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	{{Refimprove\|date=April 2007}}
	{{otheruses}}
	{{Infobox Settlement
	\|official_name = Tehran
	\|native_name = تهران ''''
	\|nickname = The city of 72 nations.
	\|image_skyline = Tehran_skyline_may_2007.jpg
	\|imagesize = 300px
	\|image_caption = View of Tehran with ] in the distance
	\|image_flag =
	\|image_seal = Shahrdari_Tehran.svg
	\|sealsize = 52px
	\|image_map =
	\|mapsize =
	\|map_caption =
	\|pushpin_map = Iran <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/Template:Location_map -->
	\|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
	\|pushpin_map_caption =
	\|pushpin_mapsize =
	\|subdivision_type = Country
	\|subdivision_name = {{IRN}}
	\|subdivision_type1 = ]
	\|subdivision_name1 = ]
	\|subdivision_type2 =
	\|subdivision_name2 =
	\|subdivision_type3 =
	\|subdivision_name3 =
	\|subdivision_type4 =
	\|subdivision_name4 =
	\|leader_title = Mayor
	\|leader_name = ]
	\|established_title =
	\|established_date = 1979
	\|area_magnitude =
	\|area_metro_km2 = 18814
	\|area_metro_sq_mi = 7264
	\|area_land_km2 =
	\|area_land_sq_mi =
	\|area_water_km2 =
	\|area_water_sq_mi =
	\|area_water_percent =
	\|area_total_km2 = 686
	\|area_total_sq_mi = 265
	\|population_as_of = 2006
	\|population_note = Population Data from 2006 Census and Tehran Municipality.<ref>Statistical Center of Iran 2006 Census website </ref><ref></ref> Metro area figure refers to ].
	\|population_metro = 13,413,348
	\|population_urban = 7,705,036
	\|population_density_sq_mi = 29424.6
	\|population_blank1_title = Population Rank in Iran
	\|population_blank1 = ]
	\|timezone = ]
	\|utc_offset = +3:30
	\|timezone_DST = ]
	\|utc_offset_DST = +4:30
	\|latd = 35 \| latm = 41 \| lats = 46.28 \| latNS = N
	\|longd = 51 \| longm = 25 \| longs = 22.66 \| longEW = E
	\|elevation_m = 1200
	\|elevation_ft = 3900
	\|website =
	\|footnotes =
	}}

	'''Tehran''' (or ''Teheran'') ({{Audio-IPA\|En-Tehran Pronunciation.ogg\|tʰehˈɾɒn}}; {{lang-fa\|تهران ''Tehrān''}}) is the capital and largest ] of ], and the administrative center of ]. Tehran is a sprawling city at the foot of the ] mountain range (the highest point in the ] (1,191 m, 3,900 ft)) with an immense network of highways unparalleled in ]. Tehran is famous for its numerous ski resorts on the Alborz slopes, large museums, art centers, and palace complexes. Tehran is the largest city in the Middle East and is the most populated city in South Western Asia with a population of 7,404,515 and approximately 15 million in ].

	Most Iranian industries are headquartered in Tehran. The industries include the manufacturing of automobiles, electrical equipment, military weaponry, textiles, sugar, cement, and chemical products. It is also a leading center for the sale of carpets and furniture. There is also an oil refinery located in south of the city.<ref>. ''Tehran Oil Refining Company Official Website''</ref>

	In the 20th century, Tehran faced a large migration of people from all around Iran. Today, the city contains a mix of various ethnic and religious minorities, and is filled with many historic ]s, ], ]s and ] ]s.{{Fact\|date=September 2008}}

	==History==
	]
	]
	]
	The origin of the name Tehran is unknown. ] place the existence of settlements in Tehran as far back as 6000 BCE.{{Fact\|date=October 2007}} Tehran was well known as a village in the 9th century, but was less well-known than the city of ] (Ray) which was flourishing nearby in the early era. In the 13th century, following the destruction of Ray by ], many of its inhabitants escaped to Tehran. In some sources of the early era, the city is mentioned as "Rhages's Tehran" . The city is later mentioned in ]'s ''Nuz'hat al-Qulub'' (written in 1340) as a famous village.

	Don ], a ] ambassador, was probably the first European to visit Tehran, stopping in July 1404, while on a journey to ] (now in ]) and the ] capital at the time. At this time, the city of Tehran was unwalled.

	Tehran became a residence of the ] rulers in the 17th century. ] built a ] and a wall around the city, but it somewhat fell out of favor after ] turned sick when he was passing the city to go to a war with the ].

	In the early of 18th century, ] ordered a ], a ]{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}, and a government office to be built in Tehran, possibly to declare the city his capital, but later moved his government to ]. Tehran finally became the capital of ] in 1795, when the ] king ] was crowned in the city. It remains the capital to this day.

	During ], ] and ] troops entered the city. Tehran was the site of the ] in 1943, attended by ] ], ] ], and ] ].

	Following the war, the city's older landmarks suffered under the rule of ]. The Shah believed that ancient buildings such as large parts of the ], Takieh-ye Dowlat, the ] (pictured to the right), the magnificent city fortifications and the old citadel among others should not be part of a modern city. They were systematically destroyed and modern 1950s and 1960s buildings were built in their place. Tehran bazar was divided in half and many historic buildings were destroyed in order to build wide straight avenues in the capital. Many excellent examples of Persian Gardens also became targets to new construction projects. The decision to carry these out is presently largely seen as a foolish mistake that hurt the visual fabric and the cultural identity of the city beyond repair. Apartment blocks are introduced in this period.

	During the 1980–88 ], Tehran was the scene of repeated ] missile attacks and air strikes against random residential and industrial targets within the city, resulting in thousands of civilian casualties. Material damage was repaired soon after each strike. Tehran attracted war refugees by the millions.

	After the war, cheap Soviet-style apartments multiplied throughout the city without any plan. At present, little is left of Tehran's old quarters. Instead, modern high-rise buildings dominate the city's skyline and new modern apartments have and are replacing the few remaining old houses at a rapid pace. ] has almost vanished completely. This is often referred to as "Tehran Identity Disaster".{{Fact\|date=October 2007}}

	Tehran is also home to many grand mansions in ] and the ] District.

	==Climate==
	{{climate chart\|]
	\|-0.5\|7.8\|34
	\|1.1\|10.4\|32
	\|5.2\|15.3\|40
	\|11.2\|22.1\|31
	\|16\|27.9\|15
	\|20.8\|33.9\|3
	\|23.8\|36.6\|2
	\|23.2\|35.6\|2
	\|19.3\|31.5\|1
	\|13.2\|24.3\|11
	\|6.6\|16.2\|26
	\|1.6\|10\|34
	\|float=right
	\|clear=both
	\|source=
	}}

	] mountain on the background.]]
	Tehran's climate is largely defined by its geographic location, with the towering ] to its North and the central desert to the South. It can be generally described as mild in the spring, hot and dry in the summer, cool and rainy in autumn and cold in the winter. As a large city with a significant differences in elevation among various districts, the weather is often cooler in the hilly north as compared to the flat southern part of Tehran.
	Summer is usually hot and dry with very little rain. The majority of precipitation occurs from mid-autumn to mid-spring. The hottest month is July (mean minimum temperature 23°C, mean maximum temperature 36°C) and the coldest is January (mean minimum temperature -1°C, mean maximum temperature 8°C)<ref name="IranTour"> </ref><br />
	Although compared to other parts of the country, Tehran enjoys a moderate climate, weather conditions can sometimes be unpredictably harsh. The record high temperature is 48°C and the record low is -20°C. On January 5 & 6, 2008, after years of relatively little snow, a wave of heavy snow and low temperatures shocked the city covering it in a thick layer of snow and ice, forcing the Council of Ministers to officially declare an state of emergency and calling the following two days (January 6th and 7th) off for the capital.<ref name="IRNA"></ref>

	{\| class="wikitable" "text-align:center;font-size:90%;"\|
	\|+ '''Monthly Normal High and Low Temperatures For 3 Districts of Tehran'''
	\|-
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color: #000000" height="17" \| District
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="January" \| Jan
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="February" \| Feb
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="March" \| Mar
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="April" \| Apr
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="May" \| May
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="June" \| Jun
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="July" \| Jul
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="August" \| Aug
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="September" \| Sep
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="October" \| Oct
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="November" \| Nov
	! style="background: #E5AFAA; color:#000000;" abbr="December" \| Dec
	! style="background: #B22222; color:#000000;" abbr="Annual" \| Annual
	\|-
	! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" \| ]
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| -0.4 </br> 7.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 1.2 </br> 10.4
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 5.4</br> 15.4
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 11.2</br> 22.1
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 16.1</br> 27.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 20.9</br> 33.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 23.9</br> 36.6
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 23.3</br> 35.6
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 19.3</br> 31.6
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 13.3</br> 24.4
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 6.7</br> 16.2
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 1.7</br> 10
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F0E68C; color:#000000;" \| '''11.9</br> 22.7'''
	\|-
	! style="background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" height="16;" \| ]
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 0.8</br> 6.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 2.1</br> 9.2
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 5.7</br> 13.4
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 11.6</br> 20.3
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 15.9</br> 15.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 21.8</br> 21.8
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 25.0</br> 34.5
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 24.6</br> 34.1
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 20.5</br> 29.8
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 14.4</br> 22.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 7.5</br> 14.6
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #C5DFE1; color:#000000;" \| 2.9</br> 8.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #5F9EA0; color:#000000;" \| '''12.7</br> 21'''
	\|-
	! style="background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" height="16;" \| ]
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| -1.5</br> 6.1
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| -0.2</br> 8.1
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 4.0</br> 12.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 9.8</br> 19.8
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 14.0</br> 25.0
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 19.6</br> 31.2
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 22.6</br> 33.9
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 21.9</br> 33.5
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 17.5</br> 29.3
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 11.6</br> 22.4
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 5.4</br> 14.3
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F8F3CA; color:#000000;" \| 1.0</br> 8.6
	\| style="text-align:center; background: #F0E68C; color:#000000;" \| '''10.5</br> 20.4'''
	\|-
	\| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;"\|Temperatures listed using the ] scale
	\|-
	\| colspan="14" style="text-align:center;font-size:90%;background:#E8EAFA;"\|Source: '', ''
	\|}

	== Demographics ==
	]

	The city of Tehran had a population of about 8 million people at the time of the last official census in 2006 <ref>http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_census85/census85/natayej/</ref>.

	With its cosmopolitan air, Tehran houses diverse ethnic and linguistics groups from all over the country and represents the ethnic/linguistic composition of Iran (though with a different percentage). More than 60 percent of Tehranis were born outside Tehran.

	Today the majority of Tehran residents are known as ] who speak many different dialects of Persian corresponding to their hometown, including ]i, ]i, ]i, ], ], ], etc. However, the main dialect of Iranians is pure ]. The second largest linguistic group is that of the ].<ref></ref>

	Other minority groups include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], etc. There are also a number of a few long established linguistic minorities such as ] traders from ] (]) & ] ] as well as a small amount ethnic ] who have resided in Northern Iran for centuries. A number of ]ine Arabic speakers of ] origin also live in Tehran.

	Tehran saw a drastic change in its ethno-social composition in early 1980s. Following the political, social and economic consequences of the ] in 1979 and onwards, many Iranian citizens, mostly Tehranis left Iran due to mounting political, social and most importantly religious pressure. Many Iranians fled to countries such as ], ], many European countries, ] and even as far as ] and ]. The highest Iranian emigration is to the ] and ].

	With the start of the ] (1980-1988) following an Iraqi invasion, a second wave of inhabitants fled the city especially under Iraqi air offensive on the capital. With most major powers backing Iraq at that time, economic isolation caused even more reasons for the inhabitants to leave the city (and the country). Having left all they had and having struggled to adapt to a new country and build a life, most of them never came back when the war was over. During the war, Tehran also received a great number of migrants from the west and the southwest of the country bordering Iraq.

	The unstable situation and the war in neighboring ] and ] prompted a rush of refugees into the country who came in millions, with Tehran being a magnet for modest workers who helped the city to recover from war wounds, charging far less than local construction workers. Many of these refugees are being repatriated with the assistance of ] but there are still sizeable ] and ] refugees in Tehran who are reluctant to leave, being pessimistic about the situation in their country. Afghan refugees are mostly Persian-speaking ] or ], speaking a dialect of Persian, and Iraqi refugees, who are mainly ] ]n Arabic-speakers of Iranian origin.

	The majority of Tehranis are the followers of ] which is also the state religion. Religious minorities include followers of various sects of ], ], ], ], and ] (including the adherents of the ], ], ], ], ], Iranian Protestant churches, Kelisa-ye Khanegi-ye Iraniyan, ], ] (Assemblies of God), ], ], and the ]). There are also small groups of ], ], ], ], ], ], ]s, ], ], ], ] and the followers of ].

	Despite being the seat of a theological government and the fact that most important religious unions and academies of the country are based in Tehran, the city remains the most secular and liberal in the nation, a fact that attracts many youngsters from elsewhere to study in the capital.

	== Architecture and landmarks ==
	]]]
	]
	:''See also ]''
	Tehran is a relatively old city; as such, it has an architectural tradition unique to itself. Archaeological investigations and excavations in Tehran demonstrate that this area was home to civilizations as far back as 6,000 years BC. Tehran served only as a village to a relatively small population for most of its history, but began to take a more considerable role in Iran after it was made the capital in the late 18th century. Despite the occurrence of earthquakes during the ] period and before, some buildings still remain from Tehran's era of antiquity.<ref>. ''Tehran''</ref> Today Tehran is Iran's ], and has the most modernized infastructure in the country; however, the ] of old neighborhoods and the demolition of buildings of cultural significance has caused concerns.<ref>. Library of Congress. Accessed 04-13-2008.</ref>

	The ] has been the longstanding symbol of Tehran. It was constructured to commemorate the ], and was originally named "Shahyad Tower"; after the ], its name changed to "Azadi Tower," meaning "Freedom Tower." The recently constructed ] may eventually replace the Azadi Tower as Tehran's new symbol. The Milad complex contains the world's ], several restaurants, a five star hotel, a convention center, a world trade center, and an IT park.<ref>. ''Milad Tower''</ref> Traditionally a low-lying city due to seismic activity in the region, modern high rise developments in Tehran have been undertaken in order to service its growing population.

	The tallest residential building in Iran is a 54-story building located North of ] district, the ]. It is architecturally designed similar to ] Resort and Casino on the ] in the ] community of ], ], ].<ref name="autogenerated1">. ''Tehran International Tower Website''</ref> Appealing to the principle of vertical rather than horizontal expansion of the city, the Tehran International Tower is bound to the North by Youssef Abad, to the South By Hakim Highway, to the East by Kordesstan Highway and to the West by Sheikh Bahai Highway, all of which facilitate access to various parts of the city.<ref name="autogenerated1" />

	<center>
	<gallery>
	Image:Building-k.jpg\|Keshavarz Blvd
	Image:BorjeSefidTehran.jpg\|The White Tower, Borje Sefid, in ] Avenue
	Image:Elahiyeh.gif\|Modern highrises of ] district
	Image:Meydoon_sadeghiyeh.jpg\|Goldiss Building at Sadeghieh
	Image:Tehran_tower.jpg\|], A.S.P complex
	<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Azadiiran.jpg\|] -->
	Image:vanak.jpg\|Kordestan Highway
	Image:Borje_Tehran1.JPG\|Tehran International Tower

	<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Zoroastrian_fire_temple_in_Tehran.jpg\|''Ātash'kadeh'', or ''Ātash'gadeh'' (] Fire Temple) in Tehran -->
	</gallery></center>

	==Location and subdivisions==
	Tehran county borders ] county to the north, ] county to the east, ], ], and ] counties to the south, and ] and ] counties to the west.

	===Neighborhoods and districts of Tehran===

	]
	The city of Tehran is divided into 22 municipal districts, each with its own administrative centers.

	Within these 22 districts, Tehran contains the following major neighborhoods:

	], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ],], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], etc.

	For a map of the relative locations of the neighborhoods and the full list, see ].

	====Older neighborhoods====
	Tehran's old city fabric changed dramatically during the ] era. Some of the older remaining districts of Tehran are: ], ], ], ], ]. Chaleh Meydan is the oldest neighborhood of the aforementioned.

