A country is so much more than what you see in the headlines. This is likewise true of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This vast country, tucked in the heart of Central Asia, is far more diversified than you may assume. Furthermore, there are other weird and intriguing truths about this magnificent area that was previously known as Persia. Here are a few of the most fascinating facts.
1. Nose Job Capital
Plastic surgery appears to be a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. Despite this, Iran has been dubbed the "World's Nose Job Capital." While it is unclear why so many individuals undergo nose jobs in this city, others suggest that rebellion and social conditioning are two major explanations.
Furthermore, because Iranian women are required to cover the majority of their bodies in public, changing the shape of one's nose is regarded as an acceptable form of self-expression.
2. Polygamy Is Legal
There can be no doubt that the Islamic Revolution had a significant influence on many facets of Iranian life. Marriage is one of the most prominent instances. A man is entitled to marry more than one wife under Islamic law, and because Sharia law has been reinstated in Iran, this means that a guy can marry four wives.
And this isn't limited to Iran. Polygyny, or the practice of a man marrying numerous women, is permitted in 58 nations.
3. A Separate Internet
Iran is among a group of nations that have opted to utilize their own private internet for security concerns. Since 2012, this country has employed a state-controlled Intranet network that the general public uses.
It not only prohibits the usage of social media platforms, but those who do want Instagram and Facebook profiles must do so using a private VPN. The ministry of communications and information technology thinks that this private network will supply high-speed information at a low cost.
4. The Rich Kids of Tehran
Many nations now have their own reality television series and social media stars. But it's tough to overlook the Iranian socialites who have captivated many people's attention — The Rich Kids of Tehran.
These kids, as the name implies, prefer to flaunt off their jewelry, beautiful automobiles, and rich way of life on Instagram, and they typically want to go against the mainstream when it comes to the Iranian lifestyle. RKOT has 339k followers as of December 2020.
5. The Longest Carpet in the World
It goes without saying that Iran is well-known for its exquisite carpets and calligraphy in general. But did you know that the country manufactured the world's biggest carpet? That's true, the Iran Carpet Company created a carpet that is estimated to cover 60,000.81 square feet.
It was unveiled in 2007 in the Abu Dhabi mosque. The carpet was originally constructed in nine sections and was finally assembled within the mosque. Some pieces had to be trimmed to fit the floor.
6. Short-Term Marriages
Another unique habit that developed in Iran is the Sigheh, which essentially signifies short-term marriages. This is rationalized as partners who are laying the groundwork of their relationship and may not be ready to totally commit to each other for the rest of their life, but in practice has evolved into something very different.
This practice allows men to have intimate relations with a woman who he doesn't want to marry permanently. It is intended to provide sexual relief for single men or men whose wives cannot have sex. Unfortunately, this practice has contributed to the rise of sex trafficking and sex tourism in Iran.
7. Hidden Satellites
Iran has a statewide monopoly on television programs, similar to how it controls its own internet. Following the Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting took over, and by the 1990s, all satellite dishes had been forbidden.
Having said that, many households continue to maintain satellites and conceal them from authorities. Furthermore, despite the country's efforts to restrict it, BBC Persian remains popular among many Iranians.
8. Serious Selfies
People all around the world appear to like nothing more than hovering a camera over their heads and shooting a good old selfie in front of the best backdrops. The Iranians, on the other hand, are quite "self" conscious (pun intended) of how frequently they want to shoot selfies for the 'gram.
A popular selfie location is in front of the Shah-En-Shah monument, which marks the Persian Empire's 25,000th anniversary. In front of the monument, a statue depicting a guy taking a selfie was built.
9. The Zenith
It's no secret that the mountains cover a huge portion of Iran. The highest peak in the nation, however, is Mount Damavand, which is situated in the Elburz highlands. Damavand, at 18,605 feet, rises above its adjacent mountains and is home to a volcano that is barely 43 miles from the city!
It is still active, despite the fact that it last erupted roughly 7,300 years ago. Damavand is the source of numerous Iranian stories, and many locals climb it every year.
