A nation is so much more than what you read in the headlines. The Islamic Republic of Iran falls under this as well. More different than you could ever imagine, this enormous nation is located in the center of Central Asia. Additionally, there are a ton of strange and unexpected facts about this magnificent region that was once known as Persia. Some of the more fascinating facts are listed below.

The left hand is not for food

There are superstitions regarding what it means to use the right and left hand, and for what, everywhere around the world. However, in Iran, people seem to take it a step further. The left hand is only permitted to be used for cleaning and removing filth according to Islamic custom.

Therefore, for all other tasks, including eating and waving, the right hand should be used. Many Iranians even go so far as to always extend a two-handed greeting to people.

@IMPOSSIBLE Dinner in Iran!!! Home-Cooked Ghormeh Sabzi, the National Dish of Iran!!!/Best Ever Food Review Show /YouTube.com

Own Internet

Iran is one of several nations throughout the world who have chosen to use their own exclusive internet due to security concerns. This nation has been using a state-controlled Intranet network that the general public uses since 2012.

In addition to prohibiting the usage of social media platforms, it also necessitates using a private VPN to access Instagram and Facebook accounts. The ministry of communications and information technology anticipates that this private network will offer high-speed data at a reasonable price.

@Why Iran’s Shutting Off the Internet and Creating its Own National Network/DW Shift/YouTube.com

The Temporary Marriage

Another intriguing practice that originated in Iran is something called a "Sigheh," which is essentially another word for "short-term marriages." This is mostly intended for couples who are still getting to know one another and may not be ready to fully commit to one another for the rest of their life.

These brief unions, which can last anywhere from a few hours to a few years, are permitted at some Shia schools. In most cases, this agreement is made for males who plan to travel to holy places.

@MUTA | Full Documentary/Ahlulbayt: Documentaries/ YouTube.com

The world's biggest carpet

It goes without saying that Iran is renowned for its exquisite calligraphy and carpets in general. However, did you know that it produced the biggest carpet in the world? Yes, the Iran Carpet Company created a carpet that is estimated to measure a staggering 60,000.81 square feet.

In 2007, it was unveiled in the mosque in Abu Dhabi. The carpet was eventually put together inside the mosque after being first constructed in nine pieces. In order for some sections to fit the floor, they had to be chopped.

@Largest Hand Made Carpet In The World/sasrah99/YouTube.com

Metal Bands Face Repression

Iran is home to a surprise thriving heavy metal scene, believe it or not. Numerous well-known bands enjoy enormous popularity both domestically and abroad. Regrettably, the authorities in Iran have banned many bands because the musical style is seen as blasphemous there.

Heavy metal bands like Confess and Arsames were forced to leave the country after receiving prison sentences. They questioned, "Is it illegal that we are playing metal music!?"

@ARSAMES : IMMORTAL IDENTITY ( Iranian Death Metal )/Arsames Band/YouTube.com

Plastic surgery on the nose is common

Only the wealthy seem to be able to afford plastic surgery. Yet many have referred to Iran as the "Nose Job Capital of the World." Although the cause of the high number of nose jobs in this country is unknown, some people believe that peer pressure and rebellion are the two main contributors.

Additionally, since Iranian women are required to cover the majority of their bodies when in public, changing the shape of one's nose is accepted as a form of personal expression.

The Rich Kids 

Nowadays, a lot of nations have their own reality TV programs and online personas. However, it's challenging to ignore the Iranian socialites known as The Rich Kids of Tehran, who have captured the attention of numerous individuals.

Like their namesake suggests, these young people enjoy flaunting their jewelry, expensive cars, and opulent lifestyle on Instagram. In general, they like to live their lives in a way that is contrary to Iranian culture. 339k people follow RKOT as of December 2020.

@The Lavish Lives Of The Rich Kids Of Tehran/TheThings Celebrity/YouTube.com

Polygamy 

There is no doubting that the Iranian way of life was significantly altered by the Islamic Revolution. Marriage is one of the most important instances. Given that Sharia law was reinstated in Iran, a guy can actually marry four women because it is permitted under Islamic law for men to have multiple spouses.

