Iran Country & Tourist Information

Location
Middle East.

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

Population
65.4 million (CIA estimate 2007).

Population Density
39.7 per sq km.

Capital
Tehran.
Population: 7.2 million (UN estimate 2003).

Government
Islamic Republic since 1979.

Language
Persian (Farsi) and Persian dialects are the most widely spoken language, used by 58% of the population. Turkic and Turkic dialects and Kurdish are also used. Arabic is spoken by 1% 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
Of the 98% Muslim population, 89% are Shi’a and 9% are Sunni. The remaining 2% consists of Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian and Baha’i faiths.

Time
GMT + 3.5.

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) Ayatollah Ali Khameni since 1989.

Recent History
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was Tehran’s ultra-conservative mayor before winning a run-off vote in elections in June 2005, becoming Iran’s first non-cleric president for 24 years. The conservatives also won decisively in the general election of March 2008.

Despite promising an administration of ‘peace and moderation’, Iran has continued its nuclear program. The president caused controversy early into his presidency over his comments that Israel should be ‘wiped off the map’ and that the Holocaust was a ‘myth’.

US president George W Bush declared Iran part of the ‘axis of evil’ in 2002. Washington has accused Tehran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons and to sabotage US efforts in Iraq. Iran is building its first atomic power station with Russian help but it maintains that its nuclear ambitions are peaceful.

Telephone
Country code: 98. Telephone booths are yellow.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with some international mobile phone operators but 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. Broadcasters are more restricted than the press.

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
• Conservative dailies include Kayhan and Resalat. Etemaad is a reformist daily.
• The main English-language papers are Iran News, Iran Daily and Tehran Times.

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

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2009-December 2010 period.

2009
6 Jan Tassoua.
7 Jan Ashura.
8 Jan Eid-e Ghadir Khom.
9 Feb Victory of Islamic Revolution.
16 Feb Arbaeen.
24 Feb Demise of Prophet Mohammad.
26 Feb Martyrdom of Imam Reza.
15 Mar Birthday of the Prophet Mohammad.
19 Mar Nationalization of Oil Industry Day.
21 Mar Navruz.
8 Aug Birthday Imam Ali.
20 Jul Prophet Mohammad receives his calling.
9 Sep Birthday Imam Mahdi.
21 Sep Eid-e Fitr (Ramadan Ends).
15 Oct Martyrdom Imam Ali.
28 Nov Eid-e Ghorban.
18 Dec Islamic New Year.
27 Dec Ashura.

2010
Jan* Eid-e Ghadir Khom.
19 Jan Tassoua.
8 Feb Victory of Islamic Revolution.
10 Mar Arbaeen.
18 Mar Demise of  Prophet Mohammad.
20 Mar Martyrdom of Imam Reza.
21 Mar Navruz.
8 Aug Birthday Imam Ali.
9 July Prophet Mohammad receives his calling.
9 Sep Birthday Imam Mahdi.
11 Sep Eid-e Fitr (Ramadan Ends).
15 Oct Martyrdom Imam Ali.
17 Nov Eid-e Ghorban.
18 Nov Martyrdom Imam Jafar Sadegh.
7 Dec Islamic New Year.
16 Dec Ashura.

* Dates to be confirmed.

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:

Irpedia (Tourism Industry Association of Iran)
Unit 9, 27 Khansari Alley, Somayyeh Street, Tehran, Iran
Tel: (21) 8834 5269.
Website: www.irpedia.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, 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


Next Page »

Related Iran Content