I
officially Islamic Republic of Iran formerly Persia
Country, Middle East.
Area: 629,315 sq mi (1,629,918 sq km). Population (2002 est.): 65,457,000. Capital: Tehrān . Persians constitute nearly half of its population; other ethnic groups include the rahbar ), a ranking cleric. Human habitation in Iran dates to some 100,000 years ago, but recorded history began with the Elamites с 3000 BC. The Medes flourished from с 728 BC but were overthrown (550 BC) by the Persians, who were in turn conquered by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC. The Parthians (see Parthia ) created an empire that lasted from 247 BC to AD 226, when control passed to the Sāsānian dynasty . Various Muslim dynasties ruled from the 7th century. In 1502 the Safavid dynasty was established and lasted until 1736. The Qājār dynasty ruled from 1779, but in the 19th century the country was economically controlled by the Russian and British empires. Reza Khan (see Reza Shah Pahlavi ) seized power in a coup (1921). His son Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi alienated religious leaders with a program of modernization and Westernization and was overthrown in 1979; Shīʽite cleric Ruhollah Khomeini then set up an Islamic republic, and Western influence was suppressed. The destructive Iran-Iraq War of the 1980s ended in a stalemate. During the 1990s, the government gradually moved to a more liberal conduct of state affairs.
II
[c mediumvioletred] (as used in expressions)
Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran hostage crisis
{{link=Iran Contra Affair">Iran Contra Affair
Iran Iraq War