Tehran

**Tehran** is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is also the capital of Tehran province and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. With a population of around 9.8 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and Western Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area in the world. Greater Tehran includes several municipalities, including Karaj, Eslamshahr, Shahriar, Qods, Malard, Golestan, Pakdasht, Qarchak, Nasimshahr, Parand, Pardis, Andisheh and Fardis.

## History

Tehran was well known as a village in the 9th century, but was less well-known than the city of Rhages (Ray). Tehran today, replaces Ray, the ancient capital of Iran destroyed by the Mongols in 1220 A.D., the ruins of which can be seen 6 km south of Tehran. In 1869/70 A.D., Tehran acquired considerable prestige and was enclosed in an 8 km rampart which had 12 gates.

During the Safavid period, Shah Safi created a military base in Tehran, and had two great towers erected therein, which became known as _Ghaleh Meydan_ and _Ghaleh Hessa_. _Karim Khan Zand_ lived in Tehran. for 4 years. In the early 18th century, _Karim Khan Zand_, ordered a palace, and a government office to be built in Tehran. Later he moved his government capital to Shiraz.

Tehran became the capital of Iran, in 1795, when Agha Mohammad Khan, became King. It is still the capital. During the reign of Agha Mohammad khan, the government headquarters were built north of _Emam_zade Zayd_. Agha Mohammad Khan became King of Iran in _Khalvat Karimkhani Palace_ in Tehran. During the reign of Fath Ali Shah, the soltani mosque, the Abbas_abad bazaar, and the Ilchi garden (the site of today`s Russian embassy) were added. Nasser_e_din_Shah changed the palace from center of Tehran to Sadabad. He changed the view of Tehran from a town to a modern capital.

During 1980–88, Tehran was attacked by scud missiles and air strikes. After the Islamic Revolution in Iran and during war between Iran and Iraq, many people left Tehran. In recent years, many professional people who lived in Tehran, left Iran for freedom and a better life in other countries. Traffic, crime, drugs and lack of freedom in Tehran, are most important reasons.

### Last Mayors of Tehran

1. Mohammadbagher Ghalibaf
1. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (_President of Iran_)
1. Mohammad Malekmadani
1. Morteza Alviri (_Member of Kargozaran Sazandegi Party_)
1. Gholamhossein Karbaschi (_President of Kargozaran Sazandegi Party_)
1. Mohmmadnabi Habibi (_Current President of Islamic Motalefeh Party_)

## Economy

Tehran is the center of most Iranian industries and services. Modern industries of this city include the making of automobiles, electronics, weaponry, textiles, sugar, cement, and chemicals. Tehran is also a leading center for the sale of carpets and furniture.

## Climate

Tehran has a steppe climate (BSk in the Köppen climate classification). Summers are hot and dry; winters are cold with moderate precipitation, which also falls as snow. Spring and autumn are mild with moderate rainfall and sometimes snow.
The highest recorded temperature is 43 °C (109 °F) and the record low is −20 °C (−4 °F).

## Places

In this vast city, many historic sites can be admired, the most famous of which are the palaces of Sadabad, Niavaran, Sahebqaranyyeh and Golestan, the mosque of Seyyed Azizollah, the great Bazar of Tehran and many museums, such as Reza Abbasi museum, the carpet museum of Iran, Abguineh (glass and ceramics) museum, the Azadi museum, etc. Tehran has 740 parks.

Leisure and sport resorts around Tehran include Abali, Dizin, Gajereh and Shemshak ski stations, the dam water ski station and the slopes of Darband and Shemiran.

## Infobox (settlement)

- **official name**: Tehran
- **nickname**: TEH
- **pushpin map**: Iran
- **subdivision type**: List of countries, Country
- **subdivision name**: Iran
- **subdivision type1**: Provinces of Iran, Province
- **subdivision name1**: Tehran Province, Tehran
- **subdivision type2**: Counties of Iran, County
- **subdivision name2**: Tehran County, Tehran
- **subdivision type3**: Bakhsh
- **subdivision name3**: Central District (Tehran County), Central
- **leader title**: Mayor
- **leader name**: Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
- **established date**: 1906
- **leader title1**: City Council
- **leader name1**: Chairman: Mehdi Chamran
- **area metro km2**: 1274
- **area urban km2**: 730
- **population as of**: 2010
- **population note**: Population Data from 2006 Census and Tehran Municipality. Metro area figure refers to Tehran Province.
- **population metro**: 13,413,348
- **population urban**: 9,110,347
- **population density sq mi**: 26748.3
- **population blank1 title**: Population Rank in Iran
- **population blank1**: List of Iran cities by population, 1st
- **timezone**: Iran Standard Time, IRST
- **utc offset**: +3:30
- **timezone dst**: Iran Standard Time, IRDT
- **utc offset dst**: +4:30
- **elevation m**: 1200
- **elevation ft**: 3900
- **area code**: 021
- **website**: [http://www.tehran.ir/ www.tehran.ir]