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Area: 1,648,000 sq km (642,720 sq mi)
Population: 66 million
Capital city: Tehran (pop 10.5 million)
People: Persian (Farsis) (65%), Azari (25%), Arab (4%), Lors (2%), Turkmen (2%), Kurdish, Armenian, Jewish
Language: Persian
Religion: Shi'ite Muslim (89%), Sunni Muslim (10%), Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, Baha'i (1%)
Government: Islamic Republic
Spiritual leader: Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei
President: Hojjat-ol-Eslam Seyed Mohammed Khatami

GDP: US$340 billion
GDP per head: US$5000
Annual growth: 4.2%
Inflation: 19%
Major industries: Oil, gas, agriculture, carpets, armaments
Major trading partners: Japan, Germany, France, Italy, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Belgium

Events

Just about everything that can close will close on a religious holiday, so it's important to know when they fall. Iran's religious holidays follow the Muslim lunar calendar, so the dates according to the western calendar vary each year. Major events include Ramadan, the month of dawn to dusk fasting; Eid-é Fetr, the one day festival of feasting that marks the end of Ramadan; Ghadir-é Khom, which commemorates the day that the Prophet Mohammed appointed Emam Ali his successor; and the birthday of Mohammed.

National holidays follow the Persian solar calendar, but still usually fall on the same day each year according to the western calendar. The big bangers include the lustily titled Magnificent Victory of the Islamic Revolution of Iran on 11 February, which is the anniversary of Khomeini's coming to power in 1979; the enthusiastically celebrated No Ruz or Iranian New Year (21 to 24 March); and the tear-jerking Heart-Rending Departure of the Great Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran on 4 June, which commemorates the death of Khomeini in 1989.

Traveling Guidelines

Visas: Everyone needs a visa to visit Iran. Unless you're from Slovenia, Macedonia, Turkey or Japan, this is going to be a hassle. The regulations are baffling, the costs often high. The best advice is to apply for a visa before you leave home. However, once you're in you're in - getting an extension inside Iran is often easier than getting any sort of visa outside the country.
Health risks: Diarrhea, malaria, cholera, schistosomiasis, altitude sickness, sunburn
Time: GMT/UTC plus 3.5 hours
Electricity: 220V, 50Hz
Weights & measures: Metric

Ideal time to visit

Generally the best times to visit Iran are mid-April to early June, and late September to early November - these times avoid the long, cold northern winter, the Iranian New Year (late March) and the summer, which can be unpleasantly hot in much of the country. Many people prefer not to visit Iran during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting, but apart from most restaurants closing between dawn and dusk, Ramadan is not that bad for travelling.