The 2003 CIA World Factbook. United States. Central Intelligence Agency

condensate/gas 212 km; gas 16,998 km; liquid petroleum gas 570 km;

       oil 8,256 km; refined products 7,808 km (2003)

      Ports and harbors:

       Abadan (largely destroyed in fighting during 1980–88 war), Ahvaz,

       Bandar 'Abbas, Bandar-e Anzali, Bushehr, Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni,

       Bandar-e Lengeh, Bandar-e Mahshahr, Bandar-e Torkaman, Chabahar

       (Bandar Beheshti), Jazireh-ye Khark, Jazireh-ye Lavan, Jazireh-ye

       Sirri, Khorramshahr (limited operation since November 1992), Now

       Shahr

      Merchant marine:

       total: 139 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 4,190,576 GRT/7,276,700 DWT

       ships by type: bulk 43, cargo 34, chemical tanker 4, container 10,

       liquefied gas 1, multi-functional large-load carrier 6, petroleum

       tanker 30, refrigerated cargo 1, roll on/roll off 9, short-sea

       passenger 1 (2002 est.)

      Airports:

       309 (2002)

      Airports - with paved runways: total: 122 over 3,047 m: 39 2,438 to 3,047 m: 25 914 to 1,523 m: 27 under 914 m: 4 (2002) 1,524 to 2,437 m: 27

      Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 187 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 9 under 914 m: 39 (2002) 914 to 1,523 m: 138

      Heliports: 13 (2002)

      Military Iran

      Military branches:

       Islamic Republic of Iran regular forces (includes Ground Forces,

       Navy, Air Force and Air Defense Command), Iranian Revolutionary

       Guards Corps (IRGC) (includes Ground Forces, Air Force, Navy, Qods

       [special operations], and Basij [Popular Mobilization Army] forces),

       Law Enforcement Forces

      Military manpower - military age:

       21 years of age (2003 est.)

      Military manpower - availability:

       males age 15–49: 20,343,063 (2003 est.)

      Military manpower - fit for military service:

       males age 15–49: 12,094,551 (2003 est.)

      Military manpower - reaching military age annually:

       males: 870,711 (2003 est.)

      Military expenditures - dollar figure:

       $9.7 billion (FY00)

      Military expenditures - percent of GDP:

       3.1% (FY00)

      Transnational Issues Iran

      Disputes - international:

       Iran protests Afghanistan's limiting flow of dammed waters on

       Helmand River tributaries in response to prolonged drought in

       region; thousands of Afghan refugees still reside in Iran; despite

       restored diplomatic relations in 1990, disputes with Iraq over

       maritime and land boundaries, navigation channel, and other issues

       from eight-year war persist; UAE engage direct talks and Arab League

       support to resolve disputes over Iran's occupation of Tunb Islands

       and Abu Musa Island; Iran insists on division of the Caspian Sea

       into five equal sectors, while other littoral states have generally

       agreed to equidistant seabed boundaries - Iran has threatened

       Azerbaijanian hydrocarbon exploration in disputed waters

      Illicit drugs:

       despite substantial interdiction efforts, Iran remains a key

       transshipment point for Southwest Asian heroin to Europe; domestic

       narcotics consumption remains a persistent problem and Iranian press

       reports estimate at least 2 million drug users in the country

      This page was last updated on 18 December, 2003

      ======================================================================

      @Iraq

      Introduction Iraq

      Background:

       Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain

       during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League

       of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next

       dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A

       "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of

       military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest

       being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an

       inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980–88). In August 1990,

       Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces

       during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's

       liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap

       all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow

       UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC

       resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led

       invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn

       regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded

       infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely

       elected government.

      Geography Iraq

      Location:

       Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait

      Geographic coordinates:

       33 00 N, 44 00 E

      Map references:

       Middle East

      Area:

       total: 437,072 sq km

       water: 4,910 sq km

       land: 432,162 sq km

      Area - comparative:

       slightly more than twice the size of Idaho

      Land boundaries:

       total: 3,650 km

       border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi

       Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km

      Coastline:

       58 km

      Maritime claims:

       continental shelf: not specified

       territorial sea: 12 NM

      Climate:

       mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless

       summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish

       borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that

       melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in

       central and southern Iraq

      Terrain:

       mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south

       with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and