Iran
         n 1: a theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western
               Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was
               known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil [syn: {Iran},
               {Islamic Republic of Iran}, {Persia}]

English Dictionary: Irani	by the DICT Development Group
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Irani n a native or inhabitant of Iran; "the majority of Irani are Persian Shiite Muslims" Synonym(s): Irani, Iranian, Persian
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
Irena n type genus of the Irenidae: fairy bluebirds [syn: Irena, genus Irena]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
iron adj extremely robust; "an iron constitution" [syn: {cast- iron}, iron] n a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood Synonym(s): iron, Fe, atomic number 26 a golf club that has a relatively narrow metal head implement used to brand live stock Synonym(s): iron, branding iron home appliance consisting of a flat metal base that is heated and used to smooth cloth Synonym(s): iron, smoothing iron v press and smooth with a heated iron; "press your shirts"; "she stood there ironing" Synonym(s): iron, iron out, press
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
irony n witty language used to convey insults or scorn; "he used sarcasm to upset his opponent"; "irony is wasted on the stupid"; "Satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own"-- Jonathan Swift Synonym(s): sarcasm, irony, satire, caustic remark incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs; "the irony of Ireland's copying the nation she most hated" a trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Iran \I`ran"\ ([emac]`r[aum]n"), n. [Mod. Persian Ir[be]n. Cf.       {Aryan}.]       The native name of Persia.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Irian \I"ri*an\, a.       Of or pertaining to the iris. [bd]Irian nerves.[b8]       --Dunglison.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Iron \I"ron\ ([imac]"[ucr]rn), n. [OE. iren, AS. [c6]ren,       [c6]sen, [c6]sern; akin to D. ijzer, OS. [c6]sarn, OHG.       [c6]sarn, [c6]san, G. eisen, Icel. [c6]sarn, j[be]rn, Sw. &       Dan. jern, and perh. to E. ice; cf. Ir. iarann, W. haiarn,       Armor. houarn.]       1. (Chem.) The most common and most useful metallic element,             being of almost universal occurrence, usually in the form             of an oxide (as hematite, magnetite, etc.), or a hydrous             oxide (as limonite, turgite, etc.). It is reduced on an             enormous scale in three principal forms; viz., cast iron,             steel, and wrought iron. Iron usually appears dark brown,             from oxidation or impurity, but when pure, or on a fresh             surface, is a gray or white metal. It is easily oxidized             (rusted) by moisture, and is attacked by many corrosive             agents. Symbol Fe (Latin Ferrum). Atomic weight 55.9.             Specific gravity, pure iron, 7.86; cast iron, 7.1. In             magnetic properties, it is superior to all other             substances.          Note: The value of iron is largely due to the facility with                which it can be worked. Thus, when heated it is                malleable and ductile, and can be easily welded and                forged at a high temperature. As cast iron, it is                easily fusible; as steel, is very tough, and (when                tempered) very hard and elastic. Chemically, iron is                grouped with cobalt and nickel. Steel is a variety of                iron containing more carbon than wrought iron, but less                that cast iron. It is made either from wrought iron, by                roasting in a packing of carbon (cementation) or from                cast iron, by burning off the impurities in a Bessemer                converter (then called Bessemer steel), or directly                from the iron ore (as in the Siemens rotatory and                generating furnace).          2. An instrument or utensil made of iron; -- chiefly in             composition; as, a flatiron, a smoothing iron, etc.                         My young soldier, put up your iron.   --Shak.          3. pl. Fetters; chains; handcuffs; manacles.                         Four of the sufferers were left to rot in irons.                                                                               --Macaulay.          4. Strength; power; firmness; inflexibility; as, to rule with             a rod of iron.          {Bar iron}. See {Wrought iron} (below).          {Bog iron}, bog ore; limonite. See {Bog ore}, under {Bog}.          {Cast iron} (Metal.), an impure variety of iron, containing             from three to six percent of carbon, part of which is             united with a part of the iron, as a carbide, and the rest             is uncombined, as graphite. It there is little free             carbon, the product is white iron; if much of the carbon             has separated as graphite, it is called gray iron. See             also {Cast iron}, in the Vocabulary.          {Fire irons}. See under {Fire}, n.          {Gray irons}. See under {Fire}, n.          {Gray iron}. See {Cast iron} (above).          {It irons} (Naut.), said of a sailing vessel, when, in             tacking, she comes up head to the wind and will not fill             away on either tack.          {Magnetic iron}. See {Magnetite}.          {Malleable iron} (Metal.), iron sufficiently pure or soft to             be capable of extension under the hammer; also, specif., a             kind of iron produced by removing a portion of the carbon             or other impurities from cast iron, rendering it less             brittle, and to some extent malleable.          {Meteoric iron} (Chem.), iron forming a large, and often the             chief, ingredient of meteorites. It invariably contains a             small amount of nickel and cobalt. Cf. {Meteorite}.          {Pig iron}, the form in which cast iron is made at the blast             furnace, being run into molds, called pigs.          {Reduced iron}. See under {Reduced}.          {Specular iron}. See {Hematite}.          {Too many irons in the fire}, too many objects requiring the             attention at once.          {White iron}. See {Cast iron} (above).          {Wrought iron} (Metal.), the purest form of iron commonly             known in the arts, containing only about half of one per             cent of carbon. It is made either directly from the ore,             as in the Catalan forge or bloomery, or by purifying             (puddling) cast iron in a reverberatory furnace or             refinery. It is tough, malleable, and ductile. When formed             into bars, it is called bar iron.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Iron \I"ron\ ([imac]"[ucr]rn), a. [AS. [c6]ren, [c6]sen. See       {Iron}, n.]       1. Of, or made of iron; consisting of iron; as, an iron bar,             dust.          2. Resembling iron in color; as, iron blackness.          3. Like iron in hardness, strength, impenetrability, power of             endurance, insensibility, etc.; as:             (a) Rude; hard; harsh; severe.                               Iron years of wars and dangers.   --Rowe.                               Jove crushed the nations with an iron rod.                                                                               --Pope.             (b) Firm; robust; enduring; as, an iron constitution.             (c) Inflexible; unrelenting; as, an iron will.             (d) Not to be broken; holding or binding fast; tenacious.                   [bd]Him death's iron sleep oppressed.[b8] --Philips.          Note: Iron is often used in composition, denoting made of                iron, relating to iron, of or with iron; producing                iron, etc.; resembling iron, literally or figuratively,                in some of its properties or characteristics; as,                iron-shod, iron-sheathed, iron-fisted, iron-framed,                iron-handed, iron-hearted, iron foundry or                iron-foundry.          {Iron age}.             (a) (Myth.) The age following the golden, silver, and                   bronze ages, and characterized by a general                   degeneration of talent and virtue, and of literary                   excellence. In Roman literature the Iron Age is                   commonly regarded as beginning after the taking of                   Rome by the Goths, A. D. 410.             (b) (Arch[91]ol.) That stage in the development of any                   people characterized by the use of iron implements in                   the place of the more cumbrous stone and bronze.          {Iron cement}, a cement for joints, composed of cast-iron             borings or filings, sal ammoniac, etc.          {Iron clay} (Min.), a yellowish clay containing a large             proportion of an ore of iron.          {Iron cross}, a Prussian order of military merit; also, the             decoration of the order.          {Iron crown}, a golden crown set with jewels, belonging             originally to the Lombard kings, and indicating the             dominion of Italy. It was so called from containing a             circle said to have been forged from one of the nails in             the cross of Christ.          {Iron flint} (Min.), an opaque, flintlike, ferruginous             variety of quartz.          {Iron founder}, a maker of iron castings.          {Iron foundry}, the place where iron castings are made.          {Iron furnace}, a furnace for reducing iron from the ore, or             for melting iron for castings, etc.; a forge; a             reverberatory; a bloomery.          {Iron glance} (Min.), hematite.          {Iron hat}, a headpiece of iron or steel, shaped like a hat             with a broad brim, and used as armor during the Middle             Ages.          {Iron horse}, a locomotive engine. [Colloq.]          {Iron liquor}, a solution of an iron salt, used as a mordant             by dyers.          {Iron man} (Cotton Manuf.), a name for the self-acting             spinning mule.          {Iron} {mold [or] mould}, a yellow spot on cloth stained by             rusty iron.          {Iron ore} (Min.), any native compound of iron from which the             metal may be profitably extracted. The principal ores are             magnetite, hematite, siderite, limonite, G[94]thite,             turgite, and the bog and clay iron ores.          {Iron pyrites} (Min.), common pyrites, or pyrite. See             {Pyrites}.          {Iron sand}, an iron ore in grains, usually the magnetic iron             ore, formerly used to sand paper after writing.          {Iron scale}, the thin film which on the surface of wrought             iron in the process of forging. It consists essentially of             the magnetic oxide of iron, {Fe3O4>}.          {Iron works}, a furnace where iron is smelted, or a forge,             rolling mill, or foundry, where it is made into heavy             work, such as shafting, rails, cannon, merchant bar, etc.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Iron \I"ron\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Ironed}; p. pr. & vb. n.       {Ironing}.]       1. To smooth with an instrument of iron; especially, to             smooth, as cloth, with a heated flatiron; -- sometimes             used with out.          2. To shackle with irons; to fetter or handcuff. [bd]Ironed             like a malefactor.[b8] --Sir W. Scott.          3. To furnish or arm with iron; as, to iron a wagon.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Iron \I"ron\ ([imac]"[ucr]rn), n. (Golf)       An iron-headed club with a deep face, chiefly used in making       approaches, lifting a ball over hazards, etc.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Irony \I"ron*y\, a. [From {Iron}.]       1. Made or consisting of iron; partaking of iron; iron; as,             irony chains; irony particles. [R.]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Irony \I"ron*y\, n.[L. ironia, Gr. [?] dissimulation, fr. [?] a       dissembler in speech, fr. [?] to speak; perh. akin to E.       word: cf. F. ironie.]       1. Dissimulation; ignorance feigned for the purpose of             confounding or provoking an antagonist.          2. A sort of humor, ridicule, or light sarcasm, which adopts             a mode of speech the meaning of which is contrary to the             literal sense of the words.
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Iraan, TX (city, FIPS 36128)       Location: 30.91231 N, 101.89944 W       Population (1990): 1322 (551 housing units)       Area: 1.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 79744
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Irene, SD (city, FIPS 31940)       Location: 43.08366 N, 97.15808 W       Population (1990): 464 (195 housing units)       Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 57037
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Irma, WI       Zip code(s): 54442
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Irmo, SC (town, FIPS 35890)       Location: 34.09363 N, 81.18796 W       Population (1990): 11280 (3824 housing units)       Area: 10.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 29063
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Iron, MN       Zip code(s): 55751
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Irwin, IA (city, FIPS 39000)       Location: 41.79015 N, 95.20670 W       Population (1990): 394 (188 housing units)       Area: 1.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)       Zip code(s): 51446    Irwin, ID (city, FIPS 40510)       Location: 43.39754 N, 111.26521 W       Population (1990): 108 (91 housing units)       Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)    Irwin, IL (village, FIPS 37803)       Location: 41.05253 N, 87.98396 W       Population (1990): 50 (21 housing units)       Area: 0.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)    Irwin, OH       Zip code(s): 43029    Irwin, PA (borough, FIPS 37208)       Location: 40.32585 N, 79.69955 W       Population (1990): 4604 (2289 housing units)       Area: 2.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)    Irwin, SC (CDP, FIPS 35980)       Location: 34.69371 N, 80.82261 W       Population (1990): 1296 (487 housing units)       Area: 7.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
From Jargon File (4.2.0, 31 JAN 2000) [jargon]:
iron n.   Hardware, especially older and larger hardware of    {mainframe} class with big metal cabinets housing relatively    low-density electronics (but the term is also used of modern    supercomputers).   Often in the phrase {big iron}.   Oppose {silicon}.    See also {dinosaur}.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
IRM          {Information Resource Management}
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]:
iron          Hardware, especially older and larger hardware of {mainframe}       class with big metal cabinets housing relatively low-density       electronics (but the term is also used of modern       {supercomputer}s).   Often in the phrase {big iron}.   Oppose       {silicon}.          See also {dinosaur}.          [{Jargon File}]          (1994-11-04)
From The Elements (22Oct97) [elements]:
iron    Symbol: Fe    Atomic number: 26    Atomic weight: 55.847    Silvery malleable and ductile metallic transition element. Has nine    isotopes and is the fourth most abundant element in the earth's crust.    Required by living organisms as a trace element (used in hemoglobin in    humans.) Quite reactive, oxidizes in moist air, displaces hydrogen from    dilute acids and combines with nonmetallic elements.
