Cyrus the Great - Tomb of Cyrus under the starry sky of Pasargadae, Iran, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2015)

Iran is the world’s 18th most populous country, and it’s a major player in both Middle Eastern and world politics. However, most mentions of Iran in the news focus on some of the many problems the country is facing, such as its controversial nuclear program, undemocratic government, and harsh gender divide. But Iran, or Persia,

painting of Iman Maleki showing a persian warrior of the Achaemenid empire in persepolis