And it's not just Iran that's affected. In a staggering 58 nations, polygyny—more specifically, when a man marries multiple women—is permitted.

Inequality of Gender in the Family

According on what aspect of Iranian society you are referring to, different gender dynamics exist there. But there is unquestionably some inequality present in the family. Women have been regarded as being psychologically and legally inferior to men ever since the government replaced its legal system with Islamic Law in 1979.

Additionally, it is said that children are the "substance of the male." This implies that women inevitably lose custody of their children in cases of divorce.

@Gravitas: Gender Equality In Saudi Arabia & Iran: Reform Or Tokenism/WION/YouTube.com

Many families conceal their televisions

Iran has a national monopoly on TV content, much to how it has its very own internet. The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting took over after the Revolution, and by the time the 1990s rolled around, all satellite dishes were forbidden.

Despite this, a lot of households continue to conceal their satellites from the police. Moreover, despite the nation's efforts to crack down on it, BBC Persian continues to be well-liked by many citizens.

@Iran - Ban On Satellite TV Dishes/AP Archive/YouTube.com

Royal jewels

Here is yet another exceptional world record that was given to Iran. Iran appears to be even more affluent when it comes to rare gems and jewelry worn by royal individuals, even though we commonly identify royal jewels with Queen Elizabeth II and British history.

The numerous Iranian national jewels are on display at the Treasury of National Jewels, an Iranian museum that has been operating since 1992. It was once famously said by The Financial Tribune that "putting a price on the collection would not be possible."

@IRAN - THE MAGNIFICENT PRICELESS JEWELS OF THE NATIONAL TREASURY!/Soheil Callage/YouTube.com

Without ties

Nowadays, males are often required to wear ties in formal settings all around the world. However, the men in Iran prefer to go about things a little bit differently. By the time of the revolution, Iranians had decided against donning ties because they believed it to be an anti-Western statement.

Although wearing a tie is not against the law in these parts, store owners risk fines for doing so. Surprisingly, ties are only worn by antagonists in Iranian TV series.

Iranian-born founder of eBay

Many popular websites, including Facebook and Twitter, appear to have been developed by Americans over time. The creator of eBay, Pierre Omidyar, is nominally an American, yet he has Iranian ancestry.

Omidyar, who was born to Iranian parents in Paris, later emigrated to the United States before launching eBay, one of the most significant websites of the previous 30 years. Omid Kordestani, a former SVP at Google, and Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Expedia, are two other notable Iranian businesspeople.

@EBay Founder Pierre Omidyar's Approach To Philanthropy | Top Givers | Forbes/Forbes/YouTube.com

Milk Is Not Milk

Don't you detest it when something is referred to be something it isn't? One of the most popular cocktails in Iran really meets these requirements. Although this drink is referred to as "Persian Milk," calling it milk would be a stretch.

Many Iranians consider this beverage—which resembles runny, sour yogurt—to be the cure for almost all illnesses, including sunburn and ulcers. It is even employed by certain Iranians as a face mask.

@Rose Mahalabia Pudding | Persian Easy Milk - Rose Pudding Recipe/Rukhsana Sherin/YouTube.com

Iranians Enjoy 0% Beer

One well-known Islamic tenet is that alcohol consumption is not permitted among followers of the faith. The Islamic Republic of Iran thus forbids its citizens from drinking. However, a lot of people here prefer to sip on a crisp, cold, non-alcoholic beer.

In many restaurants, traditional alcohol-free drinks like Bavaria 0.0%, Amstel Malt, and Oettinger are available. However, many people do break the law and smuggle alcohol into the nation. Iran has a large number of weddings and celebrations when people breach the law.

@The TRUTH about ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION in Iran 🍻🍾🥂(#21)/NarsFromMars/YouTube.com

Desert is everywere?

That Iran has a largely arid climate shouldn't come as much of a surprise. When you consider that the country is technically desert, it is astounding. Iran gets fewer than four inches of rain annually, thus many locations can be incredibly dry and hard for life to survive.

Iran held the record for the highest surface temperature ever recorded in the world in 2005. The surface temperature of the Dasht-e Lut desert was measured at 70.7 °C (159 °F).

