Iran (Persian) officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, is a country in Central Eurasia and Western Asia. The name Iran has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was also known to the western world as Persia. Both Persia and Iran are used interchangeably in cultural contexts; however, Iran is the name used officially in political contexts.

Iran has a hot, dry climate characterized by long, hot, dry summers and short, cool winters. Iran climate is influenced by Iran's location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian Desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. January is the coldest month, with temperatures from 5°C to 10°C, and August is the hottest month at 20°C to 30°C or more.

Most international foods are found in the deluxe hotels, but the local food, lightly seasoned, is excellent and should be sampled as often as possible. Try some regional specialties: nougat in Isfahan, pistachios in Rafsanjan, dates in Bam and bergamot jam in Shiraz and northern Iran. Rice is a national staple and is cooked superbly. Local dishes include tasty shrimp, lamb and chicken dishes (most meat is grilled), fruit, vegetables, yogurt and desserts.

Iran is a country with a dress code and respecting Islamic rules including “Hijab” or the Islamic dress-code is a necessity in Iran. However such rules are not observed strictly, especially for tourists and foreigners. Basically, the rules are quite simple: for men, no short pants or extreme short sleeve and tight shirts. For women, head and hair must be covered, and it is also necessary to wear something loose to cover the body.