Iran: Powerful Shiite Muslim nation with regional reach
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Iran: Powerful Shiite Muslim nation with regional reach
AFP / Jun 9, 2021, 14:13 IST
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PARIS: Iran is the world's largest Shiite country whose main Muslim rival is Sunni kingpin Saudi Arabia.
Here is some background on a nation whose influence stretches from Iraq to Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, but which is grappling with a severe economic crisis.
Successor to the ancient Persian Empire ruled by monarchs called shahs, military strongman Reza Shah Pahlavi took the throne in 1925 after years of upheaval.
He was forced to abdicate in 1941 in favour of his son Mohammad Reza after Britain and the Soviet Union invaded.