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Iram       citizen, chief of an Edomite tribe in Mount Seir (Gen. 36:43).
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:
Iron       Tubal-Cain is the first-mentioned worker in iron (Gen. 4:22).       The Egyptians wrought it at Sinai before the Exodus. David       prepared it in great abundance for the temple (1 Chr. 22:3:       29:7). The merchants of Dan and Javan brought it to the market       of Tyre (Ezek. 27:19). Various instruments are mentioned as made       of iron (Deut. 27:5; 19:5; Josh. 17:16, 18; 1 Sam. 17:7; 2 Sam.       12:31; 2 Kings 6:5, 6; 1 Chr. 22:3; Isa. 10:34).                Figuratively, a yoke of iron (Deut. 28:48) denotes hard       service; a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9), a stern government; a pillar       of iron (Jer. 1:18), a strong support; a furnace of iron (Deut.       4:20), severe labour; a bar of iron (Job 40:18), strength;       fetters of iron (Ps. 107:10), affliction; giving silver for iron       (Isa. 60:17), prosperity.
From Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary (late 1800's) [hitchcock]:
Iram, the effusion of them; a high heap
From The CIA World Factbook (1995) [world95]:
Iran       Iran:Geography       Location: Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman and the Persian    Gulf, between Iraq and Pakistan       Map references: Middle East       Area:    total area: 1.648 million sq km    land area: 1.636 million sq km    comparative area: slightly larger than Alaska       Land boundaries: total 5,440 km, Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km,    Azerbaijan (north) 432 km, Azerbaijan (northwest) 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    continental shelf: natural prolongation    exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements, or median lines in the    Persian Gulf    territorial sea: 12 nm       International disputes: Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in    1990 but are still trying to work out written agreements settling    outstanding disputes from their eight-year war concerning border    demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom of navigation and    sovereignty over the Shatt al Arab waterway; Iran occupies two islands    in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic),    Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek (Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra    (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it    jointly administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed    by the UAE, Abu Musa (Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian); in    1992 the dispute over Abu Musa and the Tunb islands became more acute    when Iran unilaterally tried to control the entry of third country    nationals into the UAE portion of Abu Musa island, Tehran subsequently    backed off in the face of significant diplomatic support for the UAE    in the region, but in 1994 it increased its military presence on the    disputed islands; periodic disputes with Afghanistan over Helmand    water rights; Caspian Sea boundaries are not yet determined       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       Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper,    iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur       Land use:    arable land: 8%    permanent crops: 0%    meadows and pastures: 27%    forest and woodland: 11%    other: 54%       Irrigated land: 57,500 sq km (1989 est.)       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    natural hazards: periodic droughts, floods; duststorms, sandstorms;    earthquakes along the Western border    international agreements: party to - Endangered Species, Hazardous    Wastes, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands; signed,    but not ratified - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification,    Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation       Iran:People       Population: 64,625,455 (July 1995 est.)       Age structure:    0-14 years: 45% (female 14,113,933; male 14,995,015)    15-64 years: 51% (female 16,237,810; male 16,803,943)    65 years and over: 4% (female 1,197,869; male 1,276,885) (July 1995    est.)       Population growth rate: 2.29% (1995 est.)       Birth rate: 34.85 births/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Death rate: 6.85 deaths/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Net migration rate: -5.11 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1995 est.)       Infant mortality rate: 54.6 deaths/1,000 live births (1995 est.)       Life expectancy at birth:    total population: 66.97 years    male: 65.77 years    female: 68.22 years (1995 est.)       Total fertility rate: 4.93 children born/woman (1995 est.)       Nationality:    noun: Iranian(s)    adjective: Iranian       Ethnic divisions: Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani    8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1%       Religions: Shi'a Muslim 95%, Sunni Muslim 4%, Zoroastrian, Jewish,    Christian, and Baha'i 1%       Languages: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic    dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Baloch 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%,    other 2%       Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1991)    total population: 66%    male: 74%    female: 56%       Labor force: 15.4 million    by occupation: agriculture 33%, manufacturing 21%    note: shortage of skilled labor (1988 est.)       