Current-day Persia is referred to as IRAN, which is a country located in the Middle East. It is bordered by Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. IRAN is a theocratic republic with a population of over 81 million people. It is the 18th most populous country in the world and has the second largest population of any country in the Middle East. The official language of IRAN is Persian, and its capital is Tehran.