Iran is in Asia.
Iran ( ɪ , also ɪ ) , formerly known as Persia , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . The country 's central location in Eurasia and Western Asia , and its proximity to the Strait of Hormuz , make it of great geostrategic importance . Iran 's rich cultural legacy is reflected in part by its 21 UNESCO World Heritage Sites , the third-largest number in Asia and 11th-largest in the world .