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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Civic Brief • City

Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, as well as the capital of Tehran Province.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, serving as the country's main political and economic centre. It is one of the most populous cities in West Asia, with a metropolitan area of about 16.8 million people.

What it is

Tehran is the capital of Iran and of Tehran Province. It is the administrative centre of Tehran County and its Central District. The city proper has roughly 9 million residents, while the broader metropolitan area holds about 16.8 million, making it the most populous city in Iran and West Asia.

Why it matters

As the seat of Iran's national government and major state institutions, Tehran is the country's political and economic hub. It became the capital in 1796 under Āghā Moḥammad Khān Qajar and has since grown from a modest settlement into a major global metropolis.

Key details

Tehran lies in north-central Iran at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, at elevations ranging from about 900 to 1,800 metres above sea level. Its mountainous setting influences both the local climate and the city's urban expansion.

In short

  • Tehran is Iran's capital and largest city, with about 9 million residents in the city proper.
  • The metropolitan area is home to roughly 16.8 million people, making it one of the largest urban regions in the world.
  • It became the capital in 1796 and remains the country's political and economic centre.
  • The city is located in north-central Iran at the foot of the Alborz Mountains.

Quick questions

What is Tehran?
Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, and the capital of Tehran Province.
Where is Tehran located?
Tehran is in north-central Iran at the foot of the Alborz Mountains.
How many people live in Tehran?
The city has around 9 million residents, and the metropolitan area has about 16.8 million.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran
    Supports: Capital and largest city of Iran; provincial capital; population figures; administrative roles.
  2. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Tehran
    Supports: Location in north-central Iran; capital status; historical capital since late 18th century; urban region and population context.
  3. Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/summary/Tehran
    Supports: Alternate spelling; capital of Iran; location on southern slopes of the Elburz/Alborz Mountains.
  4. LetsGoIran — https://www.letsgoiran.com/interesting-facts-about-iran/interesting-facts-about-tehran
    Supports: Location south of the Caspian Sea and Alborz mountain range; political and economic centre.
  5. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran — https://geneva.mfa.gov.ir/portal/product/4817/329/tehran
    Supports: Elevation range; population figure; provincial and capital status.
  6. Kiddle — https://kids.kiddle.co/Tehran
    Supports: Population and metro-area figures; status as capital and largest city.
  7. Britannica Kids — https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Tehran/277286
    Supports: Location south of the Caspian Sea; foot of the Elburz Mountains; population context.
  8. SimCorner — https://simcorner.com/blogs/travel-guides/capital-of-iran
    Supports: Capital since 1796; political, cultural, and economic center.