10. Asian Cheetah
Given that Iran is a massive country in the center of Asia, it should stand to reason that this region of the world is home to a diverse range of species. Due to dry environments, the Asiatic Cheetah is a severely endangered species.
As a result, the government protects these wild cats in designated regions. Only 50 Asiatic cheetahs are thought to exist as of 2017. The Iranian national soccer team also donned the creature's image on their shirts during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
11. Ebay
Over the years, it appears that many of the biggest websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have been founded by Americans. While Pierre Omidyar is nominally an American, the eBay founder can trace his ancestors back to Iran.
Omidyar was born in Paris to Iranian parents and later relocated to the United States before launching eBay, one of the most influential websites of the previous 30 years. Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and former Google SVP Omid Kordestani are two more notable Iranian entrepreneurs.
12. Over Half of All Pistachios Come From Iran
Every food and grain can be traced back to a certain location, and the pistachio is no exception. Sure, it's an unusual yet excellent ice cream flavor. The pistachio tree, on the other hand, is legally native to a number of Central Asian countries, including Iran and Afghanistan.
The nut was said to have been ingested as early as 6750 BC. As of 2017, Iran is thought to account for more than half of the world's pistachio output.
13. Untied
Men are supposed to wear ties in formal situations these days, and this is widely recognized across the world. Men in Iran, on the other hand, want to do things slightly differently. By the time of the revolution, Iranians had decided not to wear ties because they considered it was an anti-Western stance.
While ties aren't outlawed in these places, business owners may be punished for having them on display. Surprisingly, only the villains in the Iranian television series wear ties.
14. Hijab History
Women are legally required to cover their hair in public in several Central Asian nations where Islam is a major religion. This is often accomplished by donning a customary head covering known as a hijab. However, when it comes to the hijab, Iran has a mixed past.
Reza Shah really prohibited the headscarf in 1936 in an attempt to westernize and modernize the nation. It has been made mandatory once more since the revolution.
15. “Persian Milk” Is Not Milk
Don't you despise it when something is referred to be something it isn't? One of the most renowned cocktails in Iran meets these requirements. While this drink is referred to as "Persian Milk," calling it milk is a stretch.
This drink resembles runny, sour yogurt, and many Iranians think it can cure almost any medical problem, including sunburn and ulcers. It is even used as a face mask by certain Iranians.
16. Metal Bands Get Hate
Iran, believe it or not, has a fairly active heavy metal scene. Many well-known bands have large fan bases both in the United States and abroad. Unfortunately, the music genre is deemed heresy in Iran, and several bands have been barred from performing.
Bands like Confess and Arsames were forced to quit the country after being condemned to prison for performing heavy metal. "Is it a crime that we're listening to metal music!" they exclaimed.
17. Couch Surfing Is Illegal
While couch surfing is popular among visitors all around the world, it is forbidden in Iran. Nonetheless, it is done more frequently here than anyplace else in the globe. Many international visitors to Iran want to rest on people's sofas in order to learn about the Iranian way of life.
There are many families in this nation that are eager to accommodate travelers, and some do not even require reservations.
18. Sinister and Dexter
There are superstitions all around the globe concerning what it means to use the right and left hand, and for what. People in Iran, on the other hand, appear to take it to a whole new level. The left hand is solely intended to be used for cleaning and eliminating filth in Islamic culture.
Traditionally, the left hand is used to wipe yourself after using the toilet and is considered unclean. As a result, the right hand should be utilized for all other tasks, such as eating and waving. Many Iranians even go so far as to always welcome strangers with both hands.
19. Youthful Nation
Some countries have older or younger populations than others for various reasons. Iran, on the other hand, has one of the world's youngest populations. One of the key reasons for this was that officials encouraged people to have more children per family during the Islamic Revolution.
Approximately 70% of the population is now under the age of 30. Furthermore, Iranians who attain the age of 15 are eligible to vote.
20. Persian Cats
Many individuals all around the world own Persian cats, and they aren't called that for no reason. Unsurprisingly, cats like the Shiraz and Persian Longhair may trace their ancestors back to Iran. These felines are distinguished by their round cheeks and fuzzy hair.
