An empire in southern Asia created by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC and destroyed by Alexander the Great in the 4th century BC.

synonym: Persian Empire.

Polish: Persja

A theocratic Islamic republic in the Middle East in western Asia; Iran was the core of the ancient empire that was known as Persia until 1935; rich in oil.

synonyms: Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

Dutch: Islamitische Republiek Iran, Iran
Polish: Iran, Islamska Republika Iranu