References

1. ^ CIA Factbook/Iran Retrieved 13 February 2008
2. ^ Press TV - WB releases report on Iran economy Retrieved 12 February 2008
3. ^ Press TV - WB releases report on Iran economy Retrieved 12 February 2008
4. ^ we welcome the euro, says Tehran Retrieved June 2007
5. ^ [ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2078rank.html]
6. ^ CIA - The World Factbook - Rank Order - Imports
7. ^ [http://iran-daily.com/1386/3068/html/economy.htm Forex Reserves Put at $70b] retrieved on 24 February 2008

The economy of Iran is a transition economy where a continuing strong labour force growth unmatched by commensurate real economic growth is driving up unemployment to a level considerably higher than the official estimate of 11%. A transition economy or transitional economy is an economy which is changing from a centrally planned economy to a Free market. Labour and tax laws in Iran govern the employment and fiscal contributions of people working and living in Iran. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. ^[1] According to experts, annual economic growth above five per cent would be needed to keep pace with the 900,000 new labour force entrants each year. Economic growth is the increase in the amount of the goods and services produced by an economy over time

Government spending as percent of total budget was 6% for health care, 16% for education and 8% for the military in the period 1992-2000 and contributed to an average annual inflation rate of 14% in the period 2000-2004, although some unofficial estimates place the figure above 20% today. Government spending or government expenditure is classified by economists into three main types Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Iran's educational system comprises many schools and universities scattered throughout the country Iran's military industry has In economics inflation or price inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services over a period of time ^[2] Iranian budget deficits have been a chronic problem, in part due to large-scale state subsidies totaling more than $80 billion per year for the energy sector alone (80% of the government's budget in 2008). The Iranian constitution prohibits the granting of petroleum rights on a concessionary basis or direct equity stake ^[3][4]

The Government is attempting to diversify away from oil by investing revenues in other areas of the economy, including, car manufacturing, aerospace industries, consumer electronics, petrochemicals and nuclear technology. The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a Republic with an Islamic ideology An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is As of 2001 there were 13 public and privately owned automakers in Iran of which two - Iran Khodro and Saipa - accounted for 94% of the total domestic production The Iranian Space Agency ( ISA) is Iran 's governmental Space agency. Electronics refers to the flow of charge (moving Electrons through Nonmetal conductors (mainly Semiconductors, whereas electrical Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program Also, Iran has a great potential for development in mining, tourism^[5], information and communication technology (ICT). For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support

History

See also: History of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Pre-revolutionary Iran's economic development was rapid. One of the most dramatic changes in government in Iran's history was seen with the 1979 Iranian Revolution where Shah ( king) Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Traditionally an agricultural society, by the 1970s, Iran had achieved significant industrialization and economic modernization. However, the pace of growth had slowed dramatically by 1978, just before the Islamic revolution. The Iranian Revolution' (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution, Persian: انقلاب اسلامی Enghelābe Eslāmi was the Revolution that transformed

Iran's long-term objectives since the 1979 revolution have been economic independence, full employment, and a comfortable standard of living for its citizens, but at the end of the 20th century the country's economic future was lined with obstacles. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising Iran's population more than doubled in that period, and its population grew increasingly young. Iran's population was declared 70049262 in the 2006 census with nearly one quarter of its people being 15 years of age or younger In a country that has traditionally been both rural and agrarian, agricultural production has fallen consistently since the 1960s (by the late 1990s Iran was a major food importer), and economic hardship in the countryside has driven vast numbers of people to migrate to the largest cities.

The rates of both literacy and life expectancy in Iran are high for the region, but so, too, is the unemployment rate, and inflation is regularly in the range of 20 percent annually. Iran's population was declared 70049262 in the 2006 census with nearly one quarter of its people being 15 years of age or younger Iran remains highly dependent on its one major industry, the extraction of petroleum and natural gas for export, and the government faces increasing difficulty in providing opportunities for a younger, better-educated workforce, which has led to a growing sense of frustration among lower- and middle-class Iranians. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Labour and tax laws in Iran govern the employment and fiscal contributions of people working and living in Iran. The middle class, in colloquial usage consists of those who have some economic independence but not a great deal of social Influence or power. The Iranian people are a collection of Ethnic groups defined along linguistic lines as speaking Iranian languages.

After the end of hostilities with Iraq in 1988, the government tried to develop the country's communication, transportation, manufacturing, energy infrastructures (including its prospective nuclear power facilities) and hospitals & schools and has begun the process of integrating its communication and transportation systems with those of neighbouring states. Iran’s telecommunications industry is almost entirely state-owned dominated by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI Iran has a long paved road system linking most of its towns and all of its cities The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Iran's educational system comprises many schools and universities scattered throughout the country ^[6]

Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-10)

See also: Management and Planning Organisation of Iran, Government of Iran, Supreme Audit Court of Iran, and Constitution of Iran

The Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-10) sets the guidelines and points the direction in which the trade sector will be taking over the next five years. The Management and Planning Organisation of Iran was one of the largest governmental establishments in Iran. The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a Republic with an Islamic ideology The Supreme Audit Court of Iran is a government agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic For other uses and for specific types of plans see Plan (disambiguation. The focus has been on expanding trade interaction with the global community and pursuing an active presence in international markets. To achieve this would require raising exports substantially. In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion Another area of focus has been to develop free trade zones and turning them into gateways to international markets. A free trade zone ( FTZ) or export processing zone ( EPZ) is one or more special areas of a country where some normal Trade barriers such as Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is the process of transformation of local or regional phenomena into global ones ^[7]

On the domestic front, the priority has been to improve social justice and the overall situation; ^[8] i. Social justice, sometimes called civil justice, refers to the concept of a Society in which Justice is achieved in every aspect of society rather than e. regulating the domestic market on the one hand, and maintaining a well-functioning supply of basic commodities on the other. A commodity is anything for which there is demand but which is supplied without qualitative differentiation across a market The latter would need improving the subsidy distribution system to relieve the government of the huge financial burden on subsidy payments. In Economics, a subsidy (also known as a subvention is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector Another obligation the plan places on the government is to provide economic justification for the pricing of basic commodities and public services. ^[9]

The five-year economic development plan also calls for the creation of a "national Internet"^[10], a target growth of 15% annually for the railroad network,^[11] introduction of foreign banks, a fourfold expansion of petrochemical output, to 56 million tons per year, downsizing of public workforce by 5% ^[12], the creation of 700,000 new jobs per year, ^[13] and the generation of 6,000 MW of electricity through nuclear technology by 2010 to meet its increasing demand for energy, and the establishment of 50 to 60 industrial parks by the end of the Fifth Five-Year Socioeconomic Development Plan by 2015. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Layoff is the temporary suspension or permanent Termination of employment of an Employee or (more commonly a group of employees for Business reasons Nuclear technology is technology that involves the reactions of atomic nuclei. An industrial estate is an area of land set aside for industrial development. ^[14] Turning to "Vision 2025", the plan has set an investment target of $3. 7 trillion within two decades of which $1. 3 trillion should be in the form of foreign investment. Foreign Direct Investment in Iran has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the ^[15]

Centralization vs. Privatization

Main article: Privatization in Iran

See also: List of Major Iranian Companies

Iran's economy is largely state owned. According to the Fourth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2005-2010 the Privatization Organization of Iran affiliated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Finance is in charge of However the government continues in its drive towards privatization and economic liberalization. Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business Economic liberalization is a broad term that usually refers to fewer government regulations and restrictions in the economy in exchange for greater participation of private entities the

The Iranian Government declared its intention to privatize most state industries after the Iran-Iraq war in 1988, in an effort to stimulate the ailing economy. The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a Republic with an Islamic ideology The sale of state-owned factories and companies proceeded slowly, however (mostly because of the opposition by a nationalist majority in Majlis - the Iranian parliament), and most industries remained state-owned in the early 21st century (70% of the economy as of 2006). The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit The majority of heavy industry—including steel, petrochemicals, copper, automobiles, and machine tools—was in the public sector, while most light industry was privately owned. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 A machine tool is a powered mechanical device typically used to fabricate metal components of machines by Machining, which is the selective removal of metal

According to the article 44 of Constitution, the economy of Iran is to consist of three sectors: state, cooperative, and private; and is to be based on systematic and sound planning. The Constitution of the Islamic Republic For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. A planned economy or directed economy is an Economic system in which the Government or Workers' councils manages the Economy.

