Claim: Iran is a sovereign state that is a superpower.
Evidence: Iran is a major regional and middle power , and its large reserves of fossil fuels -- which include the largest natural gas supply in the world and the fourth-largest proven oil reserves -- exert considerable influence in international energy security and the world economy.
An energy superpower is a nation that supplies large amounts of energy resources -LRB- crude oil , natural gas , coal , uranium , etc. -RRB- to a significant number of other states , and therefore has the potential to influence world markets to gain a political or economic advantage.
Iran -LRB- ɪ , also ɪ -RRB- , formerly known as Persia , is a sovereign state in Western Asia.