Rasht is the capital of Gilan province and the largest city on Iran’s Caspian coast. Situated in a humid subtropical climate unusually lush by Iranian standards, Rasht is a centre of commerce, agriculture, and cultural life in the north. Its port at Bandar-e Anzali connects it to Caspian Sea trade routes.

Rasht developed as a significant trading city during the Safavid period, benefiting from its position near the Caspian coast on the main route between the Iranian plateau and the Caucasus. The city served as a gateway for the silk trade that made Gilan province prosperous. In the early 20th century Rasht was the centre of the Jangal Movement, the anti-colonial uprising led by Mirza Kuchak Khan that briefly established the Soviet Republic of Gilan in 1920 with Bolshevik support from across the Caspian. Reza Shah suppressed the movement and brought Rasht under firm state control.

Rasht today is Iran’s largest Caspian city and the capital of Gilan province. Its economy is based on trade, agriculture, and service industries. The city is connected to Tehran by a major road through the Alborz passes and is an important commercial hub for northern Iran. Rasht’s Bazaar and its distinctive Persian-Caspian architecture and cuisine make it a domestic tourism destination. The city’s port access through Bandar-e Anzali connects it to Caspian trade routes. The province’s agricultural products – rice, tea, citrus – flow through Rasht for distribution.