To live in the chilly Iranian highlands, they devised the thick coat. Italian traders introduced the cat to Europe in the 17th century, and it quickly became a symbol of exoticism.
21. Worst Air Pollution
While certain countries have a particularly awful reputation for having air pollution problems, Iran frequently slips under the radar in this regard. Despite this, this region is home to what many consider to be the most polluted city on the globe.
The World Health Organization designated Ahvaz as the world's most polluted city in 2011. Many people here are afflicted with ailments as a result of inhaling harmful pollutants. Many plants have also been destroyed by the gases.
22. Taarof
If you plan on visiting Iran anytime soon, you should educate yourself on the social etiquette that has been formed there. It is known as "Taarof." This is essentially a collection of etiquette standards and social customs that pervade Iranian daily life.
The most important part to remember is that many people will expect to reject something several times before accepting it or require you to reject something multiple times before accepting your rejection. If your taxi driver refuses their agreed-upon payment, you'll need to insist a few times. Never leave without paying!
23. Ali Daei
Iranians take soccer seriously, so much so that one of their own is the curator of one of the sport's most illustrious achievements. Ali Daei, a retired striker, is regarded as a national hero, owing to his record of scoring the most goals for a national team.
He now tops the chart with 109 goals in 149 international appearances. However, Cristiano Ronaldo, who now has 102 goals to his name, has a chance to overtake him shortly.
24. Men and Women Are Segregated
Because religion pervades so much of Iranian society, many aspects of daily life preclude men and women from socializing with one another. Segregation is widespread in Iran, with colleges serving as one of the few exceptions.
There are parks exclusively for women in several of the country's cities. In this image, you can see a divider separating men and women on the Tehran metro in order to prevent promiscuity.
25. Iranians Love Parkour
Parkour, often known as free-running, is a popular sport done by individuals all over the world. However, it appears that a large number of individuals in Iran like nothing more than leaping from wall to wall and racing at dizzying heights.
Parkour was created in France, but Iranians quickly adopted it and have been leaping all over the nation for the last 20 years. In addition, it appears that women in Iran are equally as enthusiastic about free running as males.
26. Yummy Food
Iran, like many of the nations in this region, offers a diverse cuisine that both locals and visitors like. However, there is one meal that may appear strange to outsiders.
Bread is traditionally served on top of plain rice in one classic meal. To mention a few, these breads include sangak, lavash, and taftoon. Iranians frequently serve the dish with protein such as chicken, kebab, or minced meat.
27. Nonalcoholic Beer
One well-known Islamic regulation is that believers of the religion are not permitted to use alcohol. As a result, the Islamic Republic of Iran forbids its citizens from using alcohol. However, many individuals here like a fresh, refreshing, non-alcoholic beer.
Many restaurants sell classic clean beverages like Bavaria 0.0 percent, Amstel Malt, or Oettinger alcohol-free. Having said that, many people do disobey the law and sneak alcohol into the nation. There are several weddings and parties when Iranians breach the law.
28. Biblical Burials
It is common knowledge that a substantial portion of the Bible's tales takes place in various locations of the Middle East. Many people are unaware of how many Biblical figures died and were buried in the land that is now modern-day Iran.
Some major individuals from the Bible, including Daniel, Esther, Cyrus the Great, Darius the Great, and St. Thaddaeus, are thought to be buried in Iran.
29. Persian Poetry
Poetry is an art form with a long and rich tradition in Iran. Many Iranian poets and authors have impacted people all over the world throughout the years, and their works may be traced back more than 2,500 years.
In reality, Persian literature has impacted some of history's greatest thinkers, including Friedrich Nietzsche and William Shakespeare! Works such as Omar Khayam's Rubaiyat and Sadegh Hedayat's The Blind Owl are well-known around the world.
30. Bring Toilet Paper!
Believe it or not, many toilets in Iran still look like this to this day. Yes, the room is lovely, but one must crouch to do their business. This information is somewhat deceptive because it is not unique to Iran.