	==Economy==
	{{seealso\|Economy of Iran}}
	About 30% of Iran’s public-sector workforce and 45% of large industrial firms are located in Tehran and almost half of these workers work for the government.{{Fact\|date=June 2007}} Most of the remainder of workers are factory workers, shopkeepers, laborers, and transport workers. Few foreign companies operate in Tehran because of the ] and its poor relations with the west. But before the ] many western companies were active in this region. Today many modern industries of this city include the manufacturing of automobiles, electronics and electrical equipment, weaponry, textiles, sugar, cement, and chemical products. It is also a leading center for the sale of carpets and furniture. There is an oil refinery near ], south of the city. Tehran has four airports, including ], ], ] and ].

	Tehran relies heavily on private cars, buses, motorcycles, and taxis, and is one of the most car-dependent cities in the world. The ], which is a full member of the ] (FIBV) and a founding member of the ], has been one of the world's best performing stock exchanges in recent years.<ref>]: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3129995.stm</ref>

	==Transportation==
	{{seealso\|Transport in Iran\|List of Tehran metro stations\|Tehran Monorail}}
	]]]
	The metropolis of Tehran enjoys a huge network of highways (280 km) and of interchanges, ramps, and loops (180km). In ] there were 130 kilometers of highways and 120 kilometers of ramps and loops under construction.<ref>. ''An Educational Website about Tehran''</ref>
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] -->
	Tehran has one of the cleanest and most convenient metro systems, in terms of accessibility to different parts of the city, in the region. The feasibility study and conceptual planning of the construction were started in 1970s. In 2001, the first two of its seven envisaged lines of metro were opened to public usage.

	Development of the ] had been interrupted by the ] and the ]. Problems arising from the late completion of the metro led to buses taking on the role of the metro lines, serving mainly long distance routes. Taxis filled the void for local journeys. The taxis only drive on main avenues, and only within the local area, so it may be necessary to take several taxis to get to one's final destination. This has all led to extreme congestion and air pollution within the city. Since the completion of the first 3 phases of the Metro, some of these above problems have been mitigated.
	<!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: ] -->
	Tehran is served by ], an old airport which doubles as a military base, located in the Western part of the city, and ], located 50 kilometers (31 mi) south, which handles international flights.

	Tehran also has a central train station with connecting services round the clock to various cities in the country. There are four bus terminals that also provide connections at low fares. These are the ''South'', ''East'', ''West'', and ''Bei-haghi Park-Drive'' Terminals.

	While the center of the city houses the government ministries and headquarters, the commercial centers are more located toward ], ], and ] further north. Although administratively separate, ], ], and ] are often considered part of the larger Tehran metropolitan area.

	==Pollution==
	{{seealso \|Environmental issues in Iran}}
	]
	<!-- Restored undeleted image that was replaced by a deleted one, once again: ] -->
	<!-- Deleted image removed: ] -->
	Tehran suffers from severe air pollution and the city is often covered by ] making breathing difficult and causing widespread pulmonary illnesses. It is estimated that about 27 people die each day from pollution-related diseases.<ref>The ]: http://www.bbc.co.uk/persian/iran/story/2006/09/060909_mv-pollution-tehran.shtml</ref> According to local officials, 3,600 people died in a single month due to the hazardous air quality.<ref>The ]: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6245463.stm</ref>

	The air pollution is due to several different reasons{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}: 1) Economical: most Iranian industries are located on the outskirts of Tehran. The city is also overrun with old and aging cars which do not meet today's emission regulations. Furthermore, Iran's busiest airport, ], is located in the west of the city; 2) Infrastructure: Tehran has a poor public transportation network. Buses and metros do not cover every area of the city. Most people are then obliged to either use private cars or hire taxis. This has created severe ]; 3) Geographical: Tehran is bound in the north by the massive ] mountain range that is stopping the flow of the humid Caspian wind. As a result, ] that traps Tehran's polluted air is frequently observed. The lack of humidity and clouds makes Tehran a very sunny city. The UV radiations then combined with the existing pollutants significantly raise the level of the ].

