Iran larger than thought: Defence Minister

Tehran, Sept 6: Iran's total area is larger than previously thought, by some 14 per cent, Defence Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi said.

"The actual area of Iran is 1,873,959 square kilometers," Vahidi said on Monday, adding that the new figure was the product of a much more precise mapping of the country, specially at the borders with the neighboring countries.

"The area given so far for Iran was lower, and now this new figure should be used," he added.

Vahidi made the remarks while addressing a ceremony held to mark the unveiling of a new mapping software designed by the Iranian military.

Most international documents and atlases, specially the geography text books used in Iranian schools, give 1,648,195 square kilometers as the area of Iran.

PTI (FNA)