Iran’s Own Internet
Iran’s chief of police announced in 2012 that Google was actually a spy tool that was infiltrating Iran. The government is working towards creating a state-controlled internet of their own. Currently social media sites like Facebook and Twitter are banned. The government fears that the platforms will be used to organize mass riots.
Iran’s Own Internet
Soccer Stars
When it comes to sport, Iran has her heart invested in soccer. The sport is played by males and females, with the latter wearing hijab during play. Iran’s national men’s team have qualified for three World Cup tournaments and have even won three Asian Cup titles. Not bad for a country from the Middle East.
Soccer Stars
Young Guns
Iran has one of the youngest populations in the world, with 70% of their population being under the age of 30. Iran is also the 18th most populated country in the world with just over 80 million people. That’s a lot of people waiting in line to get into a bar… oh, wait.
Young Guns
Secret Star Of David
For 30 years there was a star of David on the roof of the main terminal building at Tehran’s international airport. It was undiscovered until Google Earth came along, and after an infuriated government heard about it, it promptly disappeared.
Secret Star Of David
Air Pollution
It’s not just the government’s tight grip on the capital, Tehran, that makes it hard to breathe; it’s the air pollution too. Tehran claims an estimated 27 lives a day are lost because of air pollution-related diseases.
Air Pollution
Difficult Divorces
After the Iranian Revolution of 1979, women’s rights were greatly downgraded. Now if a man and woman divorce, the woman loses all custody of her children. And seeing as polygamy is allowed in Iran, the man has enough choices.
Difficult Divorces
Flying Carpets
It’s no surprise that Iranians have been weaving rugs for more than 2,500 years ago. Now although they don’t actually fly (bummer!), they are incredible masterpieces of fabric artistry. If you happen to buy a rug and notice that it is 99% perfect but has a small defect, fear not. Those who weave rugs make a single mistake on purpose because they believe that only God can be perfect.
Flying Carpets
Heavy Weights
Do you know what happens when your country is one of the biggest consumers of kebabs? You’re smacked with obesity. Iran claims the 41st place in the world for obesity with 14% of their population crossing the weight line. But let’s face it, they have a long way to catch up to America which is the 6th most obese country in the world.
Heavy Weights
Getting High
Not only is opium easy to get your hands on in Iran and others surrounding countries, it is also super cheap. Since it is illegal to drink alcohol, millions of Iranians take to opium. The use of the drug is so widespread that Iran has one of the highest opiate addiction rates worldwide.
Getting High
The Goodies
The Arabian Peninsula is rich in oil, hence the nauseating number of wars that have taken place there. But aside from oil, there are some other wonderful delicacies that Iran is known for. It is the world’s greatest producer of caviar, pistachios and saffron.
The Goodies
Mosque Mat
Imagine the biggest carpet you’ve ever seen. Right, now double its size. Triple it. You’ve still got nothing on the massive carpet that Iran produced in 2007. The carpet was intended for a mosque in the United Arab Emirates and was as big as a soccer field!
Mosque Mat
Lashing Out
Women and girls from the age of nine must wear a hijab headscarf when in public. If a woman goes out in public without covering up appropriately, the law states that authorities can punish her with lashings. But this law isn’t always carried out, whew!
Lashing Out
Going Nuclear
In 2002, Iran came out by saying that they had been working on an undercover nuclear program with Russia for 18 years prior. The world tensed up when they heard that, but Iran reassured the world that the goal was to produce nuclear energy and nothing else. Oh, okay. Sounds legit.
Going Nuclear
Nose Job Capital
Did you know that Iran has humorously been dubbed “the nose job capital of the world?” Why is this you ask. Well, young Iranian women have fallen in love with the “typical” Western nose shape.
Nose Job Capital
Rich Kids
Fancy cars, expensive jewelry, bikini-clad girls and drinks flowing as freely as the women’s hair. These “Rich Kids of Tehran” are an Instagram sensation. Despite local laws banning pretty much everything these youths do, they continue to have enormous parties because they’re rich and their parents are influential. Even though Instagram is on the national banned sites list, secret VPNs give these youngsters freedom to post their private lives to the world.