	The government, however, is engaged in a battle to reduce the air pollution.{{Fact\|date=June 2007}} It has for instance encouraged taxis and buses to convert from petrol engines to engines that run on ]. Furthermore, since 1979 the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has set up a "Traffic Zone" (طرح ترافیک) covering the city center during peak traffic hours. Entering and driving inside this zone is only allowed with a special permit. The government is also trying to raise people's awareness about the hazards of the pollution. One method that is currently been employed is the installation of Pollution Indicator Boards all around the city to monitor the current level of ] (PM10), ] (NO<sub>2</sub>), ozone (O<sub>3</sub>), ] (SO<sub>2</sub>), and ] (CO). The board also displays the ] (PSI), which is a general indication of air quality based on the measurements of the above-mentioned five pollutants. The Pollution Indicator Boards classify the level of each pollutants as either safe, hazardous or dangerous. 80% of the city's pollution is due to cars.<ref>http://www.payvand.com/news/09/jan/1007.html</ref>
	In 2007 Iran imposed fuel rations and since the use of cars has thereafter declined, streets are less congested and the air quality has improved. The main reason for this rationing was to reduce fuel consumption, so that fuel is not imported eventually.

	==Education and research==
	{{Seealso\|Education in Iran\|List of colleges and universities in Tehran\|Science in Iran}}

	Tehran is the biggest and most important educational center of Iran. Today there are nearly 50 major colleges and universities total in ].

	Since the establishment of ] in the mid 1800s, Tehran has amassed a large number of institutions of higher education. Some of these institutions have played crucial roles in the unfolding of Iranian political events. ], whom Jordan Avenue in Tehran is named after, was also one of the founding pioneers of the ].
	Among major educational institutsions located in Tehran, ], is the most prestigous university of Iran and ] is the oldest state university in Iran and one of the oldest in Central Asia and Middle East.

	] (]), ], ], ] (]), ], and ] are other highly ranked universities of Iran located in Tehran.


	Tehran is also home to Iran's largest military academy, and several religious schools and seminaries.

	==Sport==
	<!-- Deleted image removed: ] (former Aryamehr),has a capacity of 100,000 people making it Iran's national and largest stadium, located at Tehran city.]] -->
	{{Seealso\|Sport in Iran}}
	Tehran was the first city in the Middle East to host the ]. The ], was held with the participation of 2,363 athletes and officials from 25 countries.

	Tehran is also the site of Iran's national football stadium on ] with 100,000 ]. Many of the top matches of Iran's Premier League are held here. In 2005, ] ordered Iran to limit spectators allowed into Azadi stadium because of a fatal crush and inadequate safety procedures. Other stadiums in Tehran are ], ], and Shahid Shirudi Stadium, among others.

	]. The ski resort of Dizin is situated to the north of Tehran in the ] range.]] Within 10 minutes driving distance from Tehran lies a ski resort. ] is the world's fifth highest ski resort, at over 3,730 metres (12,240 ft) at its highest ''7th station''. The resort was completed in 1976 shortly before the overthrow of the Shah.

	Here, one must first ride the eight kilometre (five mile) long gondola lift which covers a huge vertical. The 7th station has three slopes. The resort's longest slope is the south side U shaped slope which goes from the 7th station to 5th station. The other two slopes are located on the north side of the 7th station. Here, there are two parallel chair ski lifts that go up to 3,900 metres (12,795 ft) near Tochal's peak (at 4,000 m/13,125 ft), rising higher than the gondola 7th station. This altitude is higher than any of the European resorts.

	From the Tochal peak, one has a spectacular view of the Alborz range, including the 5,671 metre (18,606 ft) high ], a dormant volcano.

	At the bottom of the lifts in a valley behind the Tochal peak is Tochal hotel, located at 3,500 metres (11,483 ft) altitude. From there a T lift takes skiers up the 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) of Shahneshin peak, where the third slope of Tochal is.

	Tochal 7th station has skiing eight months of the year. But there are also some glaciers and year-round snow fields near Tehran where skiing began in 1938, thanks to the efforts of two German railway engineers. Today, 12 ski resorts operate in Iran, but the most famous are ], ], and ], all within one to three hours of Tehran.

