Spasmodic rain in the country (4)

I believe the answer is:

iran

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

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

'spasmodic rain in' is the wordplay.
'rain' anagrams to 'IRAN'.
Though, I'm unsure how this is indicated.

'the' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for iran that I've seen before include "Middle Eastern country" , "Country to east of Iraq" , "Nation" , "Formerly Persia" , "