Iranic ǀ Middle Eastern
Abbas Kiarostami, Iranian film director, producer, screenwriter
Iran is the largest country in Western Asia, formerly (and still in some British usage) known as the Near East. Iran, also called Persia, is officially known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. With over 81 million inhabitants, Iran is the world’s 18th most populous country. It is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. Iran is a regional power and holds an important position in international energy security and world economy as a result of its large reserves of petroleum and natural gas. The country’s rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 22 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the third largest number in Asia and 11th largest in the world. Iran is a multicultural country comprising numerous ethnic and linguistic groups, the largest being Persians (61%), Azeris (16%), Kurds (10%), and Lurs (6%). Iranian cinema has thrived in modern Iran, and many Iranian directors have garnered worldwide recognition for their work. Iranian movies have won over three hundred awards in the past twenty-five years including Oscars. One of the best-known directors is Abbas Kiarostami.
Iranian represents 93 unrelated Iranians who were sampled in 2004 by the Dubai Police, US FBI, and Strathclyde University in the UK.
Source publication: STR population diversity in nine eithic populations living in Dubai, FSI 152 (2005) 267-279.
[Population 248]
