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This
is the wrong place to finish that class paper on Satanic Verses
and shouldn't be on your A-list for an all-over tan, but Iran
does have a vast amount to offer the traveller who doesn't
mind covering up (preferably not in that Reagan poncho), and
eschewing ale and heartfelt feminist discourse. Visitors will
find it hard to reconcile their own experiences with the pronouncements
that Iran is part of an "axis of evil". For culture
seekers, Iran has magnificent ruins of ancient cities, plus
glorious mosques and mausoleums, and museums so interesting
they're bound to leave your feet sore. The more adventurous
can enjoy trekking, budget-priced skiing, or shocking Iranian
picnickers by swooping off cliffs strapped to a hang-glider
cannily concealed in a backpack.
Area:
1,648,000 sq km (642,720 sq mi)
Population: 66 million
Capital city: Tehran (pop 12 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
Iran
Flight from UK
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