Although it is hard to believe, Iran holds the highest rate of cosmetic nose surgeries per capita in the entire world. Part of the reason actually stems from the dress restriction which requires women to wear a hijab, making the face the main physical component on display, but nose jobs are not all about beauty.
In Iran, nose jobs are considered a status symbol. Even the fact that you have had one marks you as wealthy because you could afford it. That is the reason many patients leave their recovery bandages on longer than strictly necessary. There have even been cases in which people have sported fakes!
Energy Superpower
The Middle East is practically synonymous with oil, and Iran is an energy superstar supplying about 10%, or 125 million barrels, of the oil reserves for the entire world and 15% of its gas. The country also produces roughly four million barrels of oil per day.
The country is currently the fourth-largest producer of oil in the world, with the Persian Golf holding at least 60% of the world’s oil reserves. For general information, the Persian Gulf is made up of seven Arab countries which are: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Sour Tooth
We have already learned that Iranians have a big sweet tooth, but did you know that they also have a highly developed sour tooth? They can be seen out and about sucking on a lemon and they don’t even make a face. They also enjoy extremely sour cherries and apricots and ripe versions of these fruits are not typically sold in supermarkets.
Two of the country’s most beloved snacks are Lavashak, a type of Persian fruit roll and Gojeh Sabzm, unripe, super sour plums. Iranians have even been known to add salt to their sour goodies, so prepare yourself to politely decline if sour is simply not your thing.
Name Change
The country of Iran was commonly known as Persia until Reza Shah Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran between the years 1925 to 1941, decided that the country should be renamed Iran. He made the announcement in 1935 on the day of the Iranian New Year, also known as Nowruz.
The name was changed again in 1979 and the country then became known as the Islamic Republic of Iran. That change took place after the Iranian Revolution which was led by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Religious clerics overthrew the monarchy and assumed political power.
The Persian Cat
Persian cats unsurprisingly originated from the highlands of Iran. They are one of the oldest cat breeds in existence and in response to the freezing cold temperatures in the Iranian mountains, developed the ability to grow long and luxurious silky fur.
They were brought over to Europe by Italian merchants in the 17th century and quickly became an exotic status symbol. Centuries later, Persian cats are still one of the most popular cat breeds in the world due to their doll-faced good looks.