iran

Iran is a Middle Eastern country slightly larger in land mass than Alaska, located between Iraq and Pakistan, opening onto the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman in the south and the Caspian Sea in the north. Climate is arid or semiarid mountains and deserts, with the Caspian coast having subtropical climate. It's capital city is Tehran. Iran, dating back to 550 B.C., was the center of the Persian Empire, and is home to the world's most ancient human settlements. Known as Persia until 1935, Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was forced into exile.

Shi'iah Islam is Iran's national religion, practiced by 89 percent of the population. Sunni Muslims make up another 9 percent. The major languages spoken in Iran include Farsi (Persian) and Persian dialects, Kurdish, and Turkic and its dialects. Oil is Iran's largest crude export.

Comprehensive information on Iran can be found through technorati search for Iran, Nuclear Iran, Iran Contra Affair, terrorism Iran, Persian Empire, and the Iranian Revolution, to name a few. There is also some quick information to be found at BBC, profile Iran. Frontline searches for Iran will bring you to several programs offering. The CIA world factbook gives a briefing.

If you are traveling to Iran from the United States you should check the current travel warnings set out by the U.S. Department of State.

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Latest blogosphere posts tagged “iran”

• Russia and China demand Iran halt secret nuclear site

  
  Stupidica — Authority: 174
  World powers united in condemnation of Irans nuclear activities yesterday in a rare show of international consensus on the threat posed by Tehrans continued nuclear defiance. China and Russia joined the United States, Britain, France and Germany in backing an International Atomic Energy Agency resolution censuring ...
  2 hours ago

• Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis”

  
  David Kirkpatrick — Authority: 439
  This autobiographical animated film from 2007 is an excellent view into the Iran of the last thirty years. It opens with the Iranian Revolution and the high hopes of all Iranians looking to get out from under the Shah only to find out the Islamacists ended up as bad or worse. The film is informative, happy, ...
  2 hours ago

• Iran Becomes New Frankenstein, Rise of the Amputees, Jim Bopps Comet Trail

  
  Notes From a Grumpy Old Man — Authority: 129
  Ben Bernanke James Delasantellis Gary Sick "I am concerned, however, that a number of the legislative proposals being circulated would significantly reduce the capacity of the Federal Reserve to perform its core functions" - Ben Bernanke "Those with a more conspiratorial frame of mind would always look at ...
  3 hours ago

• RubinReports: The Trouble with Soft Diplomacy: Endless Resolutions on Iran, No Resolution of the Issues

  
  Rick's Caf American — Authority: 164
  The Trouble with Soft Diplomacy: Endless Resolutions on Iran, No Resolution of the Issues By Barry Rubin In its own view, the Obama Administration has won a considerable foreign policy victory in the International Atomic Energy Agency vote to condemn Iran’s nuclear program. Winning such triumphs is the whole ...
  3 hours ago

• Iran denies confiscating citizens peace prize

  
  MINING.com News — Authority: 180
  The Supreme Court of Canada has upheld the right of Wal-Mart, the worlds largest retailer, to close shop after employees unionized at an outlet in Jonquiere, Que. Wal-Mart won the case in two lower courts in Quebec, which ruled a store cannot be forced
  3 hours ago

• links, the light alternative to writing

  
  Alternate Seat of TYR — Authority: 123
  Ill-coordinated links. Great news in RepRapping – South Korean scientists have succeeded in getting bacteria to make polylactic acid. PLA is the RepRap project’s favourite feedstock because it’s a reasonably tractable, general purpose plastic that can be synthesised from starch. The synthesis is not exactly ...
  4 hours ago

• Video: Your Weekend War Porn Video

  
  Political Byline — Authority: 608
  I must say, that this, is SWEET to watch. The footage is from 2004 and was shot in Iraq. This comes via Apache Clips : I love posting stuff like this, because makes the Paleo-Conservative cowards and the liberal sissies heads explode!
  4 hours ago

• Republican Purity, Rookies, Science Fraud, and Mob Rules

  
  The Classic Liberal Blog — Authority: 563
  Here’s 3 classics from The Other McCain . On the stupid “purity test.” I’ve got your purity test The 10 principles on the GOP Purity test are OK, at least superficially. Now let me draw a line for you: (0) Modulo its own employees, and federal criminals*, the Federal Government should not ...
  4 hours ago

• The Islamic Regime-Gray or a Black and White Issue?

