IRAN

Islamic Republic of Iran

Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Iran

CAPITAL : Tehran

FLAG : The national flag is a tricolor of green, white, and red horizontal stripes, the top and bottom stripes having the Arabic inscription Allah Akbar ("God Is Great") written along the edge nearest the white stripe. In the center, in red, is the coat of arms, consisting of a stylized representation of the word Allah.

ANTHEM : The national anthem begins, "On the horizon rises the Eastern Sun."

MONETARY UNIT : The rial ( R ) is a paper currency of 100 dinars. There are coins of 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 rials, and notes of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, and 10,000 rials. R 1 = $0.0001226 (or $1 = R 8,150) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES : The metric system is the legal standard, but local units are widely used.

HOLIDAYS : National Day, 11 February; Oil Nationalization Day, 20 March; No Ruz (New Year), 21– 24 March; Islamic Republic Day, 1 April; 13th Day of No Ruz (Revolution Day), 2 April. Religious holidays (according to the lunar calendar) include Birthday of Imam Husayn; Birthday of the Twelfth Imam; Martyrdom of Imam 'Ali; Death of Imam Ja'afar Sadiq; 'Id al-Fitr; Birthday of Imam Reza; 'Idi-Qurban; 'Id-i-Qadir; Shab-i-Miraj; Martyrdom of Imam Husayn; 40th Day after the Death of Imam Husayn; Birthday of the Prophet; Birthday of Imam 'Ali.

TIME : 3:30 PM = noon GMT.

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