@Iran - from desert to snow 4K UHD/Tox Travel/YouTube.com

Asiatic Cheetah's native country

It should not be surprising that there is a wide variety of animals in this region of the world given that Iran is a fairly huge country located in the center of Asia. Due in part to dry conditions, the Asiatic Cheetah is a critically endangered species.

As a result, the government keeps watch over these wild cats in designated areas. There are reportedly only 50 Asiatic cheetahs left as of 2017. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Iranian national soccer team even sported illustrations of the creature on their uniforms.

A national dish is white rice and plain bread

Iran offers a diverse cuisine that locals and visitors to the country, as well as the rest of this region, can't get enough of. But there is one dish in particular that might seem a little strange to outsiders.

In one classic recipe, plain rice is topped with toast. These breads include, among others, sangak, lavash, and taftoon. Iranians frequently serve a dish using chicken, kebab, or minced meat as a protein.

@Iran - 100% Traditional Persian Food Part 105/Nurettin Yilmaz/YouTube.com

The Difficult Past of the Hijab

Women are required by law to cover their hair in public situations, as is the case in many Central Asian nations where Islam is the prevalent religion. Typically, a hijab—a type of traditional head covering—is worn to accomplish this. On the other hand, Iran's history with the hijab is murky.

Reza Shah in fact made the hijab illegal in 1936 in an effort to modernize and advance the nation. Since the revolution, it has once more become obligatory.

Iran Produces More Than Half of All Pistachios

Every food and grain has a distinct origin, and the pistachio can be traced back to Iran. Yes, it is an unusual but wonderful ice cream flavor. However, the pistachio tree is recognized as being indigenous to several parts of Central Asia, such as Iran and Afghanistan.

The nut was thought to have been eaten as early as 6750 BC. It's estimated that Iran produces more than half of the world's pistachios as of 2017.

World's Most Polluted City

While some nations have a bad reputation for having air pollution problems, Iran frequently slips under the radar in this area. Nevertheless, this nation is home to what many consider to be the world's most polluted city.

The World Health Organization designated Zabol as the city with the worse air in the world in 2011. As a result of breathing in hazardous gases, a lot of people here have ailments. The fumes have also killed a lot of vegetation.

@Iran's Zabol is world's most polluted city/Hi China/YouTube.com

Couchsurfing is prohibited

While couch surfing is a common practice among travelers worldwide, it is forbidden in Iran. Yet this is the place where it happens the most frequently worldwide. Many tourists from other countries who travel to Iran are eager to spend the night on a local's couch in order to learn about Iranian culture.

In this country, there are many families who are eager to welcome guests, and some of them don't even require bookings.

@Why I Decided Not To Do COUCHSURFING in IRAN/Destination Hopper/YouTube.com

Taarof: What Is It?

You best educate yourself on Iranian social customs if you intend to travel there any time soon. Its name is "Taarof." In essence, this is a collection of social norms and etiquette guidelines that are ingrained in Iranian culture.

For instance, it's customary to express regret when an Iranian offers someone a present. On the other hand, the present can only be opened by the receiver later, in privacy. Additionally, you can only get seconds at a dinner if the host makes a third offer.

@About Tarof (Taarof), an Iranian tradition - Learn Persian (Farsi) with Chai and Conversation/Leyla Shams/YouTube.com

Males and females are divided

Given how much of Iranian society is influenced by religion, there are many aspects of daily life that forbid interactions between men and women. Iran is a country where segregation is pervasive, with colleges being one of the few exceptions.

There are parks designated particularly for women in many of the nation's cities. A partition that keeps men and women apart on the Tehran subway may be seen in this picture in order to prevent promiscuity.

@IRAN | WOMEN-ONLY Metro For $0,08 🇮🇷/Davud Akhundzada/YouTube.com

Seriously Selfies

Hovering a camera over yourself and shooting a good old selfie in front of the coolest backdrops seems to be the pastime of choice for individuals all over the world. However, Iranians are very "self" aware of how frequently they enjoy taking selfies for Instagram (no pun intended).

In front of the Shah-En-Shah monument, which honors the 25,000th anniversary of the Persian Empire, is a popular location for selfies. Funny enough, there is a statue of a man taking a selfie in front of the memorial.

