Iran is subdividit intae thirty ane provinces (Persian: استان Ostān, plural استانها Ostānhā), ilka ane govrened frae a local center, uisually the lairgest local ceety, which is cried the caipital (Persian: Markaz) o that province. The provincial authority is heidit bi a Govrenor-General[1] (Persian: Ostāndār), who is appointit bi the Meenister o the Interior subject tae approval o the cabinet.
Till 1950, Iran wis dividit intae twal provinces: Ardalan, Azarbaijan, Baluchestan, Fars, Gilan, Araq-e Ajam, Khorasan, Khuzestan, Kerman, Larestan, Lorestan, and Mazandaran[3].
In 1950, Iran wis reorganized tae form ten numbered provinces wi subordinate govrenorates: Gilan; Mazandaran; East Azarbaijan; Wast Azarbaijan; Kermanshah; Khuzestan; Fars; Kerman; Khorasan; Isfahan.[3]
Frae 1960 tae 1981 the govrenorates wur raised tae provincial status ane bi ane. Syne then several new provinces hae been creatit, maist recently in 2004 when the province o Khorasan wis split intae three new provinces[4] as well as splittin o the new Alborz Province frae Teheran province in 2010.
1814 Thomson Map o the admeenistrative diveesions o Persie
Map showin the Breetish an Roushie spheres o influence in Warld War I wi approximate province borders in 1907
Map showin the Breetish an Roushie spheres o influence in Warld War I wi approximate province borders in 1907