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Iran is subdivided into thirty provinces (Persian: استان ostān, plural استانها ostānhā), each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: مرکز markaz) of that province. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The politics and government of Iran takes place in the framework of a Republic with an Islamic ideology The Constitution of the Islamic Republic The post of Supreme Leader ( Persian: رهبر انقلاب Rahbare Enqelab, lit (fa علی حسینی خامنهای born 17 July 1939 also known as Ali Khamenei, is an Iranian Azeri politician and cleric The President of Iran is the highest elected official in the Islamic Republic of Iran, second only to the Supreme Leader. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (محمود احمدینژاد; born October 28, 1956) is the sixth and current President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Vice President of Iran is defined by article 124 of the Iranian constitution, as anyone appointed by the President to lead an organization related to the Presidential Parviz Davoodi (پرويز داوودي Parviz Dâvudi) (born 1952 in Tehran) is the current First Vice President of Iran (since September 11 The Assembly of Experts (also Assembly of Experts of the Leadership) of Iran ( Persian: مجلس خبرگان رهبری Majles-e-Khobregan or Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian:اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī) Hashemi Bahramani The Majlis of Iran ( Persian: مجلس شورای اسلامی lit Ali Ardashir Larijani (علی اردشیر لاریجانی born 1958 is an Iranian philosopher politician and the chairman/speaker of the Iranian parliament. The Guardian Council of the Constitution (شورای نگهبان قانون اساسی or Guardian Council and also Council of Guardians is an appointed and Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati Massah ( born 1926 in Esfahan) is an Iranian Ayatollah and political figure. The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Constitution Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani ( Persian:اکبر هاشمی رفسنجانی Akbar Hāshemī Rafsanjānī) Hashemi Bahramani A nationwide judicial system in Iran was first implemented and established by Ali Akbar Davar and some of his contemporaries such as Abdolhossein Teymourtash under Reza Ayatollah Seyyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi (آیتالله سید محمود هاشمی شاهرودی (Born 1948 in Najaf, Iraq) is an Iranian Supreme National Security Council (شورای عالی امنیت ملی is the National Security Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the current secretary of Saeed Jalili, also spelled as Said Jalilee, Said Jalili and Saiid Jalili ( born 1965 in Mashhad) is an Iranian politician and the City and Village Councils (full title is Provincial City District and Village Councils are local councils which are elected by public vote in all cities and villages throughout The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran (نيروهای مسلح جمهوری اسلامی ايران include the IRIA (ارتش جمهوری اسلامی Mostafa Mohammad Najjar ( is the defense minister of Iran. At 49 he is a veteran of the Revolutionary Guards since the establishment of the body in 1980 where he The Ministry of Intelligence and National Security ( Persian: وزارت اطلاعات و امنیت کشور Vezarat-e Ettela'at va Amniat-e Keshvar) is the Hojjatol-Islam Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejeie (born in the Isfahan province circa 1956) is the current head of the Ministry of Intelligence in Iran The Iranian constitution prohibits the granting of petroleum rights on a concessionary basis or direct equity stake Gholam Hossein Nozari is the present Minister of Petroleum (or Oil Minister) of Iran. 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 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 Mohammad Reza Eskandari is the Minister of Agriculture of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran (بانک مرکزی جمهوری اسلامی ايران Bank Markazi Jomhouri Islami Iran) is the Central bank Iran elects on national level a Head of government (the president) a Legislature (the Majlis) and an " Assembly of Experts " (which The Iranian Assembly of Experts election of 2006 was held on December 15, 2006. The Iranian City and Village Councils election of 2006 took place on December 15, 2006. Legislative elections for Majlis of Iran were held on 14 March 2008, with a second round held on 25 April 2008. The provinces of Iran further subdivided into counties called shahrestan ( Persian: شهرستان shahrestān) an area inside an ostan List of political parties in Iran Political parties in Iran gives information on the political parties in Iran. Foreign relations of Iran refers to inter-governmental connections between Iran and other countries Information on politics by country is available for every Country, including both De jure and De facto independent For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Iran topics. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-General[1] (Persian: استاندار ostāndār), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet. A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of Government, typically representing the executive branch.
