What would you like to know about Iran? Below are some links that will answer most of your questions.

If you don't find the specific information you want, click on "Reference" to the left, select the appropriate specialized collection from the links provided, and search for Iran. When using the reference sources, note the date of the most recent update. Some information, such as the names of current government officials, may be out of date.

General Background:

1. Irancarto: Maps and cartographic studies on Iran and the Iranian world
   A vast array of maps dealing with Iran; edited by Bernard Hourcade of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris. Covers population, education, housing, economy, culture, gender, languages, politics, environment, urban studies. Sophisticated three language (French/English/Persian) searches can be conducted by subject, key-word, place name, period, scale, and author.
   
   
2. A "Virtual" US Embassy for Iran -- in the absence of a real embassy
   News, background, speeches, and room for comments
   
   
3. Iran: A Beginner's Guide
   An attractive multi-media primer on Iran, produced by the Council on Foreign Relations.
   
   
4. The Iran Primer
   A compilation of short, informative articles about US-Iran relations from the earliest days, plus blog entries on current events -- an encyclopedia written by more than 50 of the best experts on the subject.
   
   
5. The politics of engagement with Iran
   Hillary and Flynt Leverett, former U.S. National Security Council staffers, provide their commentary on how to deal with Iran.
   
   
6. Reporting and commentary on Iran
   The American Foreign Policy Project -- an independent consortium of specialists -- provides a gateway to materials on Iran, with special emphasis on US-Iran relations.
   
   
7. US-Iran Relations
   A site "dedicated to informing, inspiring, and elevating public discourse of relations between the United States and Iran" by Chris Ferrero of the University of Virgina.
   
   
8. Inside Iran
   A compilation of up-to-date reporting, commentary and documentation about Iran from the Century Foundation.
   
   
9. Iran's Nuclear program
   A broad array of accurate and reliable background information about the Iranian nuclear program.
   
   
10. Security Council Report
    An independent report on all activities at the UN Security Council concerning Iran, with informed background context and live links to relevant UN documentation.
    
    
11. Iran Chamber
    A well-produced site focusing on history and culture of Iran.
    
    
12. Foundation for Iranian Studies
    Scholarly journal and Oral history archives about Iran's society, economy, culture, and politics.
    
    
13. Pars Times
    Collection of websites about Iran and the Middle East.
    
    
14. Iranian Development Gateway Project
    Articles, reference material, links from the Iranian Studies Group at MIT.
    
    
15. US-Iran Relations
    An excellent history and analysis of the tumultuous relationship between Iran and the United States, with special emphasis on terrorism and the "Axis of Evil," compiled by PBS/Frontline.
    
    
16. The 1953 U.S. Countercoup Against Mossadegh
    Previously secret documents from the NYT.
    
    
17. Library of Congress Foreign Area Handbook
    Authoritative discussions of Iran's history, society, culture, economy, security. Also summaries of the historical setting of the Persian Gulf,the role of Islam, Gulf wars, and much more.
    
    
18. CIA Factbook
    A brisk and easy to use compendium of facts on Iran's history, society, politics, economy, communications, transportation, and military. Updated annually.
    
    
19. Iranian Cultural & Information Center, Stanford U.
    History, culture, geography, literature, conferences.
    
    
20. Iran Resources on the Web - Columbia University
    Links to major sites. Listings of major political and activist organizations, opposition groups.
    
    
21. Declassified documents
    National Security Archives. Previously classified US Government policy documents on Iran.
    
    
22. Iran Tourism
    Descriptions of each province; cuisine; regional tourist agencies and accommodations; visa information; free trade zones; transportation; holidays, trade fairs; and more.
    
    
23. Parthian Empire
    History and geography of this ancient Persian empire that covered all of contemporary Iran and portions of Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
    
    
24. Harvard Iran Oral History Project
    Selected transcripts of interviews with key figures in Iran from the 1920s to the 1970s.

Government:

1. Iran's Nuclear Program
   Iran's side of the story in documents and analysis.
   
   
2. Ayatollah Khamenei
   The web site of the Supreme Leader of Iran.
   
   
3. Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HESA)
   
   
   
4. Defense Industries Organization
   
   
   
5. Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
   Official statements, organization of the Ministry, visa information.
   
   
6. President Khatami's "Dialogue Among Civilizations"
   International Centre for Dialogue Among Civilizations (ICDAC). Events, publications, links, related projects.
   
   
7. Institute for Political and International Studies
   The "think tank" of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Summary of publications, conferences past and future, text of speeches.
   
   
8. Iran-US claims tribunal procedures and law
   A jurisprudential study of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal.
   
   
9. Iranian Interests Section in Washington DC
   
   
10. Iranian Embassy in Ottawa

What's New on the Web:

1. Tehran Bureau
   News and commentary about Iran from journalists inside and outside Iran.
   
   
2. Iran in the World
   A research project on Iran at the Simons Centre for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Research at the University of British Columbia.
   
