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[ih-ran, ih-rahn, ahy-ran] /ɪˈræn, ɪˈrɑn, aɪˈræn/

noun
1.
a republic in SW Asia. About 635,000 sq. mi. (1,644,650 sq. km).
Capital: Teheran.
1.
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/ɪˈrɑːn/
noun
1.
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) Former name (until 1935) Persia Official name Islamic Republic of Iran See also Persian Empire

from Persian Iran, from Middle Persian Ērān “(land) of the Iranians,” genitive plural of ēr- “an Iranian,” from Old Iranian *arya- (Old Persian ariya-, Avestan airya-) “Iranian”, from Indo-Iranian *arya- or *ārya- (see Aryan), a self-designation, perhaps meaning “compatriot.” In 1935 the government of Reza Shah Pahlavi requested governments with which it had diplomatic relations to call his country Iran, after the indigenous name, rather than the Greek-derived Persia.
Iran [(i-ran, i-rahn, eye-ran)]

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.

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

Note: 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.

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

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

Note: Iraq unsuccessfully invaded Iran in 1980.

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

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

individual retirement annuity