Contents |
History
Until 1950, Iran was divided into twelve provinces: Ardalan, Azarbaijan, Baluchestan, Fars, Gilan, Araq-e Ajam, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Larestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran. [2] In 1950, Iran was reorganized to form ten numbered provinces with subordinate governorates: Gilan; Mazandaran; East Azarbaijan; West Azarbaijan; Kermanshah; Khuzestan; Fars; Kerman; Khorasan; Isfahan. [2] From 1960 to 1981 the governorates were raised to provincial status one by one. Since then several new provinces have been created, most recently in 2004 when the province of Khorasan was split into three new provinces. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " [3]
Further Subdivisions
Each province is further subdivided into counties called shahrestan (Persian: شهرستان shahrestān), and each shahrestan is subdivided into districts called bakhsh (Persian: بخش bakhsh). Shahrestan may refer to Counties of Iran Shahrestan Afghanistan A bakhsh is a type of Administrative division of Iran, translated as county but in many ways similar to a township in the United States or a district There are usually a few cities (Persian: شهر shahr) and rural agglomerations (Persian: دهستان dehestān) in each county. Rural agglomerations are a collection of a number of villages. One of the cities of the county is appointed as the capital of the county.
To better understand such subdivisions, the following table may be helpful. Assume that province P is divided into two counties: A and B. County A has 3 districts: Central, X, and Y. The Central district is the district that contains City M, the capital of the county. Each district might contain one or more cities and/or one or more RAs (rural agglomerations). In our example, the Central district contains City M, City N, and RA T composed of the villages V1, V2, V3, and V4, in turn; district X contains City O and RA U; and district Y has no cities and one RA V. The minimal county consists of only one city as the only district, named Central, of course. The county B in the following table is of such type, containing only one city Q.
| Province | County | District | City / RA* | Villages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | A | Central | City M (c) | |
| City N | ||||
| RA T | V1, V2, V3, V4 | |||
| X | City O | |||
| RA U | V5, V6 | |||
| Y | RA V | V7, V8, V9 | ||
| B | Central | City Q |
Listing
According to the Statistical Center of Iran[4], the figures are as follows, as of March 2005 (end of Iranian Calendar 1383):
- Number of Ostans (provinces): 30
- Number of Shahrestans (counties): 324
- Number of Bakhshes (districts) : 865
- Number of Shahrs (townships) : 982
- Number of Dehestans (rural agglomerations): 2378
Info
| Province | Capital | Area(km²)[5] | Population[6] | Density (people/km²) |
Shahrestans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ardabil[7] | Ardabil | 17,800 | 1,257,624 | 70. The Iranian calendar or Solar Hejri (تقویم هجری شمسی؛ سالنمای هجری خورشیدی Taqwim Hejri Shamsi Salanmay Hejri Khurshidi) is an astronomical Ardabīl ( Persian: اردبیل Azeri: اردبیل also known as Ardebil; ancient name Artavil) is one of the Azeri Bushehr ( Persian:استان بوشهر is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Chahārmahāl o Bakhtiyārī (چهارمحال و بختیاری is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Fars (pronounced/fɑː(ɹs ( Persian: فارس Fârs) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Golestān ( گلستان) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Hamadān or Hamedan (استان همدان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Hormozgān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country facing Oman. Īlām, also Elam Kurdish, is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Kermān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-east of the country Kermanshah Province ( Kermānshāh; Kurdish: کرماشان Kirmaşan is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Khūzestān (خوزستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Kohgilūyé o Boyer-Ahmad (کهگیلویه و بویراحمد is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Kordestan ( Persian: استان کردستان UniPers: Ostâne Kordestân; Kurdish: پارێزگه ی کوردستان Parêzgeha Lorestān ( Persian and Luri لرستان also Luristan) comprises a province and a historic territory of western Iran amidst the Markazi (استان مرکزی in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Mazandaran is a Caspian Qazvīn is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country