Are you serious ? You thought Iran was a backward country ? 
There is just no way a Land that gave birth to emperors like Cyrus and Xerxes would be backward. No way in hell.
Yes, I'm serious that I thought Iran was a backward country. Stupid of me to believe the int. media and the image projected. But I think a lot of people think this way.
More fun facts about Iran:
ECONOMY
Did you know...
...that United Nations classify Iran as high developed country according Human Development Index?
...that Iranian capital Tehran is the cheapest city in the World?
...that oil revenues makes less then 10% of Iran's Gross Domestic Product?
...that average Iranian income (GDP per capita) is higher then some EU members like Romania and Bulgaria?
...that thanks to American sanctions Iranian economy is recording growth even during global economic recession?
...that Iran has fourth highest government budget surplus in the World?
...that Iran is among three countries with lowest external debt to GDP ratio?
...that the capital of five million Iranian expatriates is estimated to be more than 1000 billion dollars?
...that Iranians control $200 billion worth of assets in Dubai?
...that 100% of Iranian population is covered by health care?
...that 96% of the needed medicines for domestic market is produced in Iranian pharmaceutical factories?
...that Iran has third largest number of bloggers in the World?
...that Iran is among ten largest food producers in the World?
...that Iran ranks fifth in the World by irrigated land area?
...that Iran is among ten World's largest producers of steel and iron?
...that Iran has third largest number of vehicles running on CNG in the World?
...that Iran is fourth cheapest country by gasoline prices, and third cheapest country by diesel prices?
...that thanks to vast reserves of oil, gas & coal and advanced nuclear technology, Iran has the highest energy intensity in the World?
...that Iran is among eight largest producers of energy from renewable sources?
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Did you know...
...that ancient Iranian inventions include refrigerator, windmill, air conditioning and battery?
...that ancient Iranian military inventions include spoked wheel, heavy cavalry, chariot and composite bow?
...that idea of xenotransplantation was born in Iran before more then 2500 years?
...that in ancient Iranian Academy of Gundishapur from 3rd cenutry BC was first medical university in history?
...that Iranians were leading scientists during Islamic golden age?
...that so-called "Arabic" numbers and decimal positional number system as known today were first developed by Iranian scientist Khwarizmi?
...that Iranian scientist Khwarizmi is considered as father of modern algebra and arithmetics, and that he used "Pascal triangle" almost 700 years before Pascal was born?
...that Iranian scientist Avicenna is considered as father of modern medicine?
...that discovery of distilled alcohol is attributed to Iranian scientist Razi?
...that method of anesthesia originates from Iran?
...that Iranian astronomer Rahman in 10th century was the first who has recorded a galaxy outwith our own?
...that Iranian scientist Biruni was first who has formally proposed that the speed of light is finite?
...that Iranian scientists Biruni and Khayyam proposed heliocentric system 500 years before Copernicus?
...that officially used Iranian calendar reformed by Omar Khayyam is most precise then all existing calendars, including 600 years more recent Gregorian calendar?
...that Iranian scientist Alhazen is considered as father of optics?
...that Iranian scientist Tusi proposed theory of evolution 600 years before Darwin?
...that Iranian scientist Tusi created the law of conservation of mass 500 years before Lomonosov and Lavoisier?
...that decorative ornaments in Iranian city Maragha were assorted by complicated mathematical formulas of aperiodic tiling, 700 years before identical forumales were were discovered in the Western World by R. Penrose?
...that Iran was leading producer of scientific instruments in World until Industrial revolution in 19th century?
...that planetary popular tradition of academic dress and square hats originates in Iran?
...that Iranian government expenditures amounts almost 25% of national budget, or $100 billion per year?
...that Iran has eighth largest number of tertiary students in the World (18th by total population)?
...that Iran has higher tertiary students per total population ratio then Germany, UK, France, Spain or Italy?
...that 69% of Iranian Americans hold bachelor degrees which makes them the most educated minority group in the USA?
...that Iran is top of the world in science growth?
...that in 2010 Iran was among leading 20 countries by publishing scientific documents, while entering in Top-7 is estimated by 2020?
...that Iranian Azadi University with 1.5 million students is the World's largest private university?
...that in past 15 years Iranians students won gold medals at International Mathematical and Physical Olympiads and bronze medal at International Chemistry Olympiad?
...that Iran is the World's leading country in string theory research?
...that Iran is among ten leading countries in stem cell research?
...that Iran is second country which successfully closed sheep, and third country which successfully closed cattle?
...that Iranian inventions include artificial heart, gas laser and electrochemical nanotechnology?
...that Iran is among five leading countries by development of humanoid robots?
...that Iran is among eight countries in the World which produce nuclear reactors?
...that Iran is among first nine countries in World by production of enriched uranium?
...that Iran is among six countries in the World which produce experimental fusion reactors?
...that Iran is only country in wider region which produces supercomputers?
...that Iran is only country in wider region which produces submarines, destroyers and passanger planes?
...that Iran produces 1.4 million motor vehicles annually, more then UK and Russia?
...that Iran as among eight countries which launched satellites in space with own technology?
...that Iran as among six countries which launched animals in space?
...that Iranian Space Agency (ISA) has annual budget of $4 billion which is the highest in the World after American NASA and European ESA?
...that Iran is currently only space power in World without a single launch failure recorded?
...that Iran is currently competing with Japan, India and Europe to become World's fourth country which launched astronauts in space?
More:
http://tisfoon.irandefence.net/showthread.php?t=66099
