Background Note: Iran (Scoop.co.nz)

Geography Area: 1.6 million sq. km. (636,295 sq. mi., slightly larger than Alaska). Arable land: 9.78% of the country.

Cities: Capital --Tehran. Other cities --Isfahan, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Yazd, Qom. Terrain: Desert and mountains. Climate: Semiarid;