IRAN
AT A GLANCE
Formal
Name: The Islamic Republic of Iran. Short name:
Iran.
Term for Citizens: Iranians.
Capital: Tehran.
Date of Establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran: April
1st, 1979.
Area: 1,648,195 square kilometres.
Time: GMT+3.5
Climate: The climate is dry tropical with very hot summer
and cold, with some snow, winter.
Population: 66.6 million people by 2002; growth rate is
0.76 % a year; population density is 40.4 persons per square kilometre;
57.3% of the population is urban and 42.7% is rural or migrating.
Persian (51%), Azerbaijani (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%),
Kurd (7%), Arab (3%), Lur (2%), Baluch (2%), Turkmen (2%), other
(1%)
Language: Official language is Farsi. Persian and Persian
dialects (58%), Turkic and Turkic dialects (26%), Kurdish (9%),
Luri (2%), Baluch (1%), Arabic (1%), Turkish (1%)
Religion: Islam is the official religion; about 98.5% of
population is Muslim (Shiite - 89%, Sunni - 9.5%); Iran also has
minority groups of Zoroastrians, Jews, Armenians, Assyrians, Catholics
and Protestants, all of which are respected.
Education: General education is free and compulsory from
the age of six. It comprises 12 years. By 2000 literacy for all
Iranians aged 15 and older had reached 76.9 %.
Major industries: Natural gas, oil, petroleum products,
food processing, textile.
Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, Italy, Germany,
China, France, United Arab Emirates.
Money: Currency is called Iranian Rial (IRR).
Ecology: Air pollution, especially in urban areas, from
vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the
Persian Gulf; inadequate supplies of potable water.
Health: Basic medical care and medicines are available in
the principal cities of Iran.
Culture: Priceless archaeological finds; lots of historical
monuments; traditional handicrafts and famous Iranian carpets.
Popular tourist destinations: Tehran, Mashhad, Susa, Persepolis,
Isfahan, Hamadan, Shiraz, Yazd, Pasargadae, Kerman, Kermanshah,
etc.
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USEFUL PERSIAN PHRASES
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English
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Persian
(pronunciation)
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Welcome
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khosh
amadid
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Hello
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salaam
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Goodbye
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khoda
hafez
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Thank
you
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mot'shakeram
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Yes
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baleh
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No
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na
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How
are you?
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haletan
chetor ast?
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Good
|
khub
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Bad
|
bad
|
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Excuse
me
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bebakhshid
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I
don't understand Persian
|
man
farsi nemidanam
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Do
you speak English?
|
aya
inglisi harf mizanid?
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May
I take your picture?
|
ejazeh
hast az shoma aks begiram?
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I
am lost
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gom
shodeh-am
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Where
is the currency exchange?
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sarrafi
kojast?
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Where
is the toilet?
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tovaalet
kojaast?
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Could
you help me?
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mitavanid
komakam konid?
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What
time is it now?
|
saat
chand ast?
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How
much?
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gheimatash
chand ast?
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