^ i typed this out as you posted that. Yup - it's true (i just said it in a far more longwinded fashion).
I had dinner with an Iranian friend and his wife tonight.
One of the dishes was a traditional Iranian recipe, and consisted primarily of Eggplant (Aubergine), hemp seed and whey.
Very delicious.
I'm not sure why you are surprised - some of the most famous cannabis preparations - and strains of weed (allegedly) come from the middle east and surrounding regions - afghanistan is a major producer of cannabis/hash - and hashish is an ancient part of the culture of the region - just as the seeds are a nutritious food used in Iranian cuisine and eaten on their own.
Most of the famous older forms of hashish are from the region stretching from India and Pakistan, through the Middle East, Mediterranean and North Africa.
If think you think of famous types of hash (besides the newer methods of making extracts snd concentrates) Afghan Hash, Lebanese, Pakistani, Charras (India), Turkish, Moroccan Hash etc are legendary, especially amongst stoners of the 60s and 70s.
Many of the pre-western cannabis preparations - and celebrated forms of hash and native strains of the region(s) - heavily influenced Western weed culture - from the stuff smuggled around the world by the likes of Howard Marks - to the culture and aesthetics associated with cannabis culture.
This guide to different types of hashish - though not directing referring to Iran - mentions many neighbouring and relatively close-by countries.
This article is interesting, but i won't post all of - or the website i found it on, as it includes prices and tips on procurement
Tehran, Iran
Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4.5
Legislation: Iran has a very interesting policy towards buds – planting marijuana is legal if planted for food purposes because in Iran ranians still eat the seeds just like sunflower seeds, and there are also companies in tehran that draw the oil from the seed and sell it legally.
The punishment for possesion of marijuana is a fine of Iranian Rials 10000 (US $1.25)for every gram in your possesion and as long as you have less than 10-15 grams they will not even hassle you. Please always use common sense and caution and remember a smile is better than a frown.
Law Enforcement: Police would be no bother if you don’t act silly. If you are a foreigner then for sure you’ll face no problems at all, but if you are caught a few dollars will solve the problem.
Smoking it though is technically illegal but enforcement is next to nothing. You can walk anywhere in Iran and puff away and no one will have any idea that you are smoking weed. Most people here moke hash or opium so smoking weed is considered as OK.
So, yeah - most of the world may have stepped in line with the War on Drugs, but cannabis is a big part of traditional culture in many parts of the middle eastern/north african/subcontinent regions.
Incidentally, opiate use is also huge in Iran. According to wikipedia;
Opium in Iran is widely available, and the country was thought to have the highest per capita number of opiate addicts in the world at a rate of 2.8% of Iranians over age 15. This was proven to be false as around 10-15% (5 million) of afghans are addicted to opium, meaning Afghanistan has the most addicts globally by percentage as well as population. The Iranian government estimates the number of addicts at 2 million. Opium and heroin from Afghanistan and Pakistan—known collectively as the Golden Crescent—pass through Iran's eastern borders in large amounts. Total annual opium intercepts by the Iranian authorities are larger than in any other country, but the government admits that they can only intercept a tiny proportion of the thousands of tonnes that are trafficked through Iran every year. Opium costs far less in Iran than in the West, and is even cheaper than beer. In addition to having a low price, opium is popular because alcohol is haram (forbidden in Islam), and more tightly controlled by the Iranian Government. According to official Iranian government reports, within Tehran the daily consumption of opium is 4 metric tons. According to UNODC estimates, 450 metric tons of opium are consumed in Iran each year.
(my emphasis)
I've heard it said that alcohol is the traditional drug of Christianity, while hashish/cannabis and opium are the traditional drugs of Islam.
Obviously this various between regions, groups and branches of Islam - but certainly it seems to be true in a cultural/regional context (although it should be noted that much of Iran's culture is rooted in Zoroastrian traditions) - nevertheless - Iranians know how to get high with the best of 'em.