A Glance at Tectonic Framework of Iran and neighbouring Countries

Oceanic Paleo-Tethys zone formed northern margin of Gondwana plate in Early Permian-Triassic, moving northwards to collide with Eurasian plate boundary in Early Jurassic. Eastern Gondwana separated from western Gondwana during Middle Jurassic. Neo-Tethys oceanic plate subduction started in Middle Jurassic. Plate tectonics and continental drift over Late Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Cenozoic time formed present-day continents and oceans. Middle East is a tectonically active region where Arabian, African, Eurasian plates and Anatolian block meet, in which numerous earthquakes are reported. Deformation in Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region occurs generally at boundaries of three major plates of Eurasia, Africa and Arabia, separated by smaller central Turkey and central Iran blocks. Iran is located within Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt in active zone of continental convergence between Eurasia and Arabia. Turkish and Iranian Plateau resulted from collision between Arabian and Eurasian plates. This manuscript is concentrated on geodynamics of Iran and neighbouring countries emphasizing on Jurassic Formations. Structural evolution of Iranian plateau is affected by global changes since beginning of Mesozoic, up to present time. Convergence between Arabian and Eurasian plates was absorbed by northern subduction of remnant ocean bellow southern margin of Central Iran.