Iran

Iran (Persian: ايران), also called Persia, is a Middle Eastern country located in Western Asia. Northern Iran is also a part of the Causauses. It borders Armenia, Azerbaijan (including its Nakhichevan exclave), and Turkmenistan to the north, Pakistan and Afghanistan to the east, and Turkey and Iraq to the west. In addition, it borders the Persian Gulf across which lie Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. The official name of the country is the Islamic Republic of Iran and Shi'a Islam is the official state religion.

Throughout history Iran has been of great geostrategic importance due to its position between the Middle East, Caucasia, Central Asia and the Persian Gulf and its proximity to Eastern Europe and the Indian subcontinent.