   
3. Mianeh
   A self-described "independent web-based initiative" operated by the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (iwpr.net). It features articles and links about Iran. Also available in Farsi.
   
   
4. BBC Radio 4 "Uncovering Iran"
   A season of radio broadcasts covering everything from contemporary politics, recent history, and religion to plays, book readings, and food.
   
   
5. Iranian Blogs
   Reuters coverage of Iranian blogs in English plus blog items reported in Global Voices.
   
   
6. Marze Por-Gohar: Glorious Frontiers Party Website
   The website of a nationalist, secular party currently working in exile.
   
   
7. The Iran Project A one-hour documentary in six parts on changes in modern Iran since the revolution; sponsored by the Stanley Foundation, with Walter Cronkite.
   
   
8. Pars Times
   An extensive collection of links compiled by Qumars Hojjaty.
   
   
9. Iran News Watch
   Current news, archives, links, chat.
   
   
10. Neda Network
    News, business, entertainment, E-Zine, Email from a major Iranian internet company.
    
    
11. Web sites relating to Iran, compiled by Yahoo
    Includes access to chat groups, news, and specialized web pages as well as a listing of universities, government organizations, and cultural and social resources.
    
    
12. The Iranian
    Cultural and political magazine and resource for Iranian-American.
    
    
13. Iranian Students News Agency
    News from student correspondents throughout Iran.
    
    
14. Iranian Search engines Ankaboot (Spider)
    A general interest search engine: travel, news, entertainment...
    
    
15. Iranmania
    A general interest search engine: travel, news, entertainment...and livenews feed.
    
    
16. CyberIran
    News, culture, general interest. Oriented toward Iranian-Americans.
    
    
17. Foundation for Iranian Studies
    Research and publications in the field of Iranian studies.
    
    
18. Iran Expert
    News, culture, defense issues, oil & gas, economy.

National Press:

1. Media Guide
   An annotated guide to the major news and media outlets dealing with Iran, prepared by TehranBureau.com, itself a major source of information.
   
   
2. The Iranian Web Guide to the Media
   A rich and diverse selection of dailies, weeklies, monthlies, journals, news services in both English and Persian.

Demography:

Human Rights:

1. Human Rights Watch
   Click on Iran.
   
   
2. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
   Search for Iran.
   
   
3. State Department Human Rights Reports
   Search for Iran.
   
   
4. The Organization for Defending Victims of Violence (ODVV)
   A non-governmental (NGO), non-profit Organization based in Iran (Tehran), in Special Consultative Status to the ECOSOC, active in the field of human rights and humanitarian activities, with particular regard to victims of violence.

Oil/Energy & Commerce:

1. Iran Oil and Gas
   
   
   
2. Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines
   
   
   
3. Iran Construction Information Center
   
   
   
4. National Iranian Tanker Company
   
   
   
5. US Department of Energy
   Energy profile. Search for Iran.
   
   
6. International Commerce Center of Iran
   Promoting development of commercial relation between Iran and other countries. Information on companies, government, travel, weather, much more.

Bookstore:

1. The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran by Charles Kurzman (Harvard University Press, 2004)
   
   
2. Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution by Nikki Keddie (Yale University Press, 2006)
   
   
3. Who Rules Iran? The Structure of Power in the Islamic Republic by Wilfried Buchta
   
   
4. Iran by Ali Ansari (Routledge, 2004)
   
   
5. Iran's Persian Gulf Policy by Christin Marschall-Jones (RoutledgeCurzon, 2003)
   
   
6. The Making of Modern Iran: State and Society Under Riza Shah by Stephanie Cronin (RoutledgeCurzon, 2003)
   
   
7. Answering Only to God, by Geneive Abdo & Jonathan Lyons
   
   
8. The Dance of the Rose and the Nightingale (Gender, Culture, and Politics in the Middle East) by Nesta Ramazani
   
   
9. Iran and the Surrounding World: Interactions in Culture and Cultural Politics, edited by Nikki R. Keddie and Rudi Mathee
   
   
10. Reinventing Khomeini The Struggle for Reform in Iran by Daniel Brumberg, (April 2001)
    
    
11. Education, Religion and the Discourse of Cultural Reform in Qajar Iran by Monica M. Ringer
    
    
12. US Foreign Policy and the Iran Hostage Crisis by David Patrick Houghton, Cambridge Studies in International Relations, 75 (July 2001)
    
    
13. All Fall Down: America's Tragic Encounter with Iran by Gary Sick, The Iranian Revolution and the Hostage Crisis as seen from the White House.
    
    
14. Modernity and the Stateless: The Kurdish Question in Iran by Abbas Vali, (IB Tauris, 2001), 256 pp. 39.50 pounds (hardcover) ISBN 1-86064-050-8.
    