@Azadi Tower - 4K - TEHRAN 2023 | برج آزادی تهران | #iran #tehran #walkingtour/Alta Walk/YouTube.com

The World's Youngest Country?

Some nations have older or younger populations than others for various reasons. Iran actually has one of the youngest populations in the planet, it turns out. One of the main causes of this was the officials' encouragement of more children per family during the Islamic Revolution.

Today, roughly 70% of people are under the age of 30. Iranians are also eligible to vote after they become 15 years old.

One of the Earliest Civilizations on Earth

It's challenging to convey how long Iran's history spans in just a few sentences. This region of the earth has reportedly been inhabited continuously since 7000 BC. As a result, it ranks among the planet's oldest civilizations that are still in existence.

Iran once extended much beyond its present borders, encompassing regions like Anatolia, Egypt, and the Bosphorus. People from the Mannaeans, Gutians, and Kassites have all called this area home.

@Ancient Mesopotamia's Neighbors: The Mysterious Peoples of the Zagros Mountains of Iran/History with Cy/YouTube.com

The highest goal scorer in soccer history is Ali Daei

Iranians are incredibly serious about their soccer, so much so that one of their own is in charge of one of the game's biggest triumphs. Because he holds the record for most goals scored for a national team, retired striker Ali Daei is revered as a national hero.

With an astounding 109 goals in 149 international games, he presently tops the chart. With 102 goals to his name as of right now, Cristiano Ronaldo has a chance to surpass him soon.

@tygfuofu/reddit.com

Destruction due to earthquakes

Geographically speaking, Iran is in a vulnerable position because it is sandwiched between the Indian, Arabian, and Eurasian plates. This indicates that it has experienced numerous earthquakes over the years. And these earthquakes frequently have devastating effects, seriously harming both people and their surroundings.

There have been at least a dozen earthquakes that were either 7.0 or greater on the Richter scale, according to records from the preceding century.

@Deadly Earthquake Reduces Buildings To Rubble In Iran/NBC News/YouTube.com

Shakespeare was affected by Persian poetry?

Poetry is one genre of art with a long and rich history in Iran. With a history spanning more than 2,500 years, the writings of several Iranian poets and writers have had a profound impact on people all over the world.

Many of the greatest thinkers in human history, such as Friedrich Nietzsche and William Shakespeare, have been influenced by Persian literature. World-renowned works include Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat and Sadegh Hedayat's The Blind Owl.

@mesopotamius/reddit.com

The Persian Cat's home

Persian cats are very popular and are not simply referred to as such for no reason at all. Unsurprisingly, Iran is where cats like the Shiraz and Persian Longhair got their start. These cats stand out thanks to characteristics like their round cheeks and fuzzy coats.

To survive in the chilly Iranian mountains, they created a thick coat. Italian traders first introduced the cat to Europe in the 17th century, and it quickly became associated with exoticism.

Parkour love

Free running, often known as parkour, is a sport that is popular all over the world. But it seems that a lot of people in Iran seem to enjoy nothing more than running at incredible heights and leaping from one wall to the next.

Frenchmen created parkour, but Iranians quickly adopted it and have been jumping all across Iran for the past 20 years. Additionally, it appears that women in Iran share the same enthusiasm for free running as men do.

@Iran: meet the women of Iran's Parkour club, jumping and rising over stereotypes/FRANCE 24 English/YouTube.com

Shia Muslims

There is no one explanation for why most Iranians identify as Shia Muslims yet many of their neighbors are largely Sunni.

But most historians concur that this dates back to more than a thousand years ago, when a few of the Prophet Muhammad's descendants fled to Iran and spread the word to Persian tribes. This explains why Iran is the hub of it despite the fact that there are Shia people in many other places.

@QOM, IRAN 🇮🇷 discovering SHIA Islam in IRAN 🇮🇷/Jay Palfrey/YouTube.com

Burials Of Many Biblical Characters

It is well known that the majority of the biblical tales are situated in various regions of the Middle East. Many people are unaware of the sheer number of Biblical figures who died and were buried on what is now Iran.

