This is Iran, a highly controversial nation that has of course made headlines in recent months for hostilities back and forth between the united states. Hostility towards the united states is really nothing new in and of itself but these particular hostilities have gained so much attention in part because Iran is a very very powerful military nation in its own right. Now a lot of that power comes down to its economy which gives it the ability to be a force that people actually fear to engage with.

Even outside of hostilities and fear-mongering the economy of Iran is a really interesting case study because it is one of the largest modern economies that draws policy not only from economic and political theory but also directly from the teachings of Islam, which gives it some really interesting characteristics.