Provinces

Main articles: Provinces of Iran and Counties of Iran

See also: Transport in Iran and Communications in Iran

Iran is divided into 30 provinces (ostānhā, singular ostān), each governed by an appointed governor (استاندار, ostāndār). The provinces are divided into counties (shahrestānhā, singular shahrestān), and subdivided into districts (bakhshānhā, singular bakhsh) and sub-districts (dehestānhā, singular dehestān).

The map does not show the southern islands of Hormozgan (#20 listed below):

Major cities

Iran has one of the highest urban-growth rates in the world. From 1950 to 2002 the urban proportion of the population increased from 27% to 60%.^[59][60] The United Nations predicts that by 2030 the urban population will form 80% of the overall population.^[60] Most of the internal migrants have settled near the cities of Tehran, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and Qom.

Tehran (population: 7,160,094^[61] )

After the revolution, Shahyad Tower was renamed to Azadi Tower (Freedom Tower).

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran with 7,160,094 inhabitants (metropolitan: 14,000,000) and like many big cities, suffers from severe air pollution and the city is often covered by smog.

Mashhad (population: 2,463,393)

Mashhad (also spelt Mashad, literally "The place of martyrdom"), is located 850 kilometers (500 miles) east of Tehran, Iran (Persia), and is one of the holiest Shi'a cities in the world. It is the second largest city with a population of 2.8 million.at the center of the province of Razavi Khorasan.

Karaj (population: 1,602,350)

Karaj is located in Tehran province and is situated 20 km west of Tehran, at the foot of Alborz mountains, however the city is increasingly becoming an extension of the metropolitan Tehran.

Isfahan (population: 1,600,554)

Isfahan or Eşfahān, located about 340 km south of Tehran, and is the capital of Isfahan Province and Iran's fourth largest city.

The Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan has been designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The city also contains a wide variety of Islamic architectural sites ranging from the eleventh to the nineteenth century.

Tabriz (population: 1,496,319)

Tabriz is the largest city in north-western Iran and is the capital of East Azarbaijan Province. Tabriz is situated north of the volcanic cone of Sahand south of the Eynali mountain.

Shiraz (population: 1,307,552)

Shiraz is the capital of Fārs Province and is located in the foothills of the Zagros Mountains. Shiraz is known as the city of Poetry, Wine and carpet production and flowers (such as Roses). It is also famous for its importance in the history of Iran. It has a moderate climate and has been a regional trade center for more than a thousand years.

Qom (population: 1,081,745)

Qom (also known as Q'um or Kom) lies 97 miles by road south-west of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province and is built on the banks of the Qom (River) and is considered to be a holy city in Shi`a Islam, as it is the site of the shrine of Fatema M?sume, sister of Imam `Ali ibn Musa Rida (Persian Imam Reza, 789-816 CE). The city is the largest center for Shi'a scholarship in the world, and is a significant destination of pilgrimage.

Ahvaz (population: 832,969)

The city of Ahvaz, is the capital of the Iranian province of Khūzestān. It is built on the banks of the Karun River and is situated in the middle of Khūzestān Province. The city has an average elevation of 20 meters above sea level.