where was the safavid empire located

The Safavid Empire was primarily located in what is today Iran. At its height, the empire's territory extended beyond Iran to include parts of Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Armenia, eastern Georgia, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, as well as parts of Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The core of the empire was centered around Persia (modern Iran), with important cities such as Ardabil, Tabriz, Qazvin, and ultimately Isfahan serving as capitals during different periods of the empire. The Safavid Empire is notable for establishing Twelver Shi'a Islam as the state religion in this region.