Iran:Government       Names:    conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Iran    conventional short form: Iran    local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran    local short form: Iran       Digraph: IR       Type: theocratic republic       Capital: Tehran       Administrative divisions: 24 provinces (ostanha, singular - ostan);    Azarbayjan-e Bakhtari (West Azerbaijan), Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East    Azerbaijan), Bakhtaran, Bushehr, Chahar Mahall va Bakhtiari, Esfahan,    Fars, Gilan, Hamadan, Hormozgan, Ilam, Kerman, Khorasan, Khuzestan,    Kohkiluyeh va Buyer Ahmadi, Kordestan, Lorestan, Markazi, Mazandaran,    Semnan, Sistan va Baluchestan, Tehran, Yazd, Zanjan    note: there may be a new province named Ardabil formed from a part of    Azarbayjan-e Khavari (East Azerbaijan) which may have been renamed    Azarbayjan-e Markazi (Central Azerbaijan); the name Bakhtaran may have    been changed to Kermanshahan       Independence: 1 April 1979 (Islamic Republic of Iran proclaimed)       National holiday: Islamic Republic Day, 1 April (1979)       Constitution: 2-3 December 1979; revised 1989 to expand powers of the    presidency and eliminate the prime ministership       Legal system: the Constitution codifies Islamic principles of    government       Suffrage: 15 years of age; universal       Executive branch:    supreme leader (rahbar) and functional chief of state: Leader of the    Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Hoseini-KHAMENEI (since 4 June 1989)    head of government: President Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI (since 3    August 1989); election last held June 1993 (next to be held June    1997); results - Ali Akbar Hashemi-RAFSANJANI was elected with 63% of    the vote    cabinet: Council of Ministers; selected by the president with    legislative approval       Legislative branch: unicameral    Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majles-e-Shura-ye-Eslami): elections    last held 8 April 1992 (next to be held April 1996); results - percent    of vote by party NA; seats - (270 seats total) number of seats by    party NA       Judicial branch: Supreme Court       Political parties and leaders: there are at least 76 licensed parties;    the three most important are - Tehran Militant Clergy Association,    Mohammad Reza MAHDAVI-KANI; Militant Clerics Association, Mehdi    MAHDAVI-KARUBI and Mohammad Asqar MUSAVI-KHOINIHA; Fedaiyin Islam    Organization, Sadeq KHALKHALI       Other political or pressure groups: groups that generally support the    Islamic Republic include Hizballah, Mojahedin of the Islamic    Revolution, Muslim Students Following the Line of the Imam; armed    political groups that have been almost completely repressed by the    government include Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization (MEK), People's    Fedayeen, Kurdish Democratic Party; the Society for the Defense of    Freedom       Member of: CCC, CP, ECO, ESCAP, FAO, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD,    ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, INMARSAT,    INTELSAT, INTERPOL, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPEC,    PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO       Diplomatic representation in US:    chief of mission: Iran has an Interests Section in the Pakistani    Embassy in Washington, DC    chancery: Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,    Washington, DC 20007    telephone: [1] (202) 965-4990       US diplomatic representation: protecting power in Iran is Switzerland       Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red; the    national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red    is centered in the white band; Allah Alkbar (God is Great) in white    Arabic script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green    band and 11 times along the top edge of the red band       Economy       Overview: Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state    ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and    small-scale private trading and service ventures. Over the past    several years, the government has introduced several measures to    liberalize the economy and reduce government intervention, but most of    these changes have moved slowly because of political opposition. Iran    has faced increasingly severe financial difficulties since mid-1992    due to an import surge that began in 1989 and general financial    mismanagement. At yearend 1993 the Iranian Government estimated that    it owed foreign creditors about $30 billion; an estimated $8 billion    of this debt was in arrears. At yearend 1994, Iran rescheduled $12    billion in debt. Earnings from oil exports - which provide 90% of    Iran's export revenues - are providing less relief to Iran than usual    because of reduced oil prices.       National product: GDP - purchasing power parity - $310 billion (1994    est.)       National product real growth rate: -2% (1994 est.)       National product per capita: $4,720 (1994 est.)       Inflation rate (consumer prices): 35% (1994)       Unemployment rate: over 30% (1994 est.)       