and its center is the city of Qazvin. Qom is one of the 30 provinces of Iran with 11237 km² covering 0 Razavi Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان رضوی) is a province located in northeastern Iran. Semnān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north of the country and its center is Semnan. Sistān o Balūchestān ( Persian: استان سیستان و بلوچستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Tehran Province (استان تهران transliterated ostān-e Tehrān; is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Yazd (استان یزد is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Zanjan (زنجان زنجان is a province located in the North-West Iran with the Zanjan city being its center North Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان شمالی is a province located in northeastern Iran. South Khorasan ( Kurdish / Persian: خراسان جنوبی is a province located in eastern Iran. This article is about the Iranian province for similar uses see Azerbaijan (disambiguation. This article is about the Iranian province for similar uses see Azerbaijan (disambiguation. Ardabīl ( Persian: اردبیل Azeri: اردبیل also known as Ardebil; ancient name Artavil) is one of the Azeri Ardabil ( Persian and Azeri: اردبیل also known as Ardebil; Old Persian: Artavil 7 | 9 |
| Azarbaijan, East | Tabriz | 45,650 | 3,500,183 | 76. This article is about the Iranian province for similar uses see Azerbaijan (disambiguation. Tabriz ( تبریز, تبریز) is the largest city in northwestern Iran. 7 | 19 |
| Azarbaijan, West | Urmia[8] | 37,437 | 2,949,426 | 78. This article is about the Iranian province for similar uses see Azerbaijan (disambiguation. 8 | 14 |
| Bushehr[9] | Bushehr | 22,743 | 816,115 | 35. Bushehr ( Persian:استان بوشهر is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Bushehr or Bushire ( Persian:بوشهر pop 165377 (in 2005) is a city on the southwestern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf 9 | 9 |
| Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari[10] | Shahrekord | 16,332 | 842,002 | 51. Chahārmahāl o Bakhtiyārī (چهارمحال و بختیاری is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Shahrekord ( Fa: شهرکرد is a city in western Iran, and is the capital of the Chahar Mahaal o Bakhtiari province 6 | 6 |
| Fars | Shiraz | 122,608 | 4,385,869 | 35. Fars (pronounced/fɑː(ɹs ( Persian: فارس Fârs) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Shiraz ( شیراز Shīrāz) is the fifth most populated city in Iran and the capital of Fars Province. 8 | 23 |
| Gilan | Rasht | 14,042 | 2,410,523 | 171. Rasht ( رشت, Resht) is the capital of Gilan province in northwestern Iran and the largest city along the Caspian sea coast 7 | 16 |
| Golestan[11] | Gorgan | 20,195 | 1,637,063 | 81. Golestān ( گلستان) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Gorgan ( Persian: گرگان Caspian: Vergen is the capital of the Golestan Province, Iran. 1 | 11 |
| Hamadan[12] | Hamadan | 19,368 | 1,738,772 | 89. Hamadān or Hamedan (استان همدان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Hamedān or Hamadān ( Persian: همدان, Old Persian: Hagmatana Hebrew: המזיין Ancient Greek: Ecbatana) 8 | 8 |
| Hormozgan[13][14] | Bandar Abbas | 70,669 | 1,314,667 | 18. Hormozgān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south of the country facing Oman. Bandar Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās (in Persian: بندر عباس formerly known as Gombroon to English 6 | 11 |
| Ilam[12] | Ilam | 20,133 | 545,093 | 27. Īlām, also Elam Kurdish, is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. 1 | 7 |
| Isfahan[15] | Isfahan | 107,029 | 4,454,595 | 41. Esfahān or Isfahan (historically also rendered as Ispahan or Hispahan, Old Persian: Aspadana, Middle Persian: Spahān 6 | 21 |
| Kerman | Kerman | 180,836 | 2,432,927 | 13. Kermān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-east of the country Kerman (کرمان is a city in Iran. It is the center of Kerman province. 5 | 14 |
| Kermanshah[16] | Kermanshah[16] | 24,998 | 1,938,060 | 77. Kermanshah Province ( Kermānshāh; Kurdish: کرماشان Kirmaşan is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Kermanshah or Kermashan ( Kermānshāh; Kurdish: کرماشان Kirmaşan is the capital city of Kermanshah Province, located 525 km 5 | 13 |
| Khorasan, North[17] | Bojnourd | 28,434 | 786,918 | 27. North Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان شمالی is a province located in northeastern Iran. Bojnurd ( Persian: بجنورد is the capital City of North Khorasan province Iran. 7 | 6 |
