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Iran

✨ The cradle of Persia

Iran is a large country in Western Asia, located between the Middle East, Central Asia and the Caucasus. It borders Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey and Iraq, while its northern and southern shores meet the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Its capital is Tehran, situated near the Alborz Mountains. Covering about 1.65 million square kilometres, Iran has a varied landscape dominated by mountains, high plateaus and deserts.

The Zagros Mountains stretch across the west and southwest, while the Alborz range rises in the north. Between these ranges lies a broad interior plateau containing the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts. The Caspian coast is much greener and wetter than most of the country, creating a strong contrast with the dry interior. Iran has a mainly arid or semi-arid climate, although conditions vary greatly with altitude and location.

The Caspian coast receives considerably more rainfall, while central and eastern regions are much drier. The country had about 92.4 million inhabitants in 2025, according to the World Bank. Most people live in urban areas, particularly around major cities such as Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Shiraz. Iran's economy includes oil and natural gas, manufacturing, agriculture, mining and services.

Its geography gives it important energy resources and a strategic position between several regions of Asia. At the same time, the country faces environmental challenges, including water scarcity, drought, soil degradation and air pollution. Its mountain ranges, deserts, forests and coastal ecosystems make Iran geographically diverse despite the predominance of dry landscapes.

💡 Did you know?

Did you know that Iran produces more saffron than any other country in the world? It's called 'red gold' because it's the most expensive spice on the planet. It comes from a tiny, delicate purple flower. To get just one kilo of saffron, more than 150,000 flowers must be picked by hand! This is why it is so precious and gives dishes a beautiful yellow color and a scent of sun.

In Iran, giant refrigerators were invented over 2,000 years ago! They were called 'Yakhchals.' Imagine a large brick dome that looks like a giant beehive. Thanks to a clever water and wind system, ice could be made and kept inside, even when it was 40 degrees outside! People could thus eat sorbets and keep their food cool in the middle of the desert.

Iranians invented natural air conditioning long before electricity! On the roofs of houses, you can see towers called 'Badgirs' (windcatchers). They have windows that catch the slightest fresh breeze coming from above to send it directly into the rooms. It's like a giant straw that sucks up the cool wind to cool the house. It's ecological, quiet, and very effective!