Rich Kids
Arabic Or Persian?
When thinking of the Arab Peninsula, many people assume that everyone speaks Arabic, but in Iran, Persian is the official language. Don’t get me wrong, there are other languages too, like, Turkic, Kurdish, Gilaki, and Arabic.
Arabic Or Persian?
Jews In Iran
When it comes to religion in Iran, over 99% of the population is Muslim with 89% of them being Shi’a Muslims. There are other religious groups who make up the other one percent. Surprisingly Jewish people are part of that one percent.
Jews In Iran
Aryans
If you were to translate the word “Iran” into Persian, you will get “Land of the Aryans” as its translation. Now there’s something you probably weren’t expecting to read.
Aryans
High And Dry
Iran doesn’t get much rain during the year. In fact, the country only receives about four inches of rain each year. Having said this, it’s still important to note that Iran has four seasons and certain places even have snowfall.
High And Dry
Oil In Oil
We all know that the Middle-East is virtually swimming in oil, so it makes sense that Iran has around 10% of the world’s oil reserves. On a daily basis, Iran pumps around 4 million barrels of oil, wow! All in all it is the 4th largest oil producer in the world.
Oil In Oil
No TV
Considering the government’s stern policy on internet, it’s not very surprising that satellite TV is banned in Iran. You do realize what that means, right? No Game of Thrones! Although this law doesn’t prevent the population from using secret VPNs.
No TV
Young Brides
Make sure you have your reading glasses on for this one, because you’re about to read correctly. From the age of 13, girls can get married. Boys need to wait a little longer – from their 15th birthday only. Talk about getting out of the house at a young age.
Young Brides
Married Life
The Marriage Protection Law was introduced in 1967. The law raised the age of marriage to 18 for men and 15 for women. Later in 1975, that age was raised to 18 for women and 20 for men. This act was eventually nullified in 1979.
Married Life
Some Perks
One of the advantages of laws applying to youngsters, is that from the age of 15 everyone can vote. Now that’s teaching the youth a thing or two about taking responsibility.
Some Perks
Sex Changes
This one is going to blow your mind! In Iran getting a sex change is legal! But even more absurd from that, is the state will actually fund it. Just when you think you know a country and its policies.
Sex Changes
Short-Term Marriage
Let’s imagine you’re kind of into a girl or guy and you’re not sure if you’re ready to commit to them. Alright, cool. There is a practice called Sigheh which allows a couple to have a short-term marriage which can last anywhere from a few hours to a few years.
Short-Term Marriage
Expensive Weddings
Despite having tons of crude oil which brings in heaps of money, the country has its economic struggles. Because of this many people are choosing not to get married. The country set up a marriage fund of $720 million to offer funding for weddings.
Expensive Weddings
What To Bring
Bringing a host a gift is one of the most difficult things you can do. I mean, how are you to know what they like or dislike? Well if you happen to visit in Iran, they appreciate receiving flowers or pastries – it’s their custom.
What To Bring
Right Or Left Hand
So you’ve passed the gift test, you’re inside their house. Where’s the table? Where are the knives and forks? Okay, I’m exaggerating. Not every household works this way, but don’t be shocked if they sit on cushions on the floor to eat dinner. Also their custom is to eat with their right hands, and not their left. The left hand is for wipin… ah, never mind.
Right Or Left Hand
Housewives
Let’s face it, working from home is a dream come true. As is the case in many countries, many women in Iran spend their time as housewives, which includes taking care of and raising the children, maintaining the home, and preparing meals.
Housewives
Drinking Alcohol
Even though alcohol is officially banned from Iran, there is a huge market for it. In fact, illegal alcohol is often smuggled in to the point that it has evolved into a business that rakes in $700 million each year. Sound like “Prohibition” much?
Drinking Alcohol
Miracles
We all have some sort of magic medicine that we received from a great-granny. Something to clear that cough, something for your sleeplessness. Well in Iran yogurt is their miracle food. The locals use it for many different types of ailments. They even use it for ulcers, and sunburn for those who catch some sun that is.
