Iran is a massive country in Asia, tipping Turkey at its northern end (having this nearness to Europe) and Pakistan at its southern end (having access to the riches and ills of the South East Asian triangle) It was once Persia, the magic and culturally rich land of many excellent tales as well as markets.
Iran is attractive to both European countries and Russia. Potentially it is a land of rich resources, but its desire for power via nuclear activity and weapons has led to international dismay and sanctions. These have landed Iran in increasingly tough economic times and near runaway inflation. With this situation, many of the 80 million residents have felt compelled to either buy gold or acquire large amounts of Bitcoin.