Khuzestan province
Khuzestan Province
استان خوزستان | |
|---|---|
From the top to bottom-right, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Shush Castle, Tomb of Daniel, Ziggurat in Chogha Zanbil, Ahvaz | |
Location of Khuzestan Province within Iran | |
| Coordinates: 31°20′N 48°40′E / 31.333°N 48.667°E | |
| Country | Iran |
| Region | Region 4 |
| Capital | Ahvaz |
| Counties | 30 |
| Government | |
| • Governor-general | Mohammad-Reza Mavalizadeh (Independent) |
| Area | |
• Total | 64,055 km2 (24,732 sq mi) |
| Population (2016 Census) | |
• Total | 4,710,509 |
• Estimate (2020) | 4,936,000 |
| • Density | 73.539/km2 (190.46/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+03:30 (IRST) |
| Area code | 061 |
| ISO 3166 code | IR-06 |
| Main language(s) | Khuzestani Arabic, Luri, Persian dialects of Khuzestan, Mandaic |
| HDI (2017) | 0.802 very high · 12th |
Khuzestan province ([xuːzest̪ʰɒːn] ⓘ; Persian: استان خوزستان) is one of the 31 Provinces of Iran. An extension of the Mesopotamian Plain, it is located in the southwest of the country, bordering Iraq and the Persian Gulf, and covering an area of 63,238 square kilometres (24,416 mi2). Its capital is the city of Ahvaz. Since 2014, it has been part of Iran's Region 4.
Khuzestan comprises much of what historians refer to as ancient Elam, whose capital was at Susa. It was once one of the most important regions in the Ancient Near East. In modern Iran, there has been episodic conflict between the province's Arab population and the central government. In 1982, an Iraqi invasion of Khuzestan was defeated at the Battle of Khorramshahr. Containing Iran's largest oil field, it is a key strategic province.