Editing Town (section)

=== Iran ===
In contemporary [[Persian language|Persian]] texts, no distinction is made between ''city'' and ''town''; both translate as {{lang|fa-latn|Shahr}} ({{lang|fa|شهر}}). In older Persian texts (until the first half of the 20th century), the Arabic word {{lang|ar|Qasabeh}} ({{lang|ar|قصبه}}) was used for a town. However, in the past 50 years,{{As of?|date=February 2022}} this word has become obsolete.

There is a word in Persian which is used for special sort of satellite townships and city neighborhoods. It is {{lang|fa|Shahrak}} ({{lang|fa|شهرک}}), (lit.: 'small city').
Another smaller type of town or neighborhood in a big city is called {{lang|fa-latn|Kuy}} ({{lang|fa|کوی}}). {{lang|fa-latn|Shahrak}} and {{lang|fa-latn|Kuy}} each have different legal definitions.
Large cities such as [[Tehran]], [[Mashhad]], [[Isfahan]], [[Tabriz]], etc. which have millions inhabitants are referred to as {{lang|fa-latn|Kalan-shahr}} ({{lang|fa|کلان‌شهر}}), [[metropole]].

The pace in which different large villages have gained city status in [[Iran]] shows a dramatic increase in the last two decades.

Bigger cities and towns usually are centers of a [[township]] (in Persian: {{lang|fa-latn|Shahrestan}} ({{lang|fa|شهرستان}}). {{lang|fa-latn|Shahrestan}} itself is a subdivision of {{lang|fa-latn|Ostan}} ({{lang|fa|استان}}), 'province'.