Miracles
Readers And Writers
During the 1970’s, Iran’s literacy rate was alarmingly low at 37%. Recently the country’s adult literacy rate ranked at 93%. Even though many argue that before the revolution life was freer, the folks were reading a whole lot less it seems.
Readers And Writers
Bikinis Or Not
This is a fact that most people probably assumed and didn’t need to be told, but here it is anyway. Due to strict religious laws, women may not wear a bathing suit in front of men.
Bikinis Or Not
Don’t Wear A Tie
Getting ready for a job interview, men? Well the first thing you should know is that you shouldn’t wear shorts… that pretty much goes without saying. Secondly, don’t wear a necktie as men are forbidden from wearing them… and shorts.
Don’t Wear A Tie
10 Neighbors
Take a look on a map and you’ll notice just how huge Iran is, but you’ll also notice just how many countries it shares a border with. Those ten countries are: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq and Turkey.
10 Neighbors
Speaking Out
We all know that each and every person in a country can’t love their president or leader, but there’s nothing wrong with that. Or is there? In Iran you’d better not badmouth Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, because the punishment is a little more than a slap on the wrist. Insulting the supreme leader has led some people to torture, imprisonment, and even execution.
Speaking Out
Momma’s Boy
So let’s imagine a man can’t find a girl he’s happy to settle down with, what can he do? Well first he has to stay with his parents. Next he gets a “cool” new name – ‘na-mard’. Oh, it translates to ‘not-men’. Burn.
Momma’s Boy
Cross-dressing Women
For women, watching sports matches is strictly prohibited. So what can they do about it? Well they have the solution, and that is cross-dressing in order to watch. Talk about dedicated fans!
Cross-dressing Women
UNESCO Sites
Iran has a rich history and it possesses a total of 21 UNESCO world heritage sites. Some of the sites you can visit are: Soltaniyeh – a 14th century double-shell brick dome, and Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System which is considered a “masterpiece of creative genius”.
UNESCO Sites
Contraceptions
Before obtaining a marriage license, a couple has to go through some classes. No, we aren’t talking about 9th grade, but rather lessons in contraception. The couple must attend an hour-long lecture on how to prevent getting pregnant.
Contraceptions
Condom Factory
It might seem like an unlikely thing to find in the Middle-East, but Iran actually has one of the only condom factories in the region. Iran’s plight to channel population growth comes in many forms.
Condom Factory
Queen Esther And Others
Iran is the burial ground of a number of history’s biblical figures. Some of those notable figures are, Queen Esther, the prophet Daniel, Cyrus the Great and Darius the Great.
Queen Esther And Others
An Excuse For Gifts
Giving gifts in Iran is kind of strange, but we can all relate in some way. Firstly gifts are given on many occasions like someone achieving greatness or just for returning from a trip. But the custom when giving a gift is to apologize for its inadequacy. Some of us do this back home too.
An Excuse For Gifts
The Olympics
Seeing Iranian Olympiads at the Olympic Games is nothing new. In fact Iran has sent participants to the competition since 1948 and have only missed two opportunities to attend the Summer Olympic Games, in 1980 and 1984.
The Olympics
The Persian Cat
The Persian cat, or the Iranian cat, if you will, is one of the world’s oldest cat breeds. Their beautiful, long, silky fur has made them one of the most sought after cats. The reason for their unique fur coat is actually to protect them from cold climates in the high Iranian plateaus – their habitat.
The Persian Cat
Shoes Or No Shoes
Coat check? Try shoe check first, my friend. In Iran, guests should check whether the host is wearing shoes or not. If the host is walking around barefoot, best you take off your shoes and leave them at the door.
Shoes Or No Shoes
Poems And Poets
It’s not just beautiful architecture and detailed rugs that make up Iran’s culture, poetry has a special place too. It’s well known that pretty much all locals can recite some famous Iranian poetry to anyone who asks for it.
Poems And Poets
Women Driving
The massive debate around women and their rights to driving in Iran is never-ending. But the fact is that women are allowed to drive cars in Iran. However, if the police should catch a woman driving without a head covering, or even one that isn’t fixed correctly, her car will be impounded and she will have to face the unforgiving hand of the law.