• The state sector is to include all large-scale industries, foreign trade, major minerals, banking, insurance, power generation, dams and large-scale irrigation networks, radio and television, post, telegraph and telephone services, aviation, shipping, roads, railroads and the like; all these will be publicly owned and administered by the State. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition a highly ordered atomic structure and specific A banker or bank is a Financial institution whose primary activity is to act as a payment agent for customers and to borrow and lend money Insurance, in Law and Economics, is a form of Risk management primarily used to hedge against the Risk of a contingent loss Electricity generation is the process of converting non-electrical Energy to Electricity. A dam is a barrier that divides waters. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water while other structures such as Floodgates, Levees Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic Basic principle A traditional landline telephone system also known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS, commonly handles both signaling and audio information Aviation refers to activities involving man-made flying devices ( Aircraft) including the people organizations and regulatory bodies involved with them Shipping is physical process of Transporting goods and Cargo. A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places. "Railroad" and "Railway" both redirect here For other uses see Railroad (disambiguation.

• The cooperative sector is to include cooperative companies (Bonyads) and enterprises concerned with production and distribution, in urban and rural areas, in accordance with Islamic criteria. Bonyads are controversial Charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation.

• The private sector consists of those activities concerned with construction, agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, trade, and services that supplement the economic activities of the state and cooperative sectors. In recent years Iran's construction market has been thriving due to an increase in national and international investment to the extent that it is now the largest in the Middle East Roughly one-third of Iran 's total surface area is suited for farmland but because of poor soil and lack of adequate water distribution in many areas most of it is not under cultivation Animal husbandry, also called Animal science, stockbreeding or simple husbandry, is the agricultural practice of breeding For other uses of this term see Industry (disambiguation An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent industrious" Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce.

A strict interpretation of the above has never been enforced in the Islamic Republic and the private sector has been able to play a much larger role than is outlined in the Constitution. In recent years, the role of the private sector has been further on the increase. Furthermore, an amendment of the article in 2004 has allowed 80% of state assets to be privatized. Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business ^[16]

Macro-Economic Trend

See also: Next Eleven and Demographics of Iran

In the early 21st century the service sector contributed the largest percentage of the GDP, followed by industry (mining and manufacturing) and agriculture. The Next Eleven (or N-11) are eleven countries — Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Iran's population was declared 70049262 in the 2006 census with nearly one quarter of its people being 15 years of age or younger In 2008, about 55% of the government's budget came from oil and natural gas revenues, and 31% came from taxes and fees. ^[17] In 2007 the GDP was estimated at $206. 7 billion ($852. 6 billion at PPP), or $3,160 per capita ($12,300 at PPP). The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. The informal economy is also important. In Economics, the term informal economy (or second economy in the South African context refers to all economic activities that fall outside the formal Because of these figures and the country’s diversified but small industrial base, the United Nations classifies Iran's economy as semideveloped (1998). The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security

The following is the trend chart of the Iranian GDP at market prices estimated by the IMF^[18], with figures in millions of Iranian rial. The International Monetary Fund ( IMF) is an International organization that oversees the Global financial system by following the Macroeconomic The rial (ریال in Persian; ISO 4217 code IRR) is the currency of Iran. For purchasing power parity comparisons, the US dollar is exchanged at 3,149. The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been 33 Iranian rials only. The rial (ریال in Persian; ISO 4217 code IRR) is the currency of Iran.

Iran's population reached 70 million in 2006. More than two-thirds of the Iranians are under the age of 30, and the literacy rate stands above 80%. Iran's population was declared 70049262 in the 2006 census with nearly one quarter of its people being 15 years of age or younger traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write or the ability to use Language to read, write, listen,

Sectors of the economy

See also: Labour and tax laws in Iran, Iran's Brain Drain problem, and Iranian citizens abroad

Agriculture contributes just over 11% to the gross national product and employs a third of the labor force. Labour and tax laws in Iran govern the employment and fiscal contributions of people working and living in Iran. Iran tops the world countries in the Brain drain phenomenon The CIA estimates that 89 The term Iranian citizens abroad refers to the Iranian people born in Iran but living outside of Iran and their children Agriculture refers to the production of goods through the growing of plants and fungi and the raising of domesticated Animals The study of agriculture The industrial sector—including mining, manufacturing, and construction—contributed 42% of the GDP and employed 31% of the labor force in 2004. Iran’s mining industry is under-developed The most important mines include coal metallic minerals sand and gravel chemical minerals salt etc In recent years Iran's construction market has been thriving due to an increase in national and international investment to the extent that it is now the largest in the Middle East Labour and tax laws in Iran govern the employment and fiscal contributions of people working and living in Iran. Mineral products, notably petroleum, dominate Iran’s exports revenues (80%), but mining employs less than 1% of the country’s labor force. The Iranian constitution prohibits the granting of petroleum rights on a concessionary basis or direct equity stake In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion Labour and tax laws in Iran govern the employment and fiscal contributions of people working and living in Iran. In 2004 the service sector ranked as the largest contributor to the GDP (48%) and employed 44% of workers. In 2005, Iranian women accounted for 33% of the workforce (out of 25 million people). In 2006, the average annual salary in Iran was $2,700 ($19-23 per day in 2007). A salary is a form of periodic payment from an Employer to an Employee, which may be specified in an Employment contract. Migrant Iranian workers abroad remitted less than $2 billion home in 2006. The term Iranian citizens abroad refers to the Iranian people born in Iran but living outside of Iran and their children ^[19]

Agriculture

Main article: Agriculture in Iran

See also: Geography of Iran and Environmental issues in Iran

About 20% of the land in Iran is arable. Roughly one-third of Iran 's total surface area is suited for farmland but because of poor soil and lack of adequate water distribution in many areas most of it is not under cultivation Iran is situated in Southwest Asia, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Environmental issues in Iran includeballs in urban areas Vehicle emissions Refinery operations and industrial effluents which The main food-producing areas are in the Caspian region and in the valleys of the northwest. Some northern and western areas support rain-fed agriculture, while other areas require irrigation for successful crop production. Irrigation is an artificial application of water to the soil usually for assisting in growing crops ^[20]

Agriculture contributes just over 11% to the gross national product and employs a third of the labor force. By 1997, the gross value of products in Iran's agricultural sector reached $25 billion and by 2003, a quarter of Iran's non-oil exports were agricultural based.

The principal obstacles to agricultural production are primitive farming methods, overworked and underfertilized soil, poor seed, and scarcity of water. About one third of the cultivated land is irrigated; the construction of multipurpose dams and reservoirs along the rivers in the Zagros and Alborz mts. Dam construction started in Iran in the 1950s Some fourteen large dams were built with the help of foreign engineers and advisors during two decades preceding the Islamic Revolution The Zagros Mountains (جبال زاجروس (رشته كوههاى زاگرس ( Sorani Kurdish: Zagros - زاگرۆس make up Iran 's and Iraq 's For the Iranian Frigate Alborz see Iranian frigate Alborz. For Alborz High School (in Persianدبیرستان البرز see Alborz High has increased the amount of water available for irrigation. Agricultural programs of modernization, mechanization, and crop and livestock improvement, and programs for the redistribution of land are increasing agricultural production. ^[21]

Wheat, the most important crop, is grown mainly in the west and northwest; rice is the major crop in the Caspian region. Wheat ( Triticum spp is a worldwide cultivated grass from the Levant area of the Middle East. Rice is a Cereal foodstuff which forms an important part of the diet of many people worldwide and as such it is a staple food for many Barley, corn, cotton, sugar beets, tea, hemp, tobacco, fruits (including citrus), potatoes, legumes (beans and lentils), vegetables, fodder plants (alfalfa and clover), spices (including cumin, sumac, and saffron (world's largest producer), nuts (pistachios (world's largest producer), almonds, and walnuts), and dates are also grown, and livestock is raised. Barley ( Hordeum vulgare) is an annual Cereal Grain, which serves as a major animal Feed crop, with smaller amounts used for Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris L a member of the Chenopodiaceae family is a plant whose root contains a high concentration of Sucrose. Tea refers to the cured agricultural product of the leaves leaf buds and internodes of Camellia sinensis, which have been prepared and cured for the market This article is about the cultivation and uses of industrial hemp not its psychoactive cousin Cannabis (drug. Tobacco is an Agricultural product recognized as an addictive drug processed from the fresh Leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. The term fruit has different meanings dependent on context and the term is not synonymous in Food preparation and Biology. Citrus is a common term and Genus of Flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, originating in tropical and subtropical southeast regions of Potato, which is the English term for Solanum tuberosum, is a Carib loanword A legume is a Plant in the family Fabaceae (or Leguminosae or a Fruit of these specific plants Bean is a common name for large plant Seeds of several genera of the family Fabaceae (formerly Leguminosae used for human food or animal The lentil or daal or pulse ( Lens culinaris) is a bushy Annual plant of the legume family grown for its lens-shaped Seeds The term " vegetable " generally means the edible parts of Plants The definition of the word is traditional rather than Scientific, however Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Sumac (ˈʃuːmæk or /ˈs(juːmæk/ also spelled sumach) is any one of approximately 250 species of Flowering plants in the Genus Rhus Saffron ( Kurdish/Persian زَعْفَرَان is a Spice derived from the dried Stigma of the Flower of the saffron crocus ( Crocus sativus The pistachio ( Pistacia vera L Anacardiaceae or sometimes Pistaciaceae) is a small Tree native to mountainous regions of The Almond ( Prunus dulcis, syn Prunus amygdalus Batsch Amygdalus communis L Walnuts (genus Juglans) are Plants in the family Juglandaceae. Livestock products include lamb, goat meat, beef, poultry, milk, eggs, butter, cheese, wool, and leather. Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget The domestic goat ( Capra aegagrus hircus) is a subspecies of goat Domesticated from the Wild goat of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe In modern English usage meat most often refers to Animal tissue used as food mostly Skeletal muscle and associated Fat, but it may also refer Beef is the Culinary name for Meat from Bovines especially domestic Cattle (cows Poultry is the category of Domesticated Birds which some humans keep for the purpose of collecting their eggs, or kill for their Meat and/or Milk is an opaque white liquid produced by the Mammary glands of female Mammals (including Monotremes. An egg is a round or oval body laid by the female of many animals consisting of an Ovum surrounded by layers of Membranes and an outer casing which acts to nourish Butter is a Dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented Cream or Milk. Cheese is a Food made from Milk, usually the milk of cows, Buffalo, Goats or sheep, by coagulation. Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Honey is collected from beehives, and silk is harvested from silkworm cocoons. Honey is a sweet and Viscous fluid produced by Honey bees (and some other species and derived from the nectar of Flowers According to the Silk is a natural Protein Fiber, some forms of which can be woven into Textiles The best-known type of silk is obtained from cocoons The northern slopes of the Alborz Mts. are heavily wooded, and forestry products are economically important; the cutting of trees is rigidly controlled by the government, which also has a reforestation program. Forestry is the Art and Science of managing forests tree Plantations and related Natural resources. Reforestation is the restocking of existing forests and woodlands which have been depleted with native tree stock In the rivers entering the Caspian Sea are salmon, carp, trout, and pike; sturgeon are abundant in the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. Salmon is the common name for several species of Fish of the family Salmonidae. Carp is a common name for various Freshwater Fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large Trout is the common name given to a number of Species of Freshwater Fish belonging to the Salmonidae family Sturgeon is the Common name used for some 26 species of fish in the family Acipenseridae, including the genera Acipenser, The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. ^[22]

Since 1979 commercial farming has replaced subsistence farming as the dominant mode of agricultural production. By 1997, the gross value of products in Iran's agricultural sector had reached $25 billion. Iran has attained 90% self-sufficiency in essential agricultural products; total rice production fails to meet domestic food requirements, however, making substantial imports necessary. In 2007 Iran reached self sufficiency in wheat production, and for the first time became a net wheat exporter. ^[23] By 2003, a quarter of Iran's non-oil exports were agricultural based. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. ^[24] Major agricultural exports include fresh and dried fruits, nuts, animal hides, processed foods, and spices. In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion

Manufacturing

The share of Iran's oil sector in the GDP increased from 15% in 2002 to 25% in 2006, mainly because of a sharp increase in the price of oil ^[25]

See also: Iranian art, National Iranian Petrochemical Company, IDRO, Iran Electronics Industries (IEI), Iran Aviation Industries Organization, Iranian Space Agency, and Environmental issues in Iran

Iran has a long tradition of producing artisan goods, including Persian carpets, ceramics, copperware and brassware, glass, leather goods, textiles, and woodwork. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit The Iranian cultural region - consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and The National Iranian Petrochemical Company (NIPC a subsidiary to the Iranian Petroleum Ministry, is owned by the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran Electronics Industries ( IEI, Persian: صنایع الکترنیک ایران (Sana-ey Electronik-e Iran; also known as صاایران The Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO was established in 1966 for the purpose of planning controlling and managing the military aviation industry of Iran The Iranian Space Agency ( ISA) is Iran 's governmental Space agency. Environmental issues in Iran includeballs in urban areas Vehicle emissions Refinery operations and industrial effluents which For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The Iranian cultural region - consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and The Persian carpet ( Pahlavi bōb Persian farš فرش meaning "to spread" and qāli) is an essential part of The Iranian cultural region - consisting of the modern nations of Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many Woodworking is the process of building making or carving something using Wood. Iran’s rich carpet-weaving tradition dates from pre-Islamic times, and it remains an important industry and contributes substantially to rural incomes. A carpet is any loom-woven felted textile or grass floor covering Textile mills, based on domestic cotton and wool, employed about 400,000 people in 2000 and are centred in Tehran, Esfahan and along the Caspian coast. A textile is a flexible material comprised of a network of natural or artificial Fibres often referred to as thread or Yarn. Cotton is a soft staple Fibre that grows around the seeds of the cotton plant ( Gossypium sp Wool is the fiber derived from the specialized skin cells called follicles of animals in the Caprinae family principally sheep, but the hair of certain species Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering ( CASPIAN) is a USA Grass-roots Consumer group dedicated to fighting Supermarket "loyalty"

Large-scale manufacturing in factories began in the 1920s and developed gradually. During the Iran-Iraq War, Iraq bombed many of Iran’s petrochemical plants, and the large oil refinery at Abadan was badly damaged and forced to halt production. The Abadan refinery is located in Abadan near the cost of the Persian gulf. Reconstruction of the refinery began in 1988 and production resumed in 1993. However, the war also stimulated the growth of many small factories producing import-substitution goods and materials needed by the military. The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی

The country’s major manufactured products are petrochemicals (w/a fertilizer plant in Shiraz), steel (w/mills in Esfahan and Khuzestan), and copper products. Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Fertilizers ( also spelt fertiliser are chemical compounds given to Plants to promote growth they are usually applied either through the soil for uptake by plant Shiraz ( شیراز Shīrāz) is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars Province. Steel is an Alloy consisting mostly of Iron, with a Carbon content between 0 Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān Khūzestān (خوزستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Other important manufactures include automobiles (with production crossing the 1 million mark in 2005), ^[26] electric appliances (television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, and other consumer items), telecommunications equipment, cement, industrial machinery (Iran has the largest operational stock of industrial robots in West Asia) ^[27], paper, rubber products, processed foods (including refined sugar and vegetable oil), carpets, leather products and pharmaceuticals. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic A refrigerator (often called a " fridge " for short is a cooling appliance comprising a thermally insulated compartment and a Heat pump - A washing machine, or washer, is a machine designed to clean Laundry, such as Clothing, Towels and sheets The term is mostly applied Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI was established in 1971 with a new organizational structure as the main responsible administration for the entire telecommunication affairs In recent years Iran's construction market has been thriving due to an increase in national and international investment to the extent that it is now the largest in the Middle East A machine is any device that uses Energy to perform some activity Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging Food processing is the set of methods and techniques used to transform raw Ingredients into Food or to transform food into other forms for consumption by Sugar is a class of edible Crystalline substances mainly Sucrose, Lactose, and Fructose. Leather is a material created through the Tanning of hides and Skins of Animals primarily Cattlehide The Tanning process Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Currently, 55 pharmaceutical companies in Iran produce more than 96% (quantitatively) of medicines on the market worth $1. 2 billion annually. ^[28][29]

Automobile manufacturing

See also: Automobile manufacturing companies in Iran

Iran's automobile production crossed the 1 million mark in 2005. As of 2001 there were 13 public and privately owned automakers in Iran of which two - Iran Khodro and Saipa - accounted for 94% of the total domestic production Iran Khodro is the largest car manufacturer in the Middle-East. IKCO or Iran Khodro Company (or Iran Khodro Industrial Group) is the largest autoproducer of Iran It has established joint-ventures with foreign partners on 4 continents. A joint venture (often abbreviated JV) is an entity formed between two or more parties to undertake economic activity together

As of 2001, there were 13 public and privately owned automakers in Iran, of which two - Iran Khodro and Saipa - accounted for 94% of the total domestic production. IKCO or Iran Khodro Company (or Iran Khodro Industrial Group) is the largest autoproducer of Iran Saimaan Pallo ( SaiPa) is an Ice hockey team in the Finnish SM-liiga. Iran Khodro, which produced the most prevalent car brand in the country - the Paykan, which has been replaced in 2005 by the Samand -, is still the largest with 61% of the market in 2001, while Saipa contributed 33% of Iran’s total production in the same year. The Paykan ( was an Automobile produced by the Iranian company Iran Khodro (formerly called "Iran National" Industrial Group Samand is Iran 's national car manufactured by Iran Khodro (IKCO using local manufacturers for its parts The other car manufacturers, such as the Bahman Group, Kerman Motors, Kish Khodro, Raniran, Traktorsazi, Shahab Khodro, and others together produced only 6%. Bahman Group is a Tehran, Iran -based manufacturer of vehicles under license by Mazda. Kish Khodro is a car company based in Kish Iran. Established in 1998 40% of the company is owned by the Iranian state bank These automakers produce a wide range of automobiles including motorbikes, passenger cars, vans, mini trucks, medium sized trucks, heavy duty trucks, minibuses, large size buses and other heavy automobiles used in commercial and private activities in the country. Iran ranked the world’s 16th biggest automaker in 2006 and has a fleet of 7 million cars, which translates to almost one car per ten persons in the country. ^[30][31]

Defense industry

Main articles: Iranian defense industry and List of military equipment manufactured in Iran

Iran's 2005 defence budget was estimated to be $6. Iran's military industry has From 1925 to the Iranian Revolution in 1979 Iran used to be equipped with the very latest Western hardware 3 billion (3. 3% of GDP) by London's International Institute for Strategic Studies or $91 per capita. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS is a British research institute (or Think tank) in the area of international affairs. Iran's defense industry has taken great strides in the past 25 years, and now manufactures many types of arms and equipment. Since 1992, Iran's Defense Industries Organization (DIO) has produced its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines, and a fighter plane ^[32]. The Defense Industries Organization ( DIO; Persian: Sasadjah (Sazemane Sanaye Defa) is a Conglomerate of companies run by the Islamic Republic A tank is a tracked, Armoured fighting vehicle designed for Front-line combat which combines Operational mobility and tactical Armoured personnel carriers (APCs are Armoured fighting vehicles developed to transport Infantry on the Battlefield They usually have only a Machine The Air Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution (AFAGIR also known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Air Force (IRGC AF, is the air force A submarine is a Watercraft that can operate independently below water as distinct from a Submersible that has only limited underwater capability A fighter aircraft is a Military aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat with other Aircraft, as opposed to a Bomber, which is designed As of 2006, Iran had exported weapons to 57 countries, including NATO members, and sold $100 million worth of military equipment. The North Atlantic Treaty ^[33][34]

Construction

Main articles: Construction in Iran, Iranian architecture, and Milad Tower

The annual turnover in the construction industry amounted to $38. In recent years Iran's construction market has been thriving due to an increase in national and international investment to the extent that it is now the largest in the Middle East Architecture in " Greater Iran " has a continuous history from at least 5000BCE to the present with characteristic examples distributed over a vast area from Syria Borj-e Milad (aka Milad Tower,) (birth is the tallest Tower in Iran. In the fields of Architecture and Civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the Building or assembling of Infrastructure 4 billion in 2005. ^[35] Until the early 1950s the construction industry was limited largely to small domestic companies. Increased income from oil and gas and the availability of easy credit, however, triggered a subsequent building boom that attracted major international construction firms to Iran. Credit is the provision of resources (such as granting a Loan) by one party to another party where that second party does not reimburse the first party immediately thereby generating For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. This growth continued until the mid-1970s, when, because of a sharp rise in inflation, credit was tightened and the boom collapsed. The construction industry had revived somewhat by the mid-1980s, but housing shortages have remained a serious problem, especially in the large urban centres as well as the poor quality of many constructions, which need anti-seismic reinforcement and/or renovation. Seismology (from Greek grc σεισμός seismos, "earthquake" and grc -λογία -logia) is the scientific study of Earthquakes Iran has a large dam building industry. A dam is a barrier that divides waters. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water while other structures such as Floodgates, Levees ^[36] Today 70% of the Iranians own homes. Iran's population was declared 70049262 in the 2006 census with nearly one quarter of its people being 15 years of age or younger ^[37] Construction is one of the most important sectors in Iran accounting for 20–50% of the total private investment. One of the prime investment targets of well off Iranians as tangible.

