Iran is located in southwestern Asia and has a population of more than 87 million people. The capital city, Tehran, is the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. Iran is surrounded by several important countries including Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, while also bordering the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. Because of this strategic location, Iran plays a major role in global energy markets and Middle Eastern politics.