| Khorasan, Razavi[17] | Mashhad | 144,681 | 5,202,770 | 36. Razavi Khorasan (in Persian: خراسان رضوی) is a province located in northeastern Iran. Mashhad ( literally the place of martyrdom) is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia 0 | 19 |
| Khorasan, South[17] | Birjand | 69,555 | 510,218 | 7. South Khorasan ( Kurdish / Persian: خراسان جنوبی is a province located in eastern Iran. Birjand (Persian بیرجند is the east iranian provincial capital of South Khorasan and the centre of the county Birjand resp 3 | 4 |
| Khuzestan | Ahvaz | 64,055 | 4,345,607 | 67. Khūzestān (خوزستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. The city of Ahvaz or Ahwaz (اهواز ahvāz or الأحواز is the capital of the Iranian province of Khūzestān. 8 | 18 |
| Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad[18][19] | Yasuj | 15,504 | 695,099 | 44. Kohgilūyé o Boyer-Ahmad (کهگیلویه و بویراحمد is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Yasuj (occasionally Yasooj or Yesūj) is an industrial city in the Zagros Mountains of southwestern Iran and is the capital of Kohgiluyeh and 8 | 5 |
| Kurdistan[20] | Sanandaj | 29,137 | 1,574,118 | 54. Kordestan ( Persian: استان کردستان UniPers: Ostâne Kordestân; Kurdish: پارێزگه ی کوردستان Parêzgeha Sanandaj or Sine ( سنندج, Sanandaj; Kurdish: سنه, Sine) is the capital of the Iranian province 0 | 9 |
| Lorestan[18] | Khorramabad | 28,294 | 1,758,628 | 62. Lorestān ( Persian and Luri لرستان also Luristan) comprises a province and a historic territory of western Iran amidst the Khorramabad ( Luri: Khurrmoaa, also Khorram Abad, Persian:خرم آباد Khorram Abād) is the capital of Lorestan, 2 | 9 |
| Markazi[21][15] | Arak | 29,130 | 1,361,394 | 46. Markazi (استان مرکزی in Persian) is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Arak, (in Persian: اراک previously known as Soltan-abad, is the center of Markazi province, 7 | 10 |
| Mazandaran | Sari | 23,701 | 2,818,831 | 118. Mazandaran is a Caspian Sari (/Sārī/ ساری ساری is the provincial capital of Mazandaran, located in the north of Iran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains 9 | 15 |
| Qazvin[22] | Qazvin | 15,549 | 1,166,861 | 75. Qazvīn is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north-west of the country and its center is the city of Qazvin. Qazvin ( also spelled as Ghazvin) is the largest city and capital of the Province of Qazvin in Iran with an estimated population of 331409 in 2005 0 | 5 |
| Qom[23] | Qom | 11,526 | 1,064,456 | 92. Qom is one of the 30 provinces of Iran with 11237 km² covering 0 4 | 1 |
| Semnan[21][15] | Semnan | 97,491 | 589,512 | 6. Semnān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the north of the country and its center is Semnan. Semnan (Native NameSeman,) is a city in Semnan Province, northern Iran with a population estimated at 119778 inhabitants (2005 It is the provincial capital 0 | 4 |
| Sistan and Baluchistan[24] | Zahedan | 181,785 | 2,290,076 | 12. Sistān o Balūchestān ( Persian: استان سیستان و بلوچستان is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Zahedan ( زاهدان) is an Iranian city and the capital of the province of Sistan and Baluchistan. 6 | 8 |
| Tehran[25] | Tehran | 18,814 | 12,150,742 | 645. Tehran Province (استان تهران transliterated ostān-e Tehrān; is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. Tehran (or Teheran) ( Persian: تهران Tehrān) is the capital and largest City of Iran, and the administrative center of 8 | 13 |
| Yazd[10][26] | Yazd | 129,285 | 958,318 | 7. Yazd (استان یزد is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. 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 4 | 10 |
| Zanjan[20][15] | Zanjan | 21,773 | 970,946 | 44. Zanjan (زنجان زنجان is a province located in the North-West Iran with the Zanjan city being its center The name Zanjan may mean one of the following subdivisions in the country of Iran: Zanjan Province Zanjan County, an area 6 | 7 |
| Iran | Tehran | 1,628,554 | 68,467,413 | 42. 0 | 324 |
Historical Provinces of Iran
See also
References and notes
- ^ IRNA, Online Edition. This is a list of Iranian provincial Governors-General under President Khatami: The provinces of Iran further subdivided into counties called shahrestan ( Persian: شهرستان shahrestān) an area inside an ostan "Paris for further cultural cooperation with Iran". Retrieved on 2007-10-21. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1512 - Martin Luther joins the theological faculty of the University of Wittenberg.