Energy, gas, petroleum and petrochemicals

Main articles: Energy in Iran, Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, and 2007 Gas Rationing Plan in Iran

See also: National Iranian Oil Company, Asalouyeh, Iranian Oil Bourse, and Iranian nuclear program

Iran holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and 15% of its gas. Petroleum See also Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, National Iranian Oil Company See also Asalouyeh The Iranian constitution prohibits the granting of petroleum rights on a concessionary basis or direct equity stake 2007 Gas Rationing Plan in Iran was launched by president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad 's cabinet to reduce that country's fuel consumption The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC under the direction of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, is an Oil and Natural gas producer and distributor headquartered Asalouyeh (عسلویه also transcribed Assalouyeh and Assaluyeh, and sometimes prefixed by bandar, meaning port is a town in southern Iran The Iranian Oil Bourse Iran Petroleum Exchange or Oil Bourse in Kish During 2007, Iran asked its petroleum customers to pay in non-dollar currencies The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program Oil reserves are the estimated quantities of Crude oil that are claimed to be recoverable under existing Economic and operating conditions This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter It is OPEC's second largest exporter and the world's fourth oil producer. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) is a Cartel of thirteen countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador

Iran holds 10% of the world's proven oil reserves. Oil reserves are the estimated quantities of Crude oil that are claimed to be recoverable under existing Economic and operating conditions Iran also has the world's second largest reserves of natural gas (15% of the world's total); these are exploited primarily for domestic use. Natural gas is a Gaseous Fossil fuel consisting primarily of Methane but including significant quantities of Ethane, Propane, Since 1913 Iran has been a major oil exporting country. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The chief oil fields are found in the central and southwestern parts of the Zagros mountains in western Iran. The Zagros Mountains (جبال زاجروس (رشته كوههاى زاگرس ( Sorani Kurdish: Zagros - زاگرۆس make up Iran 's and Iraq 's Oil also is found in northern Iran and in the offshore waters of the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the Domestic oil and gas, along with hydroelectric power facilities, provide the country with power. Hydroelectricity is electricity generated by Hydropower, ie the production of power through use of the gravitational force of falling water Iran built its first $1 billion nuclear power plant in Bushehr in March 2008, called Bushehr 1. Nuclear power is any Nuclear technology designed to extract usable Energy from atomic nuclei via controlled Nuclear reactions Bushehr or Bushire ( Persian:بوشهر pop 165377 (in 2005) is a city on the southwestern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf

In the late 1970s, it ranked as the fourth largest oil producer (OPEC's second largest oil producer) and the second largest oil exporter in the world. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) is a Cartel of thirteen countries made up of Algeria, Angola, Ecuador Following the 1979 revolution, however, the government reduced daily oil production in accordance with an oil conservation policy. Further production declines occurred as result of damage to oil facilities during the war with Iraq. Oil production began increasing in the late 1980s due to the repair of damaged pipelines and the exploitation of newly discovered offshore oil fields in the Persian Gulf. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the

Major refineries are located at Abadan (site of the country's first refinery, built 1913), Kermanshah, and Tehran. Abadan (film is also the name of a 2003 Iranian movie from director Mani Haghighi, as well as the name of a town in Turkmenistan Pipelines move oil from the fields to the refineries and to such exporting ports as Abadan, Bandar-e Mashur, and Kharg Island. An oil refinery is an industrial Process plant where Crude oil is processed and refined into more useful Petroleum products, such as Gasoline Kharg Island ( is a continental island in the Persian Gulf belonging to Iran. In the late 1990s, Iran's state-owned oil and gas industry entered into major exploration and production agreements with foreign consortia. Foreign Direct Investment in Iran has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the

By 2004, Iran’s annual oil production was 1. 4 billion barrels, creating a net profit of $50 billion. A barrel or cask is a hollow cylindrical container traditionally made of Wood Staves and bound with Iron Hoops The ^[38] Iran manufactures 50-80% of its industrial equipments domestically, including oil tankers, oil rigs, offshore platforms and exploration instruments. An oil platform or oil rig is a large structure used to house workers and machinery needed to drill and/or extract oil and Natural gas through wells ^[39] In February 2008 the Iranian Oil Bourse was inaugurated in Kish Island to trade crude oil and petrochemical products. The Iranian Oil Bourse Iran Petroleum Exchange or Oil Bourse in Kish During 2007, Iran asked its petroleum customers to pay in non-dollar currencies Kish ( is a resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran. ^[40] The transactions will be made in Iranian rial and other major currencies (except for USD). The rial (ریال in Persian; ISO 4217 code IRR) is the currency of Iran. The United States dollar ( sign: $; code: USD) is the unit of Currency of the United States; it has also been ^[41]

Mining

Main article: Mining in Iran

Iran’s mining industry is under-developed. Iran’s mining industry is under-developed The most important mines include coal metallic minerals sand and gravel chemical minerals salt etc Mineral production contributes only 0. 6% to the country’s GDP. Add other mining-related industries and this figure increases to just 4%. Many factors have contributed to this, namely lack of suitable infrastructure, legal barriers, exploration difficulties, and government control over all resources.

Although the petroleum industry provides the majority of economic revenues, about 75% of all mining sector employees work in mines producing minerals other than oil and natural gas. These include coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, barite, salt, gypsum, molybdenum, strontium, silica, uranium, and gold (most as a coproduct of the Sar Cheshmeh copper complex operations). Iron (ˈаɪɚn is a Chemical element with the symbol Fe (ferrum and Atomic number 26 Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Characteristics Lead has a dull luster and is a dense, Ductile, very soft highly Zinc (ˈzɪŋk from Zink is a Metallic Chemical element with the symbol Zn and Atomic number 30 Chromium (ˈkroʊmiəm is a Chemical element which has the symbol Cr and Atomic number 24 Baryte ( Ba[[Sulfur S]] O 4 is a Mineral consisting of Barium sulfate. Salt is a Dietary mineral composed primarily of Sodium chloride that is essential for Animal life but toxic to most land plants Gypsum is a very soft Mineral composed of Calcium sulfate dihydrate with the Chemical formula Ca[[sulfur S]] O 4·2 Molybdenum (məˈlɪbdənəm from the Greek word for the metal " Lead " is a Group 6 Chemical element with the symbol Mo Strontium (ˈstrɒntiəm /ˈstrɒnʃiəm/) is a Chemical element with the symbol Sr and the Atomic number 38 The Chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica or silox (from the Latin " Silex " is an Oxide Uranium (jʊˈreɪniəm is a silvery-gray Metallic Chemical element in the Gold (ˈɡoʊld is a Chemical element with the symbol Au (from its Latin name aurum) and Atomic number 79 The mines at Sar Cheshmeh in Kerman Province contain the world's second largest lode of copper ore. Sar Cheshmeh or Sarcheshmeh (سرچشمه is large open cast Copper mine in the Kerman Province of Iran, considered to be the second largest Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Large iron ore deposits lie in central Iran, near Bafq, Yazd, and Kerman. Yazd (pronounced /jæzd/ (In Persian: یزد is the capital of Yazd province, "the second most ancient and historic city in the world" and a centre Kerman (کرمان is a city in Iran. It is the center of Kerman province. The government owns 90% of all mines and related large industries in Iran and is seeking foreign investment for the development of the mining sector. Foreign direct investment ( FDI) in its classic definition is defined as a company from one country making a physical investment into building a factory in another country In the steel and copper sectors alone, the government is seeking to raise around $1. 1 billion in foreign financing. ^[42]

Services

See also: Education in Iran, Higher Education in Iran, Science in Iran, List of Iranian Research Centers, and Health care in Iran

Iran currently ranks 68th in tourism revenues worldwide. Iran's educational system comprises many schools and universities scattered throughout the country Iran has a large network of private, public, and state affiliated universities offering degrees in higher education Science and technology in Iran, formerly known as Persia, have a history like the country itself This is a list of Iranian Research Centers: The Academy of Arts of Iran Tehran The Academy of Medical Sciences of Iran Tehran Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Iran with attractive natural and historical sites is rated among the 10 most touristic countries in the world. Close to 1. 8% of national employment is generated in the tourism sector which is slated to increase to 10% in the next five years. ^[43] Iranian hospitality is one of the unique and distinctive features of its people. Hospitality refers to the relationship process between a Guest and a host and it also refers to the act or practice of being hospitable that is the reception and entertainment

Urbanization has contributed to significant growth in the service sector. Urbanizationn (also spelled urbanisation) is the physical growth of Urban areas into rural or natural land as a result of population in-migration to an existing Important service industries include public services (including education), commerce, personal services, professional services, and tourism. Iran's educational system comprises many schools and universities scattered throughout the country Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel

The constitution entitles Iranians to basic health care. Health care is the prevention treatment and management of illness and the preservation of mental health through the services offered by the medical, Nursing In the early 2000s, about 65% of the population was covered by the voluntary national health insurance system. Although over 85% of the population use an insurance system to reimburse their drug expenses, the government heavily subsidises pharmaceutical production/importation in order to increase affordability of medicines and vaccines. The total market value of Iran’s health and medical sector was almost $240 billion in 2002 and is forecasted to rise to $310 billion by 2007. ^[44]

Despite efforts in the 1990s toward economic liberalization, government spending—including expenditures by quasi-governmental foundations (Bonyad) that dominate the economy—has been high. Economic liberalization is a broad term that usually refers to fewer government regulations and restrictions in the economy in exchange for greater participation of private entities the Government spending or government expenditure is classified by economists into three main types Bonyads are controversial Charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. Estimates of service sector spending in Iran are regularly more than two-fifths of the GDP, and much of that is government-related spending, including military expenditures, government salaries, and social service disbursements. Social work is a discipline involving the application of Social theory and research methods to study and improve the lives of people groups and societies

The tourist industry declined dramatically during the war with Iraq in the 1980s but has subsequently revived. About 1,659,000 foreign tourists visited Iran in 2004; most came from Asian countries, including the republics of Central Asia, while a small share came from the countries of the European Union and North America. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in The most popular tourist destinations are Esfahan, Mashhad, and Shiraz. Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Shiraz ( شیراز Shīrāz) is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars Province. In the early 2000s the industry still faced serious limitations in infrastructure, communications, regulatory norms, and personnel training. Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids Communication is the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the communicated information is understood the same way Social norms have been defined as "the rules that a group uses for appropriate and inappropriate values beliefs attitudes and behaviors The term training refers to the acquisition of knowledge skills and competencies as a result of the teaching of vocational or practical skills and knowledge ^[45] The majority of the 300,000 tourist visas granted in 2003 were obtained by Asian Muslims, who presumably intended to visit important pilgrimage sites in Mashhad and Qom. A visa (short for the Latin carta visa, lit "a document that has been seen" is a document issued by a Country giving an individual A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion In Religion and Spirituality, a pilgrimage is a long journey or Search of great Moral significance Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Several organized tours from Germany, France, and other European countries come to Iran annually to visit archaeological sites and monuments. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos A monument is a structure either explicitly created to commemorate a person or important event or which has become important to a social group as a part of their remembrance of past Iran currently ranks 68th in tourism revenues worldwide. Tourism is Travel for Recreational or Leisure purposes The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people who "travel Iran with attractive natural and historical sites is rated among the 10 most touristic countries in the world. Close to 1. 8% of national employment is generated in the tourism sector which is slated to increase to 10% in the next five years. ^[46]

Social protection

See also: Bonyad

Social protection covers the employees between the age of 18 and 65 years, and the financing is shared between the employee (7% of the wages), the employer (20-23%) and the State (which supplements the contribution of the employer to a total value of 3%). Bonyads are controversial Charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. Social security primarily refers to a Social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions including poverty old Social protection is extended to the self-employed workers, who voluntarily contribute between 12% and 18% of their income according to the desired protection. Self-employment is the individual pursuit of Capitalism. To be self-employed an individual is normally highly skilled in a trade or has a niche product or service The social security makes it possible to ensure the employees against unemployment, the disease, old age (retirement pension), the occupational accidents. Social security primarily refers to a Social insurance program providing social protection or protection against socially recognized conditions including poverty old Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely A pension is a steady income given to a person upon Retirement, typically in the form of a guaranteed annuity. An accident is a specific identifiable unexpected unusual and unintended external event which occurs in a particular time and place without apparent or deliberate Iran did not legislate in favour of a universal social protection, but in 1996, the Center of the statistics of Iran estimates that more than 73% of the Iranian population is covered by social security.

Civil servants, the regular military, law enforcement agencies, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Iran’s second major military organization, have their own pension systems. The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution ( Sepáh e Pásdárán e Enqeláb e Eslámi) is an ideologically motivated branch of the Islamic Republic of Iran's In 2003 the minimum standard pension was 50% of the worker’s earnings but not less than the amount of the minimum wage. A minimum wage is the lowest hourly daily or monthly Wage that employers may legally pay to employees or workers Iran spent 22. 5% of its 2003 national budget on social welfare programs. Budget (from French bougette, purse generally refers to a list of all planned expenses and revenues "Social welfare" redirects here For other uses see Welfare A social welfare provision refers to any program which seeks to provide More than 50% of that amount covered pensions.

Welfare programs for the needy are managed by more than 30 individual public agencies, and semi-state organizations called Bonyads, as well as by several private non-governmental organizations. Welfare is financial assistance paid to people by governments Bonyads are controversial Charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. In 2003, the government began to consolidate its welfare organizations in an effort to eliminate redundancy and inefficiency. Bonyads are a consortium of over 120 organizations which are tax-exempt, receive government subsidies and religious donations and answer directly to the Supreme Leader of Iran. A consortium is an association of two or more individuals companies organizations or governments (or any combination of these entities with the objective of participating A tax exemption is an exemption from all or certain Taxes of a state or nation in which part of the taxes that would normally be collected from an individual or an organization In Economics, a subsidy (also known as a subvention is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector A donation is a gift given typically to a cause or/and for charitable purposes The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit They control over 20% of Iran's GDP and they are involved in everything from vast soybean and cotton fields to hotels to soft drinks to auto-manufacturing to shipping lines. Bonyads are overstaffed, corrupt, and generally not profitable. ^[47] In 2007, Iran had 12 million people living below the poverty line. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country Six million of these people were not supported by any foundation or organization. ^[48]

Banking system

See also: Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Iranian Rial, Shetab Banking System, and Tehran Stock Exchange

Iran's inflation rate stood around 14% in 2005 but some unofficial estimates place this number above 20% today and its external debt was less than 8% of the GDP in 2006. The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran) is the Central bank The rial (ریال in Persian; ISO 4217 code IRR) is the currency of Iran. The Shetab system is the only Electronic banking clearance and automated payments system used in Iran. The Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE (بورس اوراق بهادار تهران is Iran 's largest stock exchange which first opened in April 1968 In Economics, the inflation rate is a measure of Inflation, the rate of increase of a Price index (for example a Consumer price index)

The government makes loans and credits available to industrial and agricultural projects, primarily through banks. Iran’s unit of currency is the rial. The rial (ریال in Persian; ISO 4217 code IRR) is the currency of Iran. The official exchange rate averaged 8,614 rials to the U. In Finance, the exchange rates (also known as the foreign-exchange rate, forex rate or FX rate) between two currencies specifies how S. dollar in 2004. However, rials are exchanged on the unofficial market at a higher rate. In 1979, the government nationalized all private banks and announced the establishment of a banking system whereby, in accordance with Islamic law, interest on loans was replaced with handling fees; the system went into effect in the mid-1980s. Islamic banking refers to a system of banking or banking activity that is consistent with Islamic law ( Sharia) principles and guided by Islamic economics

The banking system consists of the central bank also known as Bank Markazi Iran, which issues currency and oversees all state and private banks; several commercial banks that are headquartered in Tehran but have branches throughout the country; two development banks; and a housing bank that specializes in home mortgages. A central bank, reserve bank, or monetary authority is the entity responsible for the Monetary policy of a country or of a group of member states The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran) is the Central bank A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is A commercial bank is a type of Financial intermediary and a type of Bank. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of A mortgage is the pledging of a property to a Lender as a security for a Mortgage loan. Accounts of the state-owned commercial banks are dominated by loans to state and Bonyad enterprises and to large-scale private firms. Bonyads are controversial Charitable trusts in Iran that dominate Iran's non-petroleum economy controlling an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP. The government began to privatize the banking sector in 2001, when it issued licenses to two new privately owned banks. Privatization is the incidence or process of transferring ownership of business from the Public sector (government to the Private sector (business

