Tehran is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With a population of 9,000,000 people in the city and 16,000,000 in the metropolitan area, Tehran is the largest city in both Iran and the Middle East, and it is the 29th largest metropolitan area in the world. Tehran was chosen as the capital of Iran by the Qajar dynasty in 1796, making it the 32nd capital of Iran. The city underwent massive demolition and rebuilding in the 1920s under the Pahlavi dynasty, which westernized the country. The city retained many of its western influences even after the 1979 Iranian Revolution, as it is still home to several highrise apartments, bowling alleys, burger restaurants, and even non-alcoholic beer drinks. The city has been infamous for its air pollution and earthquakes, but it is among the top ten fastest-growing destinations in the world.
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