Diplomatic representation: none; protecting power in the US is
Algeria--Iranian Interests Section, 2209 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 965-4990;

US--protecting power in Iran is Switzerland

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), white, and red;
the national emblem (a stylized representation of the word Allah) in red
is
centered
in the white band; Allah Akbar (God is Great) in white Arabic
script is repeated 11 times along the bottom edge of the green band and
11 times along the top edge of the red band

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: Since the 1979 revolution, the banks, petroleum industry,
transportation, utilities, and mining have been nationalized, but the
new five-year plan--the first since the revolution--passed in January
1990, calls for the transfer of many government-controlled enterprises
to the private sector. Disruptions from the bitter war with Iraq,
massive corruption, mismanagement, demographic pressures, and ideological
rigidities have kept economic growth at depressed levels. Oil accounts
for over 90% of export revenues. A combination of war damage and low oil
prices brought a 2% drop in GNP in 1988. GNP probably rose slightly in
1989, considerably short of the 3.2% population growth rate in 1989.
Heating oil and gasoline are rationed. Agriculture has suffered from the
war, land reform, and shortages of equipment and materials. The five-year
plan seeks to reinvigorate the economy by increasing the role of the
private sector, boosting nonoil income, and securing foreign loans. The
plan is overly ambitious but probably will generate some short-term
relief.

_#_GNP: $80.0 billion, per capita $1,400; real growth rate 0.5%
(1990 est.)

_#_Inflation rate (consumer prices): 30-50% (1989 est.)

_#_Unemployment rate: 30% (1989)

_#_Budget: revenues $63 billion; expenditures $80 billion, including
capital expenditures of $23 billion (FY90 est.)

_#_Exports: $12.3 billion (f.o.b., 1989);

commodities--petroleum 90%, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides;

partners--Japan, Turkey, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, France, FRG

_#_Imports: $11.6 billion (c.i.f., 1989);

commodities--machinery, military supplies, metal works, foodstuffs,
pharmaceuticals, technical services, refined oil products;

partners--FRG, Japan, Turkey, UK, Italy

_#_External debt: $4-5 billion (1989)

_#_Industrial production: growth rate NA%

_#_Electricity: 14,579,000 kW capacity