Budget:    revenues: $NA    expenditures: $NA, including capital expenditures of $NA       Exports: $16 billion (f.o.b., FY92/93 est.)    commodities: petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides    partners: Japan, Italy, France, Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg,    Spain, and Germany       Imports: $18 billion (c.i.f., FY92/93 est.)    commodities: machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,    pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products    partners: Germany, Japan, Italy, UK, UAE       External debt: $30 billion (December 1993)       Industrial production: growth rate 4.6% (1993 est.); accounts for    almost 30% of GDP, including petroleum       Electricity:    capacity: 19,080,000 kW    production: 50.8 billion kWh    consumption per capita: 745 kWh (1993)       Industries: petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, cement and other    building materials, food processing (particularly sugar refining and    vegetable oil production), metal fabricating, armaments and military    equipment       Agriculture: accounts for about 20% of GDP; principal products -    wheat, rice, other grains, sugar beets, fruits, nuts, cotton, dairy    products, wool, caviar; not self-sufficient in food       Illicit drugs: illicit producer of opium poppy for the domestic and    international drug trade; produced 35-70 metric tons in 1993; net    opiate importer but also a key transshipment point for Southwest Asian    heroin to Europe       Economic aid:    recipient: US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-80), $1 billion;    Western (non-US) countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments    (1970-89), $1.675 billion; Communist countries (1970-89), $976 million       note: aid fell sharply following the 1979 revolution       Currency: 10 Iranian rials (IR) = 1 toman; note - domestic figures are    generally referred to in terms of the toman       Exchange rates: Iranian rials (IR) per US$1 - 1,749.04 (January 1995),    1,748.75 (1994), 1,267.77 (1993), 65.552 (1992), 67.505 (1991); black    market rate: 3,000 rials per US$1 (December 1994)       Fiscal year: 21 March - 20 March       Iran:Transportation       Railroads:    total: 4,850 km; note - 480 km under construction from Bafq to    Bandar-e 'Abbas; segment from Bafq to Sirjan has been completed and is    operational; section from Sirjan to Bandar-e 'Abbas still under    construction    broad gauge: 90 km 1.676-m gauge    narrow gauge: 4,760 km 1.432-m gauge       Highways:    total: 140,200 km    paved: 42,694 km    unpaved: gravel, crushed stone 46,866 km; improved earth 49,440 km;    unimproved earth 1,200 km       Inland waterways: 904 km; the Shatt al Arab is usually navigable by    maritime traffic for about 130 km; channel has been dredged to 3    meters and is in use       Pipelines: crude oil 5,900 km; petroleum products 3,900 km; natural    gas 4,550 km       Ports: Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980-88 war),    Ahvaz, Bandar Beheshti, Bandar-e 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bandar-e    Bushehr, Bandar-e Khomeyni, Bandar-e Mah Shahr, Bandar-e Torkeman,    Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye Sirri, Khorramshahr    (limited operation since November 1992), Now Shahr       Merchant marine:    total: 132 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 3,816,820 GRT/6,991,693    DWT    ships by type: bulk 48, cargo 38, chemical tanker 5, combination bulk    2, liquefied gas tanker 1, oil tanker 26, refrigerated cargo 3,    roll-on/roll-off cargo 8, short-sea passenger 1       Airports:    total: 261    with paved runways over 3,047 m: 28    with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 12    with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 32    with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 20    with paved runways under 914 m: 46    with unpaved runways over 3,047 m: 2    with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2    with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,438 m: 18    with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 101       Iran:Communications       Telephone system: 2,143,000 telephones; 35 telephones/1,000 persons    local: NA    intercity: microwave radio relay extends throughout country; system    centered in Tehran    international: 3 INTELSAT (2 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean) earth    stations; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Pakistan,    Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; submarine fiber optic cable    to UAE       Radio:    broadcast stations: AM 77, FM 3, shortwave 0    radios: NA       Television:    broadcast stations: 28    televisions: NA       Iran:Defense Forces       Branches: Islamic Republic of Iran Ground Forces, Navy, Air and Air    Defense Force, Revolutionary Guards (includes Basij militia with its    ground, air, and naval forces), Law Enforcement Forces       Manpower availability: males age 15-49 14,639,290; males fit for    military service 8,703,732; males reach military age (21) annually    615,096 (1995 est.)       Defense expenditures: according to official Iranian data, Iran spent    1,785 billion rials, including $808 million in hard currency, in 1992    and budgeted 2,507 billion rials, including $850 million in hard    currency, for 1993    note: conversion of rial expenditures into US dollars using the    current exchange rate could produce misleading results