	===Football===

	In ], Tehran is host to six football clubs in ], namely:

	{\| class="wikitable"
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|Club
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|Sport
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|Founded
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|League
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|Head Coach
	! style="background: #D8E2EF; color:#000080;" \|More Info
	\|-
	\|]<ref>. ''Esteghlal F.C.''</ref>
	\|]
	\|1945
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|-
	\|]<ref>. ''Persepolis F.C.''</ref>
	\|]
	\|1963
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|-
	\|]
	\|]
	\|1964
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|Moved to Ray City since July 2008
	\|-
	\|]
	\|]
	\|1967
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|Belongs to ] since July 2008
	\|-
	\|]<ref>. ''Saba Battery F.C.''</ref>
	\|]
	\|2002
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|Belongs to ] since July 2008
	\|-
	\|]<ref>. ''Saipa F.C.''</ref>
	\|]
	\|1989
	\|] (IPL)
	\|]
	\|-
	\|}

	These clubs have on numerous occasions won Asian titles, and some of their players are known internationally.<ref>. ''The official site of Asia's premier club competition''</ref> The prominent matches are usually held at ].

	==Tourism and attractions==
	{{Seealso\|Tourism in Iran}}
	Tehran, as Iran's showcase and historical capital city, has a wealth of cultural attractions. The ] of the Persian Kings (]s) can be found in Tehran's ]. Some of the well-known museums are ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The ] features the works of great artists such as ], ] and ]. The collection of these paintings was selected by the former Empress Farrah Diba.{{Fact\|date=June 2007}}

	Tehran is also home to the ], also called the Imperial Crown Jewels of Persia, its is claimed to be the largest, most dazzling and valuable jewel collection in the world. The collection comprises a set of crowns and thrones, some 30 tiaras, numerous aigrettes, jewel-studded swords and shields, a vast amount of precious loose gems, including the largest collections of emeralds, rubies and diamonds in the world. It also includes other items collected by the Shahs of Iran during the 2,500 year existence of the Iranian Kingdom.
	The Imperial Crown Jewels are still on display in the ] in Tehran.

	The following table shows some places for outdoors activities in Tehran:
	{\| class="wikitable" style="float:center; clear:right; margin-right:0; margin-left:1em; font-size:80%; text-align:center"
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ] hiking trail
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ] hiking trail
	\| ] hiking trail
	\| ]
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ] and Golf course
	\| ]
	\| ] Forest Park
	\| ] Forest Park
	\| ] National Park
	\| ]
	\|-
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ] Protected Natural Habitat
	\| ] Protected Natural Habitat
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\| ]
	\|}

	===Religious centers===
	*]
	*Soltani Mosque, built by ]
	*Atiq Mosque, built in 1663.
	*Mo'ezz o-dowleh mosque, built by ]
	*Haj Seyd Azizollah mosque, built by ]
	*Al-javad mosque, Iran's first modernist design mosque.
	*The Old Sepahsalar mosque, another prominent ] era mosque.
	*The new Sepahsalar mosque (Madreseh e Motahari)
	*Filsuf o-dowleh Mosque, Qajar era
	*Moshir ol-Saltaneh Mosque, Qajar era
	*Mo'ayyer ol-Mamalik Mosque, Qajar era
	*] Mausoleum
	*''Javan-mard Qassab'' Mausoleum, a pre-Islamic semi-mythical hero
	*Dozens of Imam-zadeh shrines, hundreds of years old, including that of ].
	*Dozens of ]s: traditional places of prayer
	*Several ]s: traditional places for mourning Muharram ceremonies for ].
	*'']'' cemetery, where many Iranian giants such as ] and ] are buried.
	*'']'' cemetery, where many Iranian giants of art and culture such as ], ], ], ], ], and ] are buried.
	*Kordan Tomb, ] era, ].
	*Maydanak Tomb, 13th century, Karaj
	*The Polish Cemetery 1-north of Tehran in British Gholhak Garden, where numerous ] western Allied soldiers are buried. 2- Polish cemetery (Catholic cemetery) Dulab south of Tehran
	*Orthodox Cemetery, Dulab/The Russian Unknown Soldier's Tomb (Cenotaph) is located here with a red star over it
	*Tower of silence (Dakhme gabrha). Located on Moshiryh Road behind 7th unit of Tehran cement factory. It is circular in shape.
	* Naghare Khane Tower. Located on a mountain with same name (Nagharekhane) in Haftdastagh District, beside Amin Abad Road. Its age is not clear but it is related to the Seljuk Era. This tower is the tomb of a Seljuk king. Under the tower you can see other historical ruins (Einanj Dome). This place is a royal cemetery and was used in the early years of the Islamic Era in Persia.
	====Churches====
	]
	*], 1970 <ref></ref>
	*Saint George Church, 1790
	*] Bartoqimus Church, 1808
	*Tatavus Church, from the Qajar era
	*Enjili Church, 1867
	*Assyrian Church

