Iran is a country with a written history of over 3,000 years and birthplace to one of the oldest known civilizations. Today, it ranks as the 18th largest country in the world and the 17th most populated nation. Bordered by Armenia, Azerbaijan, the Caspian Sea, and Turkmenistan to the north; Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east; Turkey and Iraq to the west; and the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south, Iran has an area of 1,648,195 km2.
 

The population of Iran is considerably metropolitan: most Iranians live in large municipalities and sprawling urban systems surrounding major cities.  Located in the northern part of the country, encompassed by the Alborz Mountains, is Tehran: the most populated city and capital of Iran. There are many other extensive and world-renowned regions of Iran: Mashhad, for instance, which is home to Imam Reza’s Holy Shrine; Esfahan, famously known as "half of the world" due to its rich culture and a wide array of ancient and historical landmarks. Golestan, another province of Iran, cradles some of the most ancient history and pre-history of the country; there is also Shiraz, encompassing Persepolis and Pasargadae, capitals of the Achaemenid Empire; and Kish Island is one of the many beautiful Islands of Iran, positioned atop the vast, blue Persian Gulf.

Climatic conditions are just as diverse as the vast territories that make up Iran. On the one hand, Iran is a mountainous country; its westernmost provinces are dominated by beautiful mountain ranges that cause winter wonderland like snowfall. Eastern and central areas, on the other hand, are more tepid and dry since this region heavily consists of desert basins, like the Kavir Desert: the country's largest desert. In Northern and Southern parts of Iran, the weather can be described as essentially mild and slightly humid because they're in close proximity to the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, respectively. Thus, Iran is commonly known as the country of all four seasons.

Farsi is Iran’s official language, and most of the population practices the religion of Islam. In the social sphere, Islamic rules are, generally, observed by the entire population. However, because of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds -- from among the numerous communities and civilizations, that existed at one time or another -- a multitude of religions, lifestyles, and languages are distinguishable in Iran. Iran's amazingly diverse environment nurtures a global perspective within students if one chooses to broaden their educational scope at GOUMS.      

Iran’s cultural legacy is reverberated by all twenty-two of its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ranking as the fourth-largest holder [of World Heritage Sites] in Asia and the eleventh-largest in the world. Iran is, indisputably, a beating heart of distinct human civilizations; moreover, it is recognized as a multicultural country, fostering many ethnic and linguistic social groups.