Khuzestan

Province of southwest Iran, on the northern shores of the Gulf; area 66,560 sq km/25,700 sq mi; population (1996 est) 3,746,800. It has Iran's chief oil resources. Cities include the administrative centre of Ahvaz and the ports of Abadan and Khorramshahr. A large proportion of the population is Arab. The province is often referred to by Arabs as Arabistan.

Khuzestan was formerly called Arabistan (ancient Susiana) and roughly corresponds to the ancient country of Elan. The northern and eastern districts are hilly and fertile. Rice, cotton, sugar cane, dates, tobacco, and vegetables are grown. The southern portion is flat and infertile. The Rivers Karkheh, Dez, Karun, Jarrahi, and Hendian flow through the province.

In October 1999, Iran announced the discovery of a giant onshore oilfield, containing perhaps 26 billion barrels of oil, in Khuzestan. Development of the field, which could produce up to 400,000 barrels a day, may start in 2000.