    
15. Human Rights in Iran: The Abuse of Cultural Relativism by Reza Afshari, Univ Penn Press, 2001
    
    
16. Book Information Network of Iran
    Iranian books, news groups.
    
    
17. Religion and Politics in Iran by Nikki R. Keddie (1983)
    
    
18. Revolutionary Iran : Challenge and Response in the Middle East by Rouhollah K. Ramazani (1988)
    
    
19. Daughter of Persia : A Woman's Journey from Her Father's Harem Through the Islamic Revolution by Dona Munker, Sattareh Farman Farmaian (1993)
    
    
20. In the Eye of the Storm : Women in Post-Revolutionary Iran (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) by Mahnaz Afkhami (Editor), Erika Friedl (Editor), Robin Morgon (Designer) (1994)
    
    
21. Iran's Economy Under the Islamic Republic by Jahangir Amuzegar (1997)
    
    
22. The Iran-Contra Scandal : The Declassified History (The National Security Archive Document) by Peter Kornbluh (Editor), Malcolm Byrne (Editor), Theodore Draper (1993)
    
    
23. The Iran-Iraq War : The Politics of Aggression by Farhang Rajaee (Editor), (1993)
    
    
24. The Iranian Mojahedin by Ervand Abrahamian (1992)
    
    
25. The Iranian Revolution : Its Global Impact by John L. Esposito (Editor) (1990)
    
    
26. Comprehensive History of the Jews of Iran : The Outset of the Diaspora by Habib Lavi, Hooshang Ebrami (1999)
    
    
27. Eagle and the Lion : The Tragedy of American Iranian Relations by James A. Bill (1989)
    
    
28. Forever Enemies? : American Policy & the Islamic Republic of Iran by Geoffrey Kemp (1993)
    
    
29. The Iranian Constitutional Revolution, 1906-1911 : Grassroots Democracy, Social Democracy, & the Origins of Feminism by Janet Afary (1996)
    
    
30. Iranian Intellectuals and the West : The Tormented Triumph of Nativism by Mehrzad Boroujerdi (1996)
    
    
31. The Iranians : Persia, Islam and the Soul of a Nation by Sandra MacKey (1998)
    
    
32. Islam : The View from the Edge by Richard W. Bulliet (1994)
    
    
33. Khomeinism : Essays on the Islamic Republic by Ervand Abrahamian (1993)
    
    
34. The Making of Iran's Islamic Revolution : From Monarchy to Islamic Republic by Mohsen M. Milani (1994)
    
    
35. The Priest and the King : An Eyewitness Account of the Iranian Revolution by Desmond Harney (1999)
    
    
36. Reconstructed Lives : Women and Iran's Islamic Revolution by Haleh Esfandiari (1997)
    
    
37. The State, Religion, and Ethnic Politics : Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan by Ali Banuazizi (Editor), Myron Weiner (Editor) (1988)
    
    
38. Tortured Confessions : Prisons and Public Recantations in Modern Iran by Ervand Abrahamian (1999)
    
    
39. The Turban for the Crown : The Islamic Revolution in Iran by Said Amir Arjomand (1988)
    
    
40. Blood and Oil : Inside the Shah's Iran by Manucher Farmanfarmaian, Roxane Farmanfarmaian (1999)
    
    
41. Rebels with a Cause: The Failure of the Left in Iran, by Maziar Behrooz, London, I.B.Tauris, 1999. Now also in paperback
    
    
42. The Politics of Trade in Safavid Iran: Silk for Silver 1600-1730, by Rudolph P. Matthee, Cambridge University Press, 1999.
    
    
43. Qajar Iran and the Rise of Reza Khan, 1796-1925, by Nikki R. Keddie, Costa Mesa, Mazda, 1999, paperback, many photos.
    
    
44. Saffron Sky; A Life Between Iran and America, by Gelareh Asayesh, Beacon Press, November 1999. A memoir about life in contemporary Iran and the emotional landscape of the immigrant.
    
    
45. Reason, Freedom, and Democracy in Islam. BY ABDOLKARIM SOROUSH, TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY MAHMOUD SADRI AND AHMAD SADRI. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, 236 pp.
    
    
46. Takeover in Tehran: The Inside Story of the 1979 U.S. Embassy Capture by Massoumeh Ebtekar as told to Fred A. Reed
    
    
47. Iran, Islam and Democracy: The Politics of Managing Change by Ali M. Ansari (RIIA, December 2000).
    
    
48. Iran at the Crossroads edited by John L. Esposito and R. K. Ramazani (Palgrave, January 2001). $49.95 (cloth). ISBN 0-312-23816.
    
    
49. Religion and War in Revolutionary Iran by Saskia Gieling (I.B. Tauris, 2000). 39.50 Pounds (hardcover). ISBN 1-86064-407-4.
    
    
50. The Eclipse of the Qajars and the Emergence of the Pahlavis by Homa Katouzian (I.B. Tauris, 2000). 39.50 pounds (hardcover). ISBN 1-86064-359-0.
    
    
51. Neither East Nor West : One Woman's Journey Through the Islamic Republic of Iran by Christiane Bird (2001)
    
    
52. Post-Revolutionary Politics in Iran by David Menashri, Frank Cass, 2000.