At true size, Russia is about 10.4× the size of Iran. On the old 1569 Mercator map the same two appear about 44.7× apart — the old map exaggerates their difference by a factor of 4.3×.
It is a latitude illusion: Russia sits near 66°, where Mercator multiplies area by about 6.1×, while Iran lies near 33°, inflated only about 1.4×. Equal Earth removes that latitude tax, and the pair settles at its honest 10.4×.