The Tehran Stock Exchange trades the shares of more than 400 registered companies. The Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE (بورس اوراق بهادار تهران is Iran 's largest stock exchange which first opened in April 1968 The stock market capitalisation of listed companies in Iran was valued at $42 billion in 2007. Market capitalization/capitalisation (aka market cap, mkt cap or capitalized/capitalised value) is a measurement of Corporate or Economic ^[49]

Communications

Main articles: Communications in Iran, Telecommunication Company of Iran, and Media of Iran

The government runs the broadcast media, which includes five national radio stations and five national television networks, as well as dozens of local radio and television stations. Iran’s telecommunications industry is almost entirely state-owned dominated by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI was established in 1971 with a new organizational structure as the main responsible administration for the entire telecommunication affairs The Media of Iran are privately and publicly owned but subject to the control of the government which engages in one of the world's largest and most strict censorship programs Radio is the transmission of signals by Modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible Light. Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic In 2000 there were 252 radios and 158 television sets in use for every 1,000 residents. There were 219 telephone lines and 110 personal computers for every 1,000 residents. Basic principle A traditional landline telephone system also known as "plain old telephone service" (POTS, commonly handles both signaling and audio information A computer is a Machine that manipulates data according to a list of instructions. Computers for home use became more affordable in the mid-1990s, and since then demand for access to the Internet has increased rapidly, where Iran has now the world's fourth largest number of bloggers. The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Blogging in Iran operates under special circumstances because the government restricts certain views In 1998 the Ministry of Post, Telegraph & Telephone (renamed Ministry of Information & Communication Technology) began selling Internet accounts to the general public. In 2006, the Iranian telecom industry's revenues were estimated at $1. 2 billion. ^[50]

According to the Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries (EJISDC), the information and communications technology (ICT) sector had a 1. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support 1-1. 3% share of GDP in 2002. About 150,000 people are employed in the ICT sector, including around 20,000 in the software industry. There were 1,200 registered information technology (IT) companies in 2002, 200 of which were involved in software development. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support

Transport

Main article: Transport in Iran

See also: Tehran Metro, Islamic Republic of Iran Railways, Iran Shipping Lines, and Airlines of Iran

Tehran is the hub of the country's communication and transport network. Iran has a long paved road system linking most of its towns and all of its cities History Tehran metro is one of the middle east's biggest metros The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways ( RAI) is the national state-owned railway system of Iran. The maritime fleet of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL Group comprises 115 ocean-going vessels with the total capacity of. Iran has several private and public airline companies in operation Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Iran’s telecommunications industry is almost entirely state-owned dominated by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI Iran has a long paved road system linking most of its towns and all of its cities The city has numerous large museums, art centers, palace complexes and cultural centers and host 45% of Iran's industries.

Iran has an extensive paved road system linking most of its towns and all of its cities. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. In 2007 the country had 178,152 km (111,000 mi) of roads, of which 66% were paved. There were 55 passenger cars for every 1,000 inhabitants. Trains operated on 11,106 km (6,942 mi) of railroad track. ^[51][52][53]

The country’s major port of entry is Bandar-Abbas on the Strait of Hormuz. Bandar Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās (in Persian: بندر عباس formerly known as Gombroon to English Navigation Ships moving through the Strait follow a Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS which separates inbound from outbound traffic to reduce the risk of collision After arriving in Iran, imported goods are distributed throughout the country by trucks and freight trains. The Tehran-Bandar-Abbas railroad, opened in 1995, connects Bandar-Abbas to the railroad system of Central Asia via Tehran and Mashhad. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Bandar Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās (in Persian: بندر عباس formerly known as Gombroon to English Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Other major ports include Bandar Anzali and Bandar e-Torkeman on the Caspian Sea and Korramshahr and Bandar e-Khomeyni on the Persian Gulf. Bandar-e Anzali ( known as Bandar-e Pahlavi ( before the Iranian Revolution, is a harbour town on the Caspian Sea, in the Iranian province The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged Sea. The Persian Gulf, in the Southwest Asian region is an extension of the Dozens of cities have airports that serve passenger and cargo planes. Iran Air, the national airline, was founded in 1962 and operates domestic and international flights. Iran Air ( is the Flag carrier Airline of Iran, based in Tehran. All large cities have mass transit systems using buses, and several private companies provide bus service between cities. Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Tabriz, Ahvaz and Esfahan are in the process of constructing underground mass transit rail lines. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Shiraz ( شیراز Shīrāz) is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars Province. Tabriz ( تبریز, تبریز) is the largest city in northwestern Iran. The city of Ahvaz or Ahwaz (اهواز ahvāz or الأحواز is the capital of the Iranian province of Khūzestān. Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān

Foreign Trade and Economic Relations

See also: Economic Cooperation Organization, Developing 8 Countries, Colombo Plan, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747

Iranian exports in 2006

Petroleum constitutes the bulk of Iran's exports, valued at $46. The Economic Cooperation Organization ( ECO) is an intergovernmental International organization involving seven Asian and three European nations Preferential trade agreement Representatives of each of the eight developing countries except Bangladesh signed a Preferential Trade Agreement on May 14 The Colombo Plan is a regional organization that embodies the concept of collective inter-governmental effort to strengthen economic and social development of member countries in the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747 tightening the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with that nation's nuclear programme, was adopted unanimously Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit In Economics, an export is any good or Commodity, Transported from one country to another country in a Legitimate fashion 9 billion in 2006. ^[54] Iran's non-oil exports stood at $16. 3 billion in the year ending March 20, 2007, a rise of 47. 2% from the previous period. ^[55] The total volume of imports to Iran rose by 189% from $13. In Economics, an import is any good (eg a Commodity) or Service brought into one country from another country in a legitimate fashion 7 billion in 2000 to an estimated $39. 7 billion in 2005. ^[56]

Iran's major commercial partners are China, Germany, South Korea, Japan, France, Russia and Italy. South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea and often referred to as Korea ( Korean: 대한민국 tɛː For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. From 1950 until 1978, the United States was Iran's foremost economic and military partner; thus participating greatly in the modernization of its infrastructure and industry. Iran has a long paved road system linking most of its towns and all of its cities After the Iranian Revolution in 1979 though, the United States ended its economic and diplomatic ties, banned Iranian oil imports and froze $12 billion of its assets. The Iranian Revolution' (mostly known as the Islamic Revolution, Persian: انقلاب اسلامی Enghelābe Eslāmi was the Revolution that transformed In 1996, the U. S. Government passed the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act (ILSA) which prohibits U. S. (and non-U. S. companies) from investing and trading with Iran for more than $20 million annually,^[57] with the exception, since 2000, for items like pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, caviar and Persian rugs. Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Health care in Iran and medical sector's market value was almost US $240 billion in 2002 and is forecast to rise to US $310 billion by 2007. Caviar is the processed, Salted Roe of certain species of Fish, most notably the Sturgeon ( black caviar) and the The Persian carpet ( Pahlavi bōb Persian farš فرش meaning "to spread" and qāli) is an essential part of

Map of the ECO member states

Since the mid 90's, Iran has increased its economic cooperation with other developing countries in "south-south integration" including Syria, India, China, South Africa, Cuba and Venezuela. The Economic Cooperation Organization ( ECO) is an intergovernmental International organization involving seven Asian and three European nations For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the Iran is expanding its trade ties with Turkey and Pakistan and shares with its partners the common objective for the creation of a single economic market in West and Central Asia called ECO. Central Asia is a region of Asia from the Caspian Sea in the west to central China in the east and from southern Russia in the north to northern Pakistan in the south The Economic Cooperation Organization ( ECO) is an intergovernmental International organization involving seven Asian and three European nations

Since 2003, Iran has increasingly invested in the economy and reconstruction of its neighboring countries like in Iraq and Afghanistan. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Reconstruction of Iraq describes attempts by the international community to improve and repair the infrastructure of Iraq in the aftermath of the 2003 invasion when much The economy of Afghanistan has improved significantly since 2002 due to the infusion of multi-billion US dollars in international assistance and investments as well as remittances In Dubai, UAE, it is estimated that Iranian expatriates are handling over 20% of its domestic economy with an equal proportion of its population. Dubai (in دبيّ,) is one of the seven emirates and most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE ^{[58] [59]} Money is invested in the local real estate market and import-export businesses, collectively known as the Bazaar, and geared towards providing Iran and other countries with the demanded consumer goods. Real estate is a legal term (in some jurisdictions notably in the USA, United Kingdom A bazaar ( بازار) (pazar is a permanent merchandising area Marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold In 2006, the combined net worth of the Iranian citizens abroad was about 1. For the film entitled Net Worth see Net Worth (film. In business net worth (sometimes called net assets) is the total Assets The term Iranian citizens abroad refers to the Iranian people born in Iran but living outside of Iran and their children 3 trillion dollars. ^[60]

Since 2006, Iran's Nuclear Program has become the subject of contention with the West because of suspicions regarding Iran's military intentions. The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program This has led the UN Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran on select companies linked to this program, thus furthering its economic isolation on the international scene. This article outlines economic trade scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U

Foreign Direct Investment

See also: Foreign Direct Investment in Iran, Assalouyeh, Tehran International Fair, and Sanctions against Iran

Foreign direct investment in Iran hit a record $10. Foreign Direct Investment in Iran has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the Asalouyeh (عسلویه also transcribed Assalouyeh and Assaluyeh, and sometimes prefixed by bandar, meaning port is a town in southern Iran The Iran International Exhibitions Company (IIEC oversees and operates all international and specialized exhibitions held in Iran This article outlines economic trade scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U Foreign direct investment ( FDI) in its classic definition is defined as a company from one country making a physical investment into building a factory in another country 2 billion in 2007 from $4. 2 billion in 2005 and $2 million in 1994. ^[61]

In the 1990s and early 2000s, some indirect oilfield development agreements were made with foreign firms. Buyback contracts in the oil sector, for instance, were arranged in which the contractor funded all the investments, and then received remuneration from the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) in the form of an allocated production share, then transferred operation of the field to NIOC after a set number of years, at which time the contract was completed. An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC under the direction of the Ministry of Petroleum of Iran, is an Oil and Natural gas producer and distributor headquartered

Foreign investment has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements in Iran and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the Iranian government liberalized investment regulations. Foreign direct investment ( FDI) in its classic definition is defined as a company from one country making a physical investment into building a factory in another country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. This article outlines economic trade scientific and military sanctions against Iran, which have been imposed by the U The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a Republic with an Islamic ideology In general liberalization (or liberalisation) refers to a relaxation of previous government restrictions usually in areas of social or economic policy Foreign investors have concentrated their activity in a few sectors of the economy: the oil and gas industries, vehicle manufacture, copper mining, petrochemicals, foods, and pharmaceuticals. An oil is a substance that is in a viscous Liquid state ( "oily") at ambient temperatures or slightly warmer and is This page is about the physical properties of gas as a state of matter Vehicles, derived from the Latin word vehiculum, are non-living Means of transport. Copper (ˈkɒpɚ is a Chemical element with the symbol Cu (cuprum and Atomic number 29 Mining is the extraction of valuable Minerals or other geological materials from the earth usually (but not always from an Ore body Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of Petroleum or other Hydrocarbon origin Food is any substance usually composed primarily of Carbohydrates Fats water and/or Proteins that can be eaten or drunk by an A drug, broadly speaking is any chemical substance that when absorbed into the body Iran absorbed 24. 3 billion dollars of foreign investment from Iranian calendar year 1993 to 2007. The Iranian calendar or Solar Hejri (تقویم هجری شمسی؛ سالنمای هجری خورشیدی Taqwim Hejri Shamsi Salanmay Hejri Khurshidi) is an astronomical ^[62] Foreign transactions with Iran amounted to $150 billion between 2000 and 2007 worth of major contracts including private and government lines of credit. A line of credit is any credit facility extended to a business by a bank or financial institution ^[63] In 2007, Iran has $62 billion worth of assets abroad. ^[64]Iranian reserves in foreign banks in mid-February 2008 reached over $81 billion. ^[65]

The most active investors have been Germans, Norwegian, British, French, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, South Korean, Swedish, and Swiss companies. The sectors involved have been in electronics, telecom, utilities, energy, construction, transportation, clothing, food and beverages. ^[66]

Iran and the World Trade Organization

See also: Group of 15 and Iran and copyright issues

Iran has an observer status at the World Trade Organization (WTO) since 2005. The Group of 15 ( G-15) was established at the Ninth Non-Aligned Movement Summit Meeting in Belgrade, Yugoslavia in September 1989 According to Circular 38a of the US Copyright Office, Iran has no official copyright relations whatsoever with the United States For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The United States has consistently blocked Iran's bid to join the WTO since Tehran first asked for membership several years ago. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[67]

Yet, if Iran does eventually gain membership status in the WTO, among other prerequisites, copyright laws will have to be obeyed in Iran. According to Circular 38a of the US Copyright Office, Iran has no official copyright relations whatsoever with the United States This would require a major overhaul of business and trade operations in Iran, a change which many experts believe would be a price too heavy for Iran's economy to pay at the present time. Still, Iran is hoping to attract billions of dollars worth of foreign investment while creating a more favorable investment climate, such as reduced restrictions and duties on imports and the creation of free trade zones like in Qeshm, Chabahar and Kish Island. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. Foreign Direct Investment in Iran has been hindered by unfavorable or complex operating requirements and by international sanctions, although in the early 2000s the A free trade zone ( FTZ) or export processing zone ( EPZ) is one or more special areas of a country where some normal Trade barriers such as Qeshm ( Persian: قشم - pronounced kē´shm is an island situated in the Strait of Hormuz off the south coast of Iran and east of Chabahar Free Trade–Industrial Zone ( abbreviationCFZ ( is an Iranian Free trade zone formed according to the law on the establishment and administration of free Kish ( is a resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran.

Further reading

• Ahmadinejad's Achilles Heel: The Iranian Economy
• Iran and its Economy
• Iran – Ambitious modernization program for the Tehran Stock Exchange

See also

• Labour and tax laws in Iran
• List of Major Iranian Companies
• Iranian Calendar
• Government of Iran - With links to ministries and affiliated agencies
• Iran travel guide from Wikitravel
• Mehdi Sahraian
• NIOC Recent Discoveries
  • Azadegan
  • Yadavaran

References

External links

• The Economist - Iran (Forecast, factsheet, economic data & structure)
• US Department of Energy - Economy of Iran (oil, gas, electricity, data, profile, analysis, weblinks/resources)
• Australian Government - Doing Business in Iran - many practical information and sector specific reports, with useful websites and resources
• Ministry of Economic and Finance Affairs of Iran - Information on the Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Act (FIPPA) and Taxes
• High Council of Iran Free Trade-Industrial Zone - Official site with information on Iran's Free Trade Zones
• Global Investment in Iran with Interactive maps - American Enterprise Institute (list of major international companies investing in Iran broken down by their nationality, sector of activity and amount invested)
• Iran in Maps - BBC (population, land, infrastructure)
• World Bank Statistics - Iran - Social and economic indicators for Iran