Geographic coordinates: 32 00 N, 53 00 E
Map references: Middle East
Area:
total:
1.648 million kmē
land:
1.636 million kmē
water:
12,000 kmē
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 nautical miles
continental shelf:
natural prolongation
exclusive economic zone:
bilateral agreements, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
territorial sea:
12 nautical miles
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:
Qolleh-ye Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
arable land:
10%
permanent crops:
1%
permanent pastures:
27%
forests and woodland:
7%
other:
55% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land: 94,000 kmē (1993 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; inadequate supplies of potable water
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