Provinces of Iran

Iran is subdivided into thirty provinces (Persian: استان "ostān", plural استان‌ها "ostānhā"), each governed from a local center, usually the largest local city, which is called the capital (Persian: مرکز "markaz") of that province. The provincial authority is headed by a Governor-Generalcite web| url=http://www2.irna.com/en/news/view/line-203/0710215516003338.htm| title="Paris for further cultural cooperation with Iran"| first=Online Edition| last=IRNA| accessdate=2007-10-21] (Persian: استاندار "ostāndār"), who is appointed by the Minister of the Interior subject to approval of the cabinet.

History

Until 1950, Iran was divided into twelve provinces: Ardalan, Azarbaijan, Baluchestan, Fars, Gilan, Araq-e Ajam, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Larestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran.cite web| url=http://www.statoids.com/uir.html| title="Provinces of Iran"| first=Statoids website| last=Gwillim Law| accessdate=2006-04-30] In 1950, Iran was reorganized to form ten numbered provinces with subordinate governorates: Gilan; Mazandaran; East Azarbaijan; West Azarbaijan; Kermanshah; Khuzestan; Fars; Kerman; Khorasan; Isfahan. From 1960 to 1981 the governorates were raised to provincial status one by one. Since then several new provinces have been created, most recently in 2004 when the province of Khorasan was split into three new provinces. cite web| url=http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2B2C2624-ECBE-473A-AF89-A62AF91E7550.htm| title="Iran breaks up largest province"| first=Al-Jazeera Satellite Network| last=Online edition| accessdate=2006-04-30]

Info

List

Historical Provinces of Iran

See also

* List of current Iranian provincial governors-general
* Counties of Iran
* Geography of Iran

References and notes

External links

*
* [http://www.sci.org.ir/english/default.htm Statistical Centre, Government of Iran]
*
* [http://www.moi.ir/ Ministry of Interior]
* [http://ardabil.ir/Default.aspx/ Official website of Ardabil Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-as.gov.ir/ Official website of West Azarbaijan Governor’s Office]
* [http://www.ostan-ag.gov.ir/ Official website of West Azarbaijan Governor’s Office]
* [http://www.ost-boushehr.ir/ Official website of Bushehr Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-cb.ir/ Official website of Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari Governorship]
* [http://www.farsp.ir/portal/show.aspx?Page=322/ Official website of Fars Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-gl.ir/ Official website of Gilan Governorship]
* [http://www.golestanstate.ir/ Official website of Golestan Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-hm.ir/ Official website of Hamedan Governorship]
* [http://www.hormozgan.ir/ Official website of Hormozgan Governorship]
* [http://www.portal-il.ir/ Official website of Ilam Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-es.ir/user/Index.jsp/ Official website of Isfahan Governorship]
* [http://www.kermanprovince.ir/ Official website of Kerman Governorship]
* [http://www.portal-ks.ir/ Official website of Kermanshah Governorship]
* [http://www.nkhorasan.ir/ Official website of North Khorasan Governorship]
* [http://www.khorasan.ir/ Official website of Razavi Khorasan Governorship]
* [http://www.sk-portal.ir/ Official website of South Khorasan Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-kz.ir/ Official website of Khuzestan Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-kb.ir/ Official website of Kohgiluyeh and Buyer Ahmad Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-kd.ir/ Official website of Kurdistan Governorship]
* [http://www.lorestan.ir/ Lorestān Governor's Office]
* [http://www.ostan-mr.ir/ Official website of Markazi Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-mz.ir/ Official website of Mazandaran Governorship]
* [http://www.qazvin.gov.ir/ Official website of Qazvin Governorship]
* [http://www.qomict.ir/old-site/portal/ Qom province portal]
* [http://www.ostan-sm.ir/ Official website of Semnan Governorship]
* [http://www.sbportal.ir/ Official website of Sistan and Baluchestan Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-th.ir Official website of Tehran Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-yz.ir/ Official website of Yazd Governorship]
* [http://www.ostan-zn.ir/ Official website of Zanjan Governorship]