Special Sub-Topic: Fascinating Iran Click Here To Play: Fascinating Iran

How many countries does Iran share a border with?

7. Iran shares borders with Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Who was the last Shah of Iran?

Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. Mohammed Reza Shah ascended the Peacock Throne in 1941 on the abdication of his father, Reza Shah, and was deposed by the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Sultan Ahmed Shah was the last shah of the Qajar dynasty which came to an end when Reza Shah took the throne in 1925. Muzaffar ed-Din was a previous shah of the Qajars. On his coronation Mohammed Reza declared himself Shahanshah - king of kings. The English word checkmate comes from the Persian "shah mat", meaning "the king is dead".

Islam is the dominant religion in Iran but which branch?

Shia. Shias make up about 89% of the Iranian population. Sunnis account for about 10%. Other religious minorities include Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians and Baha'i.

Iranian Shirin Ebadi was in the news in 2003 for winning a Nobel Prize. Which one?

Peace. Shirin Ebadi is a human rights and democracy activist campaigning for rights for Iranian women and children. She was the first Muslim woman to win the prize.

The Persians are the largest ethnic grouping in Iran but what group is the second largest?

Azeris. The Persians represent about 51% of the Iranian population, the Azeris represent about 24%, the Kurds 7%, the Turkmen 3% and the Arabs 3%. Other ethnic minorities include the Lurs and the Baluchis.

What is the main language of Iran

Persian. Persian (also known as Farsi) is the only official language in Iran. Persian and Persian dialects are spoken by 58%,

What was the name of the throne of Iran (Persia)?

The Peacock Throne. The Peacock Throne was brought to Persia by Nadir Shah in 1739 after he had sacked Delhi. Previously it had been the throne of the Mughal Emperors. The Chysanthemum Throne is the throne of Japan. The Dragon Throne was the throne of Imperial China and the Lily Throne was one of the thrones of the Burmese kings.

Who was elected president of Iran in 1997 and again in 2001?

Mohammed Khatami. Mr Khatami was elected on a reformist platform. His policies met oppostion from conservative elements and as a result there is frustration with the slow pace of reforms. Ali Rafsanjani was president from 1989 to 97, Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader, or Faqih. Mossadeq was the prime minister of Iran 1951-53 until he was overthrown and Mohammed Reza Shah assumed dictatorial powers.

What is the name of the waterway which was a major cause of the Iran-Iraq War?

Shatt al-Arab. The Shatt al-Arab was Iraq's main route to the Persian Gulf but was divided between Iraq and Iran. In 1980 Saddam Hussein ordered his troops to seize the opposite side of the waterway. The ensuing war lasted until 1988.

What is the name of the mountain range which divides the Iranian capital, Tehran, from the Caspian Sea?

Alborz. The Alborz Mountains are in the north of the country. Known as Tehran's 'Northern Star', they include the country's highest peak, Damavand (5670 m). The Zagros Mountains are in the west and south-west of Iran, the Caucasus is north of Iran, running through Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan while the Atlas Mountains are in Morocco.