Women Driving
Female Taxi Drivers
Considering that woman are allowed to drive cars, it’s cool to know that a group of women started their own all-women taxi service in Tehran. The company was founded by a woman and includes an all-female staff. How cool is that?
Female Taxi Drivers
Biker Babes
Just when we thought that women had a chance on the roads. Women are not allowed to ride motorcycles, regardless of how well their head covering is fixed. But something you will see in the streets of Iran, is women on the back of bikes being ridden by their male counterparts.
Biker Babes
Supreme Leader
What do you need a president for when you have a supreme leader? The supreme leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, has more power than anyone in Iran. He is the commander-in-chief of the military. He directly appoints the heads of the judiciary, the state radio and television networks, as well as the commanders of the police and military forces. At the end of the day, the supreme leader alone decides whether there will be peace or war.
Supreme Leader
Iran’s Army
Iran is a powerhouse in the Middle-East and could pose a major threat to any opposing force in the region. Its military is made up of two sides of the armed forces: the Army, Air Force and Navy, and then the Revolutionary Guards. The military totals about 545,000 active personnel and 350,000 reserve soldiers.
Iran’s Army
Axis Allies
Iran may not be directly involved in any conflicts in the Middle-East, but they definitely have their hand in them. Its military allies include Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon’s guerrilla military group, Hezbollah. It doesn’t only provide military advice to these armed groups, but also financial aid and weapons.
Axis Allies
Taekwondo Champion
19-year-old Kimia Alizadeh, is a multi-medal Taekwondo fighting champion. At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, she won bronze and became the first Iranian female to win a medal at the Olympic Games.
Taekwondo Champion
The Bahá’í Faith
Although the Bahá’í Faith is the largest religious minority in Iran, it is not recognized by the government. In fact the government has banned the 300,000 local members from practicing their religion, calling it a “dangerous cult”.
The Baháí Faith
Refugees
Iran is proud to say that it has more than 1,000,000 foreign refugees which is actually the most of any country worldwide. The country came under fire for using the Afghan and Kurdish refugees as means of expanding their workforce for minimum wages.
Refugees
Operation Ajax
America and Iran once were actually good friends, but the mistrust most Iranians feel could be traced back to 1953. The CIA was part of a secret operation called “Operation Ajax” which aimed to overthrow Prime Minister Masaddegh’s democratically elected government. USA would get 40% of Iran’s oil industry from Iran’s Shah… until the plan was blown out of the water.
Operation Ajax
Iranian Hostage Crisis
The American embassy in Tehran made front page news in 1979 when a troop of Islamist students and militants breached the walls and took hostages. The group demanded the release of Shah Pahlavi so that he could face a court for his “crimes against Iranian citizens”. The Shah was dying of cancer in America. It took 444 days until the hostages eventually made it out.
Iranian Hostage Crisis
Gender Equality
When Iran fell in 1979 during the Iranian Revolution, its legal system reverted to Islamic law. The change dropped women onto a lower tier, meaning that they were considered mentally and legally inferior to men. The government has made claims that “gender equality” was a construct created by Zionism.
Gender Equality
Iran-Contra Scandal
We all know that sometimes the United States gets itself into dangerous waters, and the Iran-Iraq War was a frightening example of that. America urged the world to stop selling weapons to Iran as the USA supported Iraq. But later evidence would show that the Americans themselves were actually selling weapons to Iran.
Iran Contra Scandal
Playing Polo
Who would have ever thought that the sport of polo was invented in Iran? It’s not confirmed, but the fact is, Iranians were playing polo as far back as the 6th century B.C., and the reason for doing so was because they were training for the cavalry.
Playing Polo
Earthquake Crisis
Iran made front-page news in 2003 when its city of Bam suffered a devastating earthquake. The southeastern city had a death count of over 30,000 people.
Earthquake Crisis
Global Shia Epicenter
About 90% to 95% of the 80 million people living in Iran are Shia Muslims, meaning the country is home to the largest concentration of Shia Muslims in the entire world. This is why Iran has close ties with Iraq and Lebanon, fellow Shia-majority countries.