  
  Canada Free Press — Authority: 165
  Recently the Globe and Mail published an article written by Iranian Canadian Journalist Maziar Bahari titled “ Why we have to talk to Tehran .” 
  4 hours ago

• Senior Iranian Abducted by Israel

  
  Grande Strategy — Authority: 133
  Missing Iran general abducted by Mossad, being held in IsraelPosted From: http://wakeupfromyourslumber.blogspot.com/2009/11/missing-iran-general-abducted-by-mossad.htmlA former Iranian defense official who disappeared in 2006 was kidnapped by forces collaborating with the Mossad and is currently being held in an ...
  5 hours ago

• Tehran denies seizing Shirin Ebadis Nobel medal

  
  CKA Canadian News — Authority: 167
  Iran has denied confiscating the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the lawyer and human rights activist, Shirin Ebadi.
  6 hours ago

• Russia and China Endorse Agency’s Rebuke of Iran – NYTimes.com

  
  I Think — Authority: 425
  Diplomatic reports indicate that Russia and China move toward putting more pressure on Iran. An encouraging sign. Hopefully the pirce tag will not be prohibitive or increase in value over time. Russia and China Endorse Agency’s Rebuke of Iran By HELENE COOPER and WILLIAM J. BROAD Published: November 27, 2009 ...
  6 hours ago

• Iran: ‘NPT has no benefit but damage and restriction’

  
  Uskowi on Iran — Authority: 475
  by Mark Pyruz A day after the board of the U.N.s International Atomic Energy Agency passed a resolution demanding Tehran immediately stop building its newly disclosed nuclear facility near the holy city of Qom and freeze uranium enrichment, Iranian legislators and analysts are now openly questioning the benefits of ...
  6 hours ago

• Iran told by UN to stop nukes

  
  CKA Canadian News — Authority: 167
  VIENNA, Austria - In a blow to Iran, the board of the U.N. nuclear agency has overwhelmingly backed a demand from the U.S., Russia, China and three other powers that Tehran immediately stop building its newly revealed nuclear facility
  6 hours ago

• Obama Pathetically And Pitifully Wrong On Iran Going Nuclear While He Dithers

  
  Start Thinking Right — Authority: 475
  The United States under Barack Obama look like a ship of fools captained by the grand fool.  The only question is whether Iran made Americans look like fools, or whether Obama made Americans look like fools. I submit that the latter is the case.  Because any fool knew what game Iran was playing.  And yet Obama – ...
  7 hours ago

• Twofer

  
  Dinocrat — Authority: 431
  The Iranian regime isn’t too subtle, but it apparently has a sense of humor, however perverted. They came up with a gesture that seems not only to send a message to their own people, but to the US as well. AP : Iranian authorities have confiscated Nobel Peace laureate Shirin Ebadi’s medal, the human rights ...
  7 hours ago

• Which Rule Book is This?

  
  Pedestrian — Authority: 139
  In preparation for making sure there is as little turnout on 16 Azar as possible, the state authorities have been at the students full force. Just six days ago, almost a dozen student activists were arrested. Ali Reza Mousavi , Mehrdad Bozorgh and Sourena Hashemi were among those who are in custody. Other less ...
  7 hours ago

• Iranian Peace? not quite

  
  NOAH DAVID SIMON : — Authority: 146
  Islam, Sigh... the religion of peace from a point of view of killing *you* and then resting afterwards. Legacy battles are being fought over who rules after Mohammed and these guys are declaring peace with each other before they kill. sadly they cant convince the other side that they can kill more Jews, Christians and ...
  7 hours ago

• What’s Next?

  
  niacINsight — Authority: 556
  The Iranian-Canadian journalist Maziar Bahari, who was recently released from Evin Prison, has an excellent op-ed in today’s Washington Post . In it, Bahari argues two main points: 1) The U.S. must still pursue diplomacy with Iran and 2) Smart sanctions (targeted ones that don’t affect the Iranian people) are the ...
  7 hours ago

• Iran: Israel attack close

  
  Uncensored News from Israel — Authority: 441
  UNSC condemned Iran’s nuclear activity. Though the resolution is merely rhetorical, it offends ayatollahs into ending the negotiations. Iranian Ambassador to Russia announced that the KGB regime will deliver the S-300 to ayatollahs in a month or two. Israel would have to strike before then.
  7 hours ago

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