	==The Mayor of Tehran==
	{{main\|Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf}}

	*''See also: ]''
	*''See also: ]''

	==Sister cities==
	*] ], ] (2006) <small></small>
	*] ], ] (2005) <small></small>
	*] ], ] (2001) <small></small>
	*] ], ] (19 March 1993) <ref>http://www.hoteleslondres.org.es/londonhotels/Sister-cities-london.php</ref>
	*] ], ] (26 May 1972)<small></small>
	*] ], ] (2002) <small></small>
	*] ], ] (2004) <small> </small>
	*] ], ] (2006) <small></small>

	== Events ==
	*'''1974 Asian Games''': The 7th ] were held from September 1, 1974 to September 16, 1974 in Tehran, ]. The ] was made for the Games. The Asian Games were hosted in the Middle East for the first time. Tehran, the capital of Iran, played host to 3,010 athletes coming from 25 countries/NOCs, the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.<ref>. ''Asian Games''</ref>
	*'''1976 AFC Asian Cup''': The ] was the sixth edition of the Asian Nations Cup, the football (soccer) championship of Asia (AFC). It was hosted by ]. The field of six teams was split into two groups of three. Iran won their third title in a row, beating ] in the final 1-0.<ref>. ''AFC Asian Cup''</ref>
	*'''1997 1st West Asian Games''': The 1st ] was first organized in Tehran from 19 to 28 November 1997. It was considered the first of their kind. The success of the games led to the creation of the West Asian Games Federation (WAGF) and the intention of hosting the games every two year.<ref>. ''West Asian Games''</ref>

	== Pictures ==
	<center>
	<gallery>
	<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Winter tehran2.jpg\|Tehran in Winter -->
	Image:Tehran Hasanabad.jpg\|] district near the old ]
	<!-- Deleted image removed: Image:Atisazap.jpg\|Modern Highrises of Atisaz, Residential Complex -->
	<!-- Image:Niabarf.jpg\|Niavaran District -->
	Image:Pasdaran_Street_Tehran.jpg\|]
	Image:Tehran-Alborz-March_2006.jpg\|Iran has the most extensive highway network in western Asia.
	Image:Azadi_Monument.jpg\|] (]) Square
	Image:DisplayImageCA9NH8KO.jpg\| A Highway in Tehran
	Image:Tehrandarabad.jpg\|Tehran from ]
	Image:Valieasr.jpg\|A busy street in Tehran
	Image:Tehran &Milad Tower In Night.jpg\|View of Tehran at night
	</gallery>
	</center>

	===Panoramic view===
	{{wide image\|Panorama 1 Large.jpg\|1200px\|Panoramic view from Tehran.}}
	{{wide image\|Tehran Night Panorama.jpg\|1200px\|Panoramic view from Tehran at night.}}

	==See also==
	*]
	*]
	*]
	<!-- *] -->
	*]
	*]
	*{{wikitravelpar\|Tehran}}
	*]
	*]
	*]

	==References==
	{{reflist\|2}}

	==External links==
	{{commons\|Tehran}}
	{{coord\|35.6962\|51.423\|type:city\|display=title}}
	* (with pictures)
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*
	* Shapour Bahrami, ''Tehran, Iran'', Photo Set, .
	* Shapour Bahrami, ''The Sepahsalar Mosque, Tehran'', Photo Set (the photo stream is to be followed to the right direction), .
	* Scott Peterson, ''Iran's Peace Museum: The reality vs. the glories of war'', The Christian Science Monitor, December 24, 2007.
	* Khātereh Razavi, ''Tehran'', (5 min 12 sec).

	=== Official ===
	*
	*
	* (in Persian)
	*
	*
	*
	*
	* (in Persian)

	=== Underground ===
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*
	*

	<br />
	{{Mahallehs of Tehran}}
	{{List of attractions in Tehran}}
	{{Counties of Tehran}}
	{{List of Asian capitals by region}}
	{{World's most populated urban areas}}

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	{{Link FA\|fr}}
	{{Link FA\|ru}}

	{{Link FA\|fa}}

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Revision as of 21:32, 24 February 2009