Iran

<p>Iran, known as Persia until 1935 and now officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is the second-largest nation in the <a title="More news and information about the Middle East" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/opinion/middle-east/index.html">Middle East</a> by population. Iran shares a border, along with historical and religious ties, with <a title="Iraq" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/iraq/index.html">Iraq</a>.</p> <p>Iran has been a quasi-theocracy since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, which deposed Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Democratically elected President Hassan Rouhani is head of the republic, but divine leader <a title="More news and information about Ayatollah Ali Khamenei" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/k/ali_khamenei/index.html">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei </a>controls the military, the judiciary and the state broadcasting services. Shiite Islam is the state religion of Iran, with Sunni Muslims constituting a very small minority of the nation.</p> <p>Iran continues to face international criticism for not adhering to the requirements of <a title="United Nations" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/u/united_nations/index.html">United Nations</a> Security Council resolutions regarding its <a title="Timeline on Iran's Nuclear Program" href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/03/20/world/middleeast/Iran-nuclear-timeline.html">nuclear facilities</a> and its uranium enrichment program.</p> <p>Keep up to date on breaking news in Iran and explore our extensive archive below.</p>