Khorramshahr

Khorramshahr, city in southwestern Iran, located at the junction of the Kārūn and Shatt al Arab rivers, on the border between Iran and Iraq. From the beginning of the 20th century until 1980, the city was the main commercial port of Iran. A port has existed on the site at least since the time Alexander the Great invaded Iran in 331 bc. From about 300 bc to ad 1200, the city derived considerable prosperity from trade. After falling under control of the Abbasid dynasty in ad 750, the city was given the name Mohammerah and was known by this name until the 1920s. Khorramshahr's importance in the 20th century stemmed from its nearness to Ābādān, which is situated on a nearby river island and was home to the world's largest oil refinery at one time. Oil was discovered in Iran in 1908, after which Ābādān and Khorramshahr grew rapidly. By the 1930s the two cities were connected to Tehrān by air, rail, and road routes. Khorramshahr was captured by Iraq during the opening weeks of the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), and occupied until 1982. The city was devastated during the fighting, as was Ābādān. Reconstruction of Khorramshahr began in 1989, with the port being reopened for ship traffic in 1992. The city's population was 146,709 in 1976; virtually the entire population fled in 1980 and 1981. After the withdrawal of Iraqi troops, Iranians began returning to Khorramshahr. Population (1996 estimate) 50,000.