Location Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic coordinates 32 00 N, 53 00 E

Map references Middle East

Area
total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq km
water: 12,000 sq km

Area - comparative slightly larger than Alaska

Land boundaries
total: 5,440 km
border countries: Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km

Coastline 2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Maritime claims
contiguous zone: 24 NM
territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf

Climate mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast

Terrain rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m

Natural resources petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use
arable land: 10%
permanent crops: 1%
other: 89% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land 75,620 sq km (1998 est.)

Natural hazards periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the northeast

Environment - current issues air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Environment - international agreements
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport

NOTE: The information regarding Iran on this page is re-published from the 2002 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Iran Geography 2002 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Iran Geography 2002 should be addressed to the CIA.