Iran

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With a population greater than 77 million, the Islamic Republic of IRAN (ایران) is located in the Middle East with the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, and Caspian Sea bordering the theocratic country. The Strait of Hormuz connects the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf and bypasses the United Arab Emirates and Oman's Musandam Governorate to the south. Both gulfs are located south of Iran, while the Caspian Sea is north. There are seven countries bordering Iran via land: Afghanistan and Pakistan to the east, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey to the northwest, Iraq to the west, and Turkmenistan to the northeast. The capital of Iran is Tehran (Tehrān, تهران), which has a population of approximately 8.16 million (2016 estimate). Located near Turkmenistan in northeastern Iran, Mashhad (مشهد) is the second-largest city by population. Over 2.77 million residents call the 9th-century ancient city home. Other cities throughout Iran include Chābahār (southeastern Iran, along Gulf of Oman), Esfahan (Isfahan, أصفهان), Kermānshāh, Shīrāz, Tabrīz, and Zāhedān. The currency is the Iranian Rial, and its ISO 4217 currency code is IRR.