Some significant individuals from the Bible, including Daniel, Esther, Cyrus the Great, Darius the Great, and St. Thaddaeus, are thought to be interred in Iran.

@Iran in the Bible: The Forgotten Story | Presented by Our Daily Bread Films/Our Daily Bread/YouTube.com

10% Of The World's Oil Is In Iran

Even while it may not be as exciting as some of the other statistics on our list, this one is still rather astounding when you consider it! It seems that 10% of the world's oil reserves are located in Iran.

To put things in perspective, 125 billion barrels of oil would be present if all of Iran's oil reserves were concentrated in one location. That is a lot, let's face it! In the Persian Gulf, which is nearby, lie another 60% of the world's oil reserves.

@Oil workers join worker's strikes in Iran | DW News/DW News/YouTube.com

Without Toilet Paper

You wouldn't believe it, but many bathrooms in Iran still have this design. The room itself is lovely, however you have to squat to use the restroom. This fact is somewhat misleading because it doesn't apply only to Iran.

Actually, squat toilets are widespread in Asia and Africa. But they do exist in great numbers here. Therefore, before boarding that plane, you should probably pack a lot of toilet paper if you're a tourist used to sitting on a toilet seat.

@How to Use a SQUAT TOILET 🙈 (in Iran!) (#14)/NarsFromMars/ YouTube.com

The Country with Many Names

The nation is currently referred to as the Islamic Republic of Iran. However, it was known as Persia in the west up until 1935. Many people think that the Shah wanted to demonstrate to the rest of the world that they were no longer subject to outside influence at the time, which is why it changed.

Then they instructed visitors to use the locals' name for the nation, Iran. Iran has also been referred to as Arya, Aryanam, Iranzamin, and Iranshahr in the past.

UNESCO World Heritage

Iran is immensely proud of its myriad artifacts and has a long, varied history that dates back thousands of years. The nation is a popular travel destination for both visitors and historians due to its astounding 23 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System and Persepolis, a stunning ancient metropolis built by Darius the Great in the fifth century BC, are two of the attractions.

@Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System/farazure/YouTube.com

Iran Has "Nearly" Perfect Carpets

There is a valid reason why high-quality rugs are sometimes referred to be "Persian rugs." The genuine rugs from which this moniker was derived are exceptionally exquisite and detailed. Iranians have perfected the skill of rug upholstery for the past 2,500 years, and as of now, they are the nation's second-largest export after oil.

But not every Persian rug that is made is flawless. To illustrate the point that "only God is perfect," weavers will purposely produce one minor error.

Most refugees worldwide

It may surprise some people to learn that Iran is the country with the biggest number of refugees on the planet. While you might anticipate some western nations to hold that distinction, Iran actually tops the list, and the following justifies why.

Over 1 million people have sought refuge in Iran as a result of some of the biggest, most recent wars in the world taking place in nearby nations like Iraq and Afghanistan.

@Iran conducts Afghan refugee census/TRT World/YouTube.com

Another Calendar?

Iran also reportedly has the most accurate calendar, according to records. Iran and Afghanistan, its neighbor to the east, also utilize the solar Hijri calendar. Similar to the Gregorian calendar, it begins with Nowruz, also known as the March equinox, and lasts for approximately 365 or 366 days.

While the former is largely constant, the beginning of the Hijri varies from year to year. The fact that each of the 12 months is associated with a zodiac sign is another resemblance.

@Iran Persian calendar the most accurate solar calendar گاهشمار پارسي ايران/Persian_boy/YouTube.com

Another language is native 

The bulk of Middle Eastern nations are well known for having Arabic as their native tongue. Iran, which is located smack dab in the heart of that region, however, speaks a completely other language as its native tongue.

In this region of the world, Farsi is the primary language used. In the end, Farsi is just another way to pronounce "Persian." While there are some similarities between Arabic and Farsi numbers, they largely stop there.

@Iranians’ First Language Is Not Arabic/Langfocus/YouTube.com

Saffron is used in everything

Some leaves, spices, and herbs have a direct relationship to a country and its culture. Iran's is unquestionably saffron in this situation. Despite some disagreement, this spice can be traced back to Iran and is primarily recognized by its distinctly crimson leaves.

The fact that Iran produces more than 90% of the saffron consumed worldwide is one of the points in its favor. Additionally, saffron-infused Bastani Sonnati is a well-known Iranian ice cream.

Caviar Is Highly Valued

Despite not being an Iranian specialty, caviar is highly prized in this region of the world. Iran really broke the Guinness World Records in 2009 when it was named the top caviar producer. Generally speaking, the nation of Central Asia takes pride in creating a variety of upscale foods.

In Iran, sturgeons in Bandar-e Anzali are used to harvest caviar. The word "caviar" actually has Persian roots and literally translates to "egg-bearing."

@Tehran: Beluga Caviar is Black Gold/VICE Asia/ YouTube.com

Changed Flag

The Iranian flag has had some fascinating alterations throughout the years, to put it mildly. Three bands of green, white, and red make up the current flag, which has been in use since 1980. Red denotes bravery, green represents the nation's religion, Islam, and white stands for peace.

The second emblem is a stylized rendition of the phrase "None is worthy of worship but Allah," fashioned like a flower. The flag featured a golden lion brandishing a sword and was encircled by the sun before the revolution.

@Naval flag of Iran (1933–1980)/Flag Footage/YouTube.com

Be Safe

In many Muslim communities, having children is strongly encouraged since, at the end of the day, life is sacrosanct. Contraception is, however, a topic that is rather more frequently taken into consideration in Iran and is something that couples are generally encouraged to seriously discuss, especially throughout the courting phase.

In Iran, you must sit through an hour-long lecture on contraception before you can apply for a marriage license. Iran also houses one of the region's only condom factories!

Beware, myth!

It is thought that some of the most significant figures in Christian history had ties to Iran. For instance, consider the three wise men. These Zoroastrian priests, often known as the Magi, belonged to the Medes tribe. It is thought that Marco Polo paid a visit to the three wise men's tombs in Tehran.

However, subsequent accounts of the nativity have claimed that only Melchior was from Persia, whereas Gaspar and Balthazar were from India and Arabia, respectively.

@The 3 Wise Men: Ancient Magicians?/ReligionForBreakfast/ YouTube.com

Who created the Qanat?

The iconic qanat is one engineering achievement that Iranians may be proud of. This highly developed water system draws water from below ground and delivers it through a network of tunnels to places where communities most need it.

In the first millennium BC, the earliest qanats were built in Iran and its neighboring nations. Others, however, thought that Southeast Arabia was where the qanat first emerged. It's quite fantastic, whatever the case may be.

@History of Kâriz (qanat) in Iran/freedomforpersian/ YouTube.com

Nowruz

Even though the majority of Iranian life revolves around the Islamic calendar, Nowruz is a celebration that is particularly tied to the country. Nowruz, also known as the Iranian New Year, is a holiday observed by many non-Iranians in nations including China, India, Albania, Turkey, and other places.

It has been observed for more than 3,000 years and is distinctive in that people of all faiths participate in its celebration. There are many traditions carried out on Nowruz, including house cleaning, shopping, parties, and parades.

@IRAN Nowruz 2023 Street Walking tour in all over Tehran 1402 - Liveliness of people morning to night/Travel All Nation/ YouTube.com

Iran's tallest mountain

It is no secret that the mountains make up a sizable portion of Iran. However, Mount Damavand in the Elburz mountains is the nation's highest point. Damavand, which is only 43 miles from the city, looms over its adjacent mountains at a height of 18,605 feet and is actually home to a volcano.

It is still active even though it last erupted over 7,300 years ago. Damavand is the origin of numerous Iranian stories, and many locals climb it every year.

@mahi_1977/reddit.com

The Biggest Snowstorm in History

This record serves as an illustration that Iran's records aren't always all that joyful. Iran was hit by a particularly biggest blizzard in 1972. Rugged winter storms swept the nation for a week.

After all was said and done, the blizzard claimed the lives of about 4,000 people. The country's surface was covered in snow to a depth of almost three meters. The blizzard had the greatest impact on urban areas like Ardakan.

@1972 Iran Blizzard/Wiki4All/YouTube.com