Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Iran?
Tehran
The capital of Iran is Tehran. About 9.5 million people live in the Tehran urban area — 10.3% of the country's population.
9.5 million
Urban area population
UTC+3.5
Time zone (+ daylight saving)
35.70°N
Latitude · 51.42°E
Yes
Largest city
Tehran at a glance
Name origin
The name probably means "flat" or "lower," referring to its location in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains.
Time zone
UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC). Daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time.
Coordinates
35 42 N, 51 25 E · IANA time zone Asia/Tehran
Location of Iran
Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan
Largest cities in Iran
1
Tehran Capital
9.5 million2
Mashhad
3.4 million3
Esfahan
2.3 million4
Shiraz
1.7 million5
Tabriz
1.7 million6
Karaj
1.6 millionUrban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Kabul, Afghanistan — 1,619 km
Ankara, Türkiye — 1,692 km
Islamabad, Pakistan — 1,986 kmCapitals closest to Tehran
Baku, Azerbaijan — 538 km
Ashgabat, Turkmenistan — 668 km
Baghdad, Iraq — 694 km
Kuwait City, Kuwait — 775 km
Yerevan, Armenia — 784 km
Tbilisi, Georgia — 876 km
Manama, Bahrain — 1,056 km
Doha, Qatar — 1,158 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Tehran
What is the capital of Iran?
The capital of Iran is Tehran. About 9.5 million people live in the Tehran urban area — 10.3% of the country's population.
Is Tehran the largest city in Iran?
Yes — Tehran is also the largest urban area of Iran (9.5 million).
What time zone is Tehran in?
Tehran is on UTC+3.5 — UTC+3.5 (8.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC). Daylight saving time: does not observe daylight savings time.
Where does the name Tehran come from?
The name probably means "flat" or "lower," referring to its location in the foothills of the Elburz Mountains.
Which capital is closest to Tehran?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Baku (Azerbaijan) is the closest, 538 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).