Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran.

It also serves as the capital of Tehran province. It acts as the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District. The city is a massive urban center with a huge population. Approximately 9 million people live within the city limits. The larger metropolitan area contains about 16.8 million people. This makes Tehran the most populous city in West Asia. It is also the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East, following Cairo. Globally, it ranks as the 24th-most-populous metropolitan area.

Greater Tehran is a large region made of many different municipalities. These include cities like Karaj, Eslamshahr, Shahriar, and Qods. Other parts of the metropolitan area include Malard, Golestan, Varamin, and Pakdasht. It also encompasses Qarchak, Nasimshahr, Parand, Pardis, Andisheh, and Fardis. The city sits at the foot of the Alborz mountains. One theory for the name "Tehran" comes from the Persian words "Tah" and "Ran." "Tah" means end or bottom, while "Ran" means mountain slope. This refers to the city's location at the bottom of the mountain slope.

The history of this region stretches back over 6,000 years. In ancient times, the area was part of the Median region. A prominent Median city called Rhages once occupied part of this territory. Rhages was a very important city in classical antiquity. It was mentioned in the Avesta as a sacred place. However, Rhages was eventually destroyed during medieval Arab, Turkic, and Mongol invasions. Some people who escaped the destruction of Rhages moved to Tehran. The modern area of Ray was later absorbed into the Greater Tehran metropolitan area.

Tehran became the capital of Iran in 1786. This was decided by Agha Mohammad Khan of the Qajar dynasty.

He chose Tehran for several strategic reasons. He wanted to be close to territories in the Caucasus. These lands were often contested during the Russo-Iranian Wars. He also wanted to avoid the powerful political factions in other cities. Previous capitals like Isfahan and Shiraz had strong local loyalties. Tehran lacked a large urban structure at the time. This made it easier for him to rule without resistance.

During the 19th century, the city underwent significant changes. Under the reign of Naser al-Din Shah, Tehran modernized quickly. It gained its first bank, museum, and railway line. It also saw the establishment of its first institute of higher learning. The Golestan Palace was significantly rebuilt and expanded in 1865.

This palace is now a recognized World Heritage Site. Large-scale construction projects also began in the 1920s. During the 20th century, many people migrated to the city from across Iran. This caused the population to grow very rapidly.

Tehran is a major cultural "melting pot" today. Most residents are Persian and speak the Persian language. About 99% of the population uses Persian. However, many other ethnolinguistic groups live there too. The city hosts more Azerbaijanis than any other city in the world. Visitors can see famous landmarks like the Azadi Tower. This memorial was built in 1971 for the Persian Empire's anniversary.

You can also see the Milad Tower, which is the sixth-tallest self-supporting tower in the world.

Another modern feature is the Tabiat Bridge, completed in 2014.

The city is a major hub for transportation and tourism. It is served by Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport.

Residents use the Tehran Metro, trolleybuses, and a Bus Rapid Transit system. Despite its growth, the city faces modern challenges. Air pollution, earthquakes, and water scarcity are serious concerns. Some people have even suggested moving the capital to a new area. In 2016, Tehran was ranked 203rd for quality of life by Mercer. Yet, it was also one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world.