- ^ a b Gwillim Law, Statoids website. "Provinces of Iran". Retrieved on 2006-04-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ Online edition, Al-Jazeera Satellite Network. "Iran breaks up largest province". Retrieved on 2006-04-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ website of the Statistical Center of Iran website in English is no longer updated (2006).
- ^ Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. "General Characteristics of Ostans according to their administrative divisions at the end of 1383 (2005 CE)". Retrieved on 2006-04-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ Statistical Centre, Government of Iran. "Population estimation by urban and rural areas, 2005". Retrieved on 2006-04-30. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 313 - Roman emperor Licinius unifies the entire Eastern Roman Empire under his rule
- ^ Until 1993, Ardabil was part of East Azarbaijan province.
- ^ Until 1979, the city was known as Rezaiyeh.
- ^ Originally part of Fars province. Until 1977, the province was known as Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf).
- ^ a b Originally part of Isfahan province.
- ^ On 1997-05-31, the shahrestans of Aliabad, Gonbad-e-kavus, Gorgan, Kordkuy, Minudasht, and Torkaman were separated from Mazandaran province to form Golestan province. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 1279 BC - Rameses II (The Great (19th dynasty becomes pharaoh of Ancient Egypt.
- ^ a b Originally part of Kermanshah province.
- ^ Originally part of Kerman province. Until 1977, the province was known as Banader va Jazayer-e Bahr-e Oman (Ports and Islands of the Sea of Oman).
- ^ Hormozgan includes several islands such as Qeshm, Lavan, Kish and Hormoz as well as Abu Musa island which is jointly administered by Iran and the United Arab Emirates. Qeshm ( Persian: قشم - pronounced kē´shm is an island situated in the Strait of Hormuz off the south coast of Iran and east of Lavan Island (Iranian Jazireh-ye Lavan is an Iranian island in the Persian Gulf. Kish ( is a resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran. This is a geographical article For the Palestinian leader see Said al-Muragha, for the Sahaba, see Abu-Musa al-Asha'ari.
- ^ a b c d In 1986, some parts of Markazi province were transferred to Isfahan, Semnan, and Zanjan provinces.
- ^ a b Between 1979 and 1995 Kermanshah province and its capital, were both known as Bakhtaran.
- ^ a b c On 2004-09-29, Khorasan was divided into three provinces. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 522 BC - Darius I of Persia kills the Magian usurper Gaumâta securing his hold as king of the Persian Empire. North Khorasan; Razavi Khorasan; South Khorasan.
- ^ a b Originally part of Khuzestan province.
- ^ Until 1990, the province was known as Bovir Ahmadi and Kohkiluyeh.
- ^ a b Originally part of Gilan province.
- ^ a b Originally part of Mazandaran province.
- ^ On 1996-12-31, the shahrestans of Qazvin and Takestan were separated from Zanjan province to form the province of Qazvin. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia.
- ^ Until 1995, Qom was a shahrestan of Tehran province.
- ^ Until 1986, the province was known as Baluchestan and Sistan.
- ^ Until 1986, Tehran was part of Markazi province.
- ^ In 1986, part of Kerman province was transferred to Yazd province. In 2002, Tabas shahrestan (area: 55,344 km²) was transferred from Khorasan province to Yazd.