Global Shia Epicenter
Get Your VPN Ready
Due to the government’s regulations on the Internet, most of the popular social networking sites of the world are banned and therefore blocked in Iran. Facebook and Twitter are among those that are blocked, but Gmail is surprisingly not banned and is used regularly.
Get Your VPN Ready
Leading Energy Superpower
Iran is abundant with huge reserves of fossil fuels, ranking third in the world in natural gas production and is second only to Russia when it comes to largest gas reserves in the world. Iran is also working on researching and developing renewable energy sources and opened its first wind-powered and geothermal plants in 2008.
Leading Energy Superpower
A Dying Breed
Iran is currently the only country where you can find the Asiatic cheetah, also known as the Persian cheetah. This type of cheetah was once commonly found all around the Arabian Peninsula and even in the Indian subcontinent and Near East. Now only about 50 of these animals are found in the wild.
A Dying Breed
Incredible Culinary Delights
The cuisine of Iran, more commonly referred to as Persian food, is known to be one of the most flavorful and rich cuisines in the world. The generous use of spices gives Persian cuisine its signature aromas and vibrant color. Some famous dishes include kebab, salad Shirazi, mast-o-khiar, and pilaf.
Incredible Culinary Delights
An Ancient Tradition
A time-old system of athletics is a tradition called ‘Pahlevani and Zourkhaneh’ was once widely used to train Persian warriors. This system incorporates elements of strength training, martial arts, calisthenics, and music and is still performed today ritualistically in Iran, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.
An Ancient Tradition
Asia’s Tallest Volcano
You can find Asia’s highest volcano in Iran. Mount Damavand, which is also the tallest peak in Iran, can be found in the Alborz area which is close to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea. It is also the second highest peak found on the continent, second only to Mount Everest.
Asia’s Tallest Volcano
Delicious Desserts
One of Iran’s most popular desserts is called Baklava. This treat is made with layered puff pastry and filled with pistachios and other nuts and held together with honey syrup. Faloodeh is a popular cold dessert which is made of thin noodles in a semi-frozen syrup that is flavored with rosewater and sugar.
Delicious Desserts
It’s Time For Tea
Black tea is quite commonly found in Iran. As a guest in an Iranian home, be prepared to be offered tea frequently, as Iranians enjoy tea served with breakfast, lunch, and also dinner. Often families will gather together to enjoy tea and conversation with one another.
It’s Time For Tea
Award-Winning Cinema
Over the past decade, Iran has made great strides in the cinema world by winning over 300 international awards. Some of the most well known Iranian directors include Jafar Panahi, Asghar Farhadi, and Abbas Kiarostami.
Award-Winning Cinema
The Game Of Polo
Before the revolution of 1979, Polo, a game with roots in ancient Persia, was a highly popular game played throughout Iran. It does continue to be played, but only discreetly and in rural areas of the country. However, since 2005, the sport has been gaining more traction and becoming popular once again.
The Game Of Polo
Happy New Year
The Persian New Year is called Nowruz and is celebrated each year in March. It is celebrated not only in Iran but in many other countries including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and many more. In Iran, the holiday is a public holiday that is celebrated for 13 days!
Happy New Year
Thank You For The Wine
According to a discovery made during excavations at Hajji Firuz Tepe (in the northwestern region of Iran) by the University of Pennsylvania, we can thank the Persians for the invention of wine. This wonderful contribution to society dates back to 5000 BCE.
Thank You For The Wine
Contributions To Mathematics
There is significant evidence that Persian mathematicians were directly involved with the establishment of Algebra and are also known for discovering Trigonometry. The word ‘algebra’ comes from the title of Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi’s book called “Ilm al-jabr wa’l-mukabala.”
Contributions To Mathematics
Guitar Heroes
The invention of the guitar can also be credited to the ancient Persians. Their invention, called the Tar (originally called cahartar, meaning “four string”) is what the modern-day guitar was based on. The Tar is a lute-like instrument that was invented way back in the 18th century.
Guitar Heroes
