Crossword Genius

Country artist occupying home (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

iran

'country' is the definition.
(Iran is a country)

'artist occupying home' is the wordplay.
'artist' becomes 'RA' (Royal Academician, member of Royal Academy of Arts).
'occupying' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters occupy or enter the word).
'home' becomes 'in' ('he's home' can mean 'he's in').
'ra' going within 'in' is 'IRAN'.

(Other definitions for iran that I've seen before include "It was known as Persia until 1935" , "Persia some time ago" , "Asian country" , "Country where the official language is Farsi" , "Middle East Islamic republic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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