Azerbaijan, Iranian

Two provinces of northwest Iran: Eastern Azerbaijan (population (1996 est) 3,325,500, capital Tabriz); and Western Azerbaijan (population (1996 est) 2,496,300, capital Orumiyeh). Azerbaijanis in Iran, as in the Republic of Azerbaijan, are mainly Shiite Muslim ethnic Turks, descendants of followers of the Khans from the Mongol Empire.

There are about 5 million Azerbaijanis in east and west Azerbaijan, and 3 million in the rest of Iran where they form a strong middle class. In 1946, with Soviet backing, they briefly established their own republic. Denied autonomy under the Shah, they rose in 1979–80 against the supremacy of Ayatollah Khomeini and were forcibly repressed, although a degree of autonomy was promised.

The region is mountainous but the best agricultural lands in the country are to be found around Lake Orumiyeh.