Martyrdom Imam Jafar Sadegh.
9 Dec Eid-e Ghorban.
29 Dec Islamic New Year.

Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Eid al-Fitr, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted. Many restaurants are closed during the day and there may be restrictions on smoking and drinking. Some disruption may continue into Eid al-Fitr itself. Eid al-Fitr and Eid-e Ghorban may last anything from two to 10 days, depending on the region.

Contact Information:

Iran Touring and Tourism Organization (ITTO)
Unit 3, 6 Kachouee Avenue, Chamran Highway, Tehran, Iran
Tel: (91) 2200 8189.
Website: www.itto.org

Iran Tourist Company
257 Ostad Motahari Avenue, Ghaem Magham Farahni Street, Cross Road, Tehran, Iran
Tel: (21) 873 9819 or 6762-5.
Website: www.irantouristco.com

Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the UK
16 Prince’s Gate, London SW7 1PT, UK
Tel: (020) 7225 3000.
Website: www.iran-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.

Iranian Consulate in the UK
50 Kensington Court, Kensington High Street, London W8 5DB, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 5225.
Website: www.iran-embassy.org.uk
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1230.

Permanent Mission of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations
622 Third Avenue, 34th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 687 2020.
Website: www.un.int/iran

Interests Section of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the USA
c/o The Embassy of Pakistan, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007, USA
Tel: (202) 965 4990.
Website: www.daftar.org


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