Squat toilets may be found in Asia and Africa. But, yeah, they are pretty common here. So, if you're a tourist who's used to sitting on a toilet seat, bring lots of toilet paper with you before you board that airline.
31. Marital Expectations
It appears that the demands to marry end up weighing on everyone in Iranian society. No matter what gender you are, you are expected to marry at a young age, and if you are still single in your 30s, people think you are odd.
In fact, there is a special word for males who keep living with their birth family into maturity. They are referred to as na-mard.
32. The First Iranian Olympian
When it comes to participation in the greatest sporting stage of them all, the Olympics, Iran has had some fairly spectacular accomplishments throughout the years. But, without a doubt, Iran's most significant Olympic event occurred in 1948.
The Central Asian republic took part in the games for the first time that year. Jafar Salmasi became a national hero after winning Iran's lone medal at the games, a bronze medal in the weightlifting competition's featherweight division.
33. One of the Earth’s Oldest Civilizations
It's impossible to express how long Iran's history spans in so few words. It is thought that people have been living in this region of the planet continuously since 7000 BC. This makes it one of the world's oldest civilizations that still survives today.
Iran formerly extended much beyond its present borders, including Anatolia, Egypt, and the Bosphorus. People like the Kassites, Gutians, and Mannaeans have called this region home.
34. Earthquake Central
Iran occupies a perilous geographical location, sandwiched between the Eurasian, Arabian, and Indian plates. As a result, it has been subjected to several earthquakes over the years. And, more often than not, these earthquakes are destructive, wreaking havoc on people and their surroundings.
Records from the preceding century show that there were at least a dozen earthquakes measuring 7.0 or higher on the Richter scale.
35. What's in a Name?
The country is currently known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, until 1935, it was known as Persia in the Western world. Many feel that the shift occurred because the Shah, at the time, wanted to demonstrate to the rest of the world that they were no longer under the influence of others.
Then they urged visitors to refer to the nation as Iran, which is the term used by the inhabitants. Iran has also been known as Arya, Aryanam, Iranzamin, and Iranshahr in the past.
36. Iran Has 10% of the Earth’s Oil
It may not be as interesting as some of the other statistics on this list, but it's still a fairly astounding statistic when you think about it! According to reports, Iran is home to 10% of the world's oil reserves.
To put things into perspective, if all of Iran's oil reserves were combined, the total would be 125 billion barrels of oil. Let's be honest: that's a lot! Another 60% of the world's oil reserves are nearby, in the Persian Gulf.
37. Perfect Persian Rugs
There's a reason why carpets of exceptional quality are sometimes referred to as "Persian rugs." The genuine carpets from whence this term was derived are extremely exquisite and detailed in quality. Iranians have perfected the skill of rug upholstery over the last 2,500 years, and it is now the country's second-largest export after oil.
However, not every Persian rug manufactured is ideal. Weavers will purposefully produce one minor error in order to communicate the message that "only God is flawless."
38. Saffron Is Common
Some herbs, spices, and leaves are inextricably linked to a country and its culture. In this example, Iran's is unquestionably saffron. Despite some disagreement, this spice, distinguished by its unique scarlet leaves, may be traced back to Iran.
One of the arguments in favor of Iran is that the Central Asian country produces more than 90% of the world's saffron, which is an astounding figure! Furthermore, the Bastani Sonnati, which is rich in saffron, is popular Iranian ice cream.
39. World Heritage Sites
Iran not only has a rich and diversified history dating back thousands of years, but it is also highly proud of its numerous antiquities. The country has a whopping 23 UNESCO World Heritage monuments, making it a popular destination for both visitors and historians.
The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System is one of the attractions, as is the stunning historical city of Persepolis, which was built by Darius the Great in the 5th century BC.
40. Home to Refugees
Many people are surprised to learn that Iran has the greatest population of refugees on the globe. While you may anticipate some Western countries to hold that honor, Iran is the winner in this category, and the following rationale explains why.
