Area comparison map:

almost 2.5 times the size of Texas; slightly smaller than Alaska

Land boundaries:
total: 5,894 km
[see also: Land boundaries - total country ranks ]
border countries (7): Afghanistan 921 km, Armenia 44 km, Azerbaijan 689 km, Iraq 1599 km, Pakistan 959 km, Turkey 534 km, Turkmenistan 1148 km

Coastline:
2,440 km - note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
[see also: Coastline country ranks ]

Maritime claims:
territorial sea: 12 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - territorial sea country ranks ]
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
[see also: Maritime claims - exclusive economic zone country ranks ]
contiguous zone: 24 nm
[see also: Maritime claims - contiguous zone country ranks ]
continental shelf: natural prolongation
[see also: Maritime claims - continental shelf country ranks ]

Climate:
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
More Climate Details

Terrain:
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation:
mean elevation: 1,305 m
[see also: Elevation - mean elevation country ranks ]
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,625 m

Natural resources:
petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land use:
agricultural land: 30.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - agricultural land country ranks ]
arable land: 10.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - arable land country ranks ]
permanent crops: 1.2% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent crops country ranks ]
permanent pasture: 18.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - permanent pasture country ranks ]
forest: 6.8% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use - forest country ranks ]
other: 63.1% (2011 est.)
[see also: Land use country ranks ]

Irrigated land:
95,530 sq km (2012)
[see also: Irrigated land country ranks ]

Population distribution:
population is concentrated in the north, northwest, and west, reflecting the position of the Zagros and Elburz Mountains; the vast dry areas in the center and eastern parts of the country, around the deserts of the Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut, have a much lower population density

Natural hazards:
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Environment - current issues:
air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization

Environment - international agreements:
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation

Geography - note:
strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport