Islamic Republic of Iran - 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; involved in state-sponsored terrorismMEK, MKO, Mujahidin-e Khalq Organization, People's Mujahidin of Iran - a terrorist organization formed in the 1960s by children of Iranian merchants; sought to counter the Shah of Iran's pro-Western policies of modernization and anti-communism; following a philosophy that mixes Marxism and Islam it now attacks the Islamic fundamentalists who deposed the Shah Usuli - a religious movement by Persian Shiite Muslims in 17th century Iran that is opposed to the Akhbari; "Usuli Shiism produced the politically active caste of priests that is a distinctive feature of Iranian Shiism" Middle East, Mideast, Near East - the area around the eastern Mediterranean; from Turkey to northern Africa and eastward to Iran; the site of such ancient civilizations as Phoenicia and Babylon and Egypt and the birthplace of Judaism and Christianity and Islam; had continuous economic and political turmoil in the 20th century; "the Middle East is the cradle of Western civilization" Gulf States - the countries in southwestern Asia that border the Persian Gulf Abadan - a port city in southwestern Iran Mashhad, Meshed - the holy city of Shiite Muslims; located in northeastern Iran Rasht, Resht - city in northwestern Iran near the Caspian Sea Shiraz - a city in central southwestern Iran; ruins of ancient Persepolis are nearby Tabriz - an ancient city in northwestern Iran; known for hot springs Qum - a city in northwestern Iran; a place of pilgrimage for Shiite Muslims Persepolis - an ancient city that was the capital of the ancient Persian Empire; now in ruins Kurdistan - an extensive geographical region in the Middle East south of the Caucacus Demavend - an active volcano in northern Iran Asia - the largest continent with 60% of the earth's population; it is joined to Europe on the west to form Eurasia; it is the site of some of the world's earliest civilizations Caspian, Caspian Sea - a large saltwater lake between Iran and Russia fed by the Volga River; the largest inland body of water in the world Irani, Iranian, Persian - a native or inhabitant of Iran; "the majority of Irani are Persian Shiite Muslims" ayatollah - a high-ranking Shiite religious leader who is regarded as an authority on religious law and its interpretation and who has political power as well |