Iran+--+Pd.+3+general+information


 * [[image:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/flags/large/ir-lgflag.gif width="168" height="108" align="right" caption="Flag of Iran" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/flags/flagtemplate_ir.html"]]Basic facts about Iran
 * Geography
 * Country Location:
 * Middle East
 * bordering on the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea
 * between Iraq and Pakistan
 * Major Cities:
 * Tabriz, Qom, Kermanshah, Dezful, Ahvaz, Abadan, Shiraz, Bushehr, Yazd, Esfahan, Asaluyeh, Bandar Abbas, Chabahar, Birjand, Mashhad, Kerman, Zahedan, Now Shahr
 * Capital City: Tehran
 * Brief History
 * Iran was called Persia until 1935, and became an Islamic Republic in 1979. Conservitive clerical forces created a theocratic government with all authority in the Supreme Leader. They also made the Assembly of Experts, a popularly elected 86 member body of clerics. From 1980-1988, Iran was in war with Iraq; it was a time of confusion and blood-shed. In 1997, the government attempted to reform its policies because of popular dissatisfaction. However, conservatives stopped the movement from success by using unelected politicians and dirty dealings. Consevatives regained complete control beginning in 2003 and 2004. In 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president, and in 2009, he was controversially re-elected, leading to many protests among the citizenry.
 * Important Leaders:
 * Head of State: Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini-Khameni
 * Head of Government: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
 * Government: Theocratic Republic
 * Major Religions:
 * Muslim 98% (Shiite 89%, Sunni 9%), Other 2%
 * Economic Information:
 * GNP: $769.72 billion
 * PPP: $827.1 billion[[image:https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/graphics/maps/newmaps/ir-map.gif width="245" height="247" align="right" caption="Map of Iran" link="@https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/maps/maptemplate_ir.html"]]
 * Gini Index: 44.5
 * Primary Sector: 25%
 * Secondary Sector: 31%
 * Tertiary Sector: 45%
 * Development Level: 88
 * Literacy:
 * Literacy Rate by Gender:
 * male: 83.5%
 * female: 70.4%
 * School Enrollment: .793 (education index)