Over 1 million individuals have sought asylum in Iran as a result of some of the world's largest and most recent wars in neighboring nations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
41. Caviar Is a Big Deal Here
While caviar is not specifically Iranian, it is a popular delicacy in this region. In fact, Iran was named the world's greatest producer of caviar by Guinness World Records in 2009. In general, the Central Asian country takes pleasure in creating a wide range of high-end dishes.
Caviar is obtained in Iran from sturgeons near the Bandar-e Anzali. In reality, the name "caviar" comes from Persian and literally means "egg-bearing."
42. Women in Education
A few of the statistics on this list may give the impression that women have had it rough in Iran through the years. Nevertheless, there is one sector where this country's female population appears to grow. That's right, people – education.
In 2005, Iran was included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the second time. This time, they were named the country with the greatest ratio of female to male enrolment in both schools and universities, with 1.22 girls for every man.
43. Royal Gemstones
Here is another one-of-a-kind world record that Iran has been given. While we commonly identify royal jewels with Queen Elizabeth II and British history, Iran appears to be much more affluent in terms of rare gems and royal jewelry.
The Treasury of National Jewels is an Iranian exhibition that has been operating since 1992 and has a large collection of Iranian national jewels. "Putting a price on the collection would not be conceivable," the Financial Tribune famously stated.
44. Plenty of Shia
There is no one explanation for why the majority of Iranians identify as Shia Muslims yet many of their surrounding nations are mostly Sunni.
Many historians believe, however, that the beginnings of this may be traced back over a thousand years when select descendants of the Prophet Muhammad escaped to Iran and transmitted the word to Persian tribes. While there are Shia people all across the world, this illustrates why Iran is the epicenter.
45. Worst Blizzard Ever
Not all of Iran's records are very cheerful, and this one is an illustration of that. In 1972, Iran was hit by a genuinely deadly snowstorm. Winter storms blasted over the country for a week.
When all was said and done, the snowstorm claimed the lives of almost 4,000 individuals. The country was blanketed with around three meters of snow. The snowstorm wreaked the most havoc on cities like Ardakan.
46. Safety First
In many Muslim communities, having children is generally promoted since, at the end of the day, life is holy. Contraception, on the other hand, is something that is discussed more often in Iran and is something that couples are typically encouraged to have serious conversations about, especially throughout the courting phase.
In order to obtain a marriage license in Iran, you must first attend an hour-long lecture on contraception. In addition, Iran is home to one of the Middle East's few condom factories!
47. Most Accurate Calendar in the World?
Another record that Iran appears to have is that it has the most accurate calendar. The solar Hijri calendar is utilized in both Iran and its eastern neighbor, Afghanistan. It begins with Nowruz, also known as the March equinox, and has around 365 or 366 days, comparable to the Gregorian calendar.
While the latter is rather consistent, the beginning of the Hijri fluctuates from year to year. Another resemblance is that each of the 12 months corresponds to a different zodiac sign.
48. Gender Inequality
As previously said, gender dynamics in Iran differ depending on which element of society is being discussed. However, there is certainly some inequality at work in the family. Women have been regarded intellectually and legally unequal to males since the government changed its legal system with Islamic Law in 1979.
Furthermore, children are seen to constitute the "substance of the man." This implies that if a couple divorces, the woman immediately loses custody of her children.
49. So Much Desert
It should come as no surprise that huge regions of Iran have dry climates. However, when you realize that about half of the country is technically desert, it's incredible. Given that Iran receives fewer than four inches of rain each year, many locations may be extremely dry and difficult to support life.
Iran set the world record for the warmest temperature in recorded history in 2005. Dasht-e Lut's desert had a surface temperature of 70.7 °C (159 °F).
50. Population Diversity
It is no mystery that Islam is the main religion in Iran and that it influences many of the country's socio-economic and cultural standards. However, this does not imply that the country is entirely centered on Islam or that all of its citizens practice the same religion.
Iran, on the other hand, is well-known for its sizable Christian and Jewish communities, as well as its large Baha'i population. Not to add that Zoroastrianism may be traced back to Iran.