Iran is the second-largest country in North Africa.
Iran ( ɪ , also ɪ ) , formerly known as Persia , is a sovereign state in Western Asia . Comprising a land area of 1648195 km2 , it is the second-largest country in the Middle East and the 18th-largest in the world . 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 .