Iran

¹

[ih-ran, ih-rahn, ahy-ran]

noun

1. a republic in SW Asia. About 635,000 sq. mi. (1,644,650 sq. km). Teheran.

Iran.

²

abbreviation

1. Iranian.

Iran

/ ɪˈrɑːn /

noun

1. Former name (until 1935): Persia. Official name: Islamic Republic of Iran. a republic in SW Asia, between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf: a monarchy until an Islamic revolution in 1979 headed by the Ayatollah Khomeini when the Shah was obliged to leave the country. Consists chiefly of a high central desert plateau almost completely surrounded by mountains, a semitropical fertile region along the Caspian coast, and a hot and dry area beside the Persian Gulf. Oil is the most important export. Official language: Persian (Iranian or Farsi). Official religion: Muslim majority. Currency: rial. Capital: Tehran. Pop: 79 853 900 (2013 est). Area: 1 647 050 sq km (635 932 sq miles) See also Persian Empire

Iran

1. Republic in the Middle East, bordered by Armenia, the Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan to the north; Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east; the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south; and Iraq and Turkey to the west. Its capital and largest city is Teheran.

In 1979, Iranian militants attacked the U.S. embassy and seized hostages, including sixty-two Americans, who were held until 1981.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ruled from 1979 until his death in 1989, imposing strict Islamic law.

The United States supported the regime of the shah (king) Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was forced by popular opposition to leave the country in 1979.

The 1990s saw some moderating elements emerge to challenge the conservative heirs to Khomeini.

The Iranian government was widely believed to have controlled the taking of U. S. hostages in Lebanon. (See Iran-Contra affair.)

Core of the ancient Persian Empire, Iran was known as Persia until 1935.

Iraq unsuccessfully invaded Iran in 1980.

Example Sentences

He said most of those being flown to Iran, via Qatar, had entered the US illegally - mainly through Mexico.

From BBC

UN human rights experts have said they are appalled by a "dramatic escalation" in the number of executions in Iran, with more than 1,000 people killed during the first nine months of 2025.

From BBC

Children and young adults in London are being recruited by hostile states such as Russia and Iran to carry out sabotage and other crimes, the Metropolitan Police has said.

From BBC

The UK, France and Germany have called on Iran not to escalate tensions and to pursue negotiations after UN sanctions were reinstated on Saturday.

From BBC

On Iran, Lavrov accused Western powers of sabotaging diplomacy after a last-minute bid led by Russia and China to delay sanctions being reimposed failed on Friday.

From BBC