Tehran

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran and also the largest in Tehran Province. It also serves as the capital of the province, county and the Central District. With a population of around 9.4 million in the city, and 16.8 million in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the most populous city in Iran and Western Asia, the second-largest metropolitan area in the Middle East after Cairo, and the 24th most populous metropolitan area in the world. Greater Tehran includes several municipalities, including "New Town of Andisheh", "Islam Shahr", "Qods", "Shahryar", "Pakdasht" and "Shamiran".

Some of the key events about Tehran

1796
The city was chosen as the capital of Iran
1851
The first modern institution of higher learning in Iran, Dar ul-Funun, was established
1870
The first telegraph line in Iran was installed, connecting Tehran to Europe
1884
The first modern hospital in Iran, Sina Hospital, was founded
1908
A deadly cholera outbreak killed over 20,000 people in Tehran
1918
The University of Tehran, Iran's oldest modern university, was established
1941
The Tehran Conference, a major World War II strategy meeting between Allied leaders, was held
1943
Severe food shortages during World War II led to widespread famine and deaths in the city
1967
The iconic Azadi Tower, a symbol of Tehran, was constructed
1971
The Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, housing one of the most valuable collections outside Europe and North America, was opened
1977
The Tehran International Book Fair, one of the most significant cultural events in the Middle East, was inaugurated
1978
Violent protests against the Shah's rule erupted, marking the beginning of the Iranian Revolution
1980
The U.S. Embassy in Tehran was seized and 52 American diplomats were held hostage for 444 days
1985
Iraqi missiles struck Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War, causing significant civilian casualties
1988
Tehran experienced its deadliest air raid of the Iran-Iraq War, with hundreds killed
1999
Student protests were violently suppressed, leading to numerous arrests and injuries
2005
The Tehran Metro, one of the cleanest and most extensive in the Middle East, began operations
2009
Mass protests following disputed presidential elections were met with brutal government crackdowns
2017
A major fire in the Plasco Building, a 17-story landmark, led to its collapse and killed 20 firefighters
2020
The COVID-19 pandemic hit Tehran particularly hard, overwhelming hospitals and causing thousands of deaths

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.