The Iranians are a young nation: more than 40 per cent of them are younger than 15 years and more than two thirds are under 30. The can take part in the election at the age of 16. Observers judge that the victory of the reform forces in February 2000 was due to a high electoral participation of women and young people.

As in most countries of the region, the Iran has a rather varied mix of peoples: Roughly half are Persians, the largest minority are Aserbaidjanis with about 17 per cent. Then there are Kurds, Armenians, Turkmen, Baluchi, Lurs and Bakhtyari. They are all bound by the Islamic faith.

The land of the Persians belonged to the early empires of world history. Kyros II (559 - 530 BC) supposedly freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity. His Empire stretched from the Mediterranean Sea to the river Indus, from the Caspian Sea to the Indian Ocean. Under the rule of Dareios I the Empire had its heyday around 500 BC. He is said to be the builder of Persepolis. The history of Islamic Persia begins with the occupation by the Arabs in 637.

During the 20th century the emperors of the Pahlevi-Dynasty followed a policy of modernisation and Western orientation of the country. While the Western media was quite fascinated by the glory of the peacock-throne the Shah Reza Pahlevi became increasingly estranged from his people. Lead by Islamic Mullahs, the people rose against the dictator and dethroned him in 1979.

After the Islamic revolution the country was politically isolated. The population suffered severely in the war with the Iraq from 1980 until 1990. Since the death of revolution leader Chomeini in 1989 and the end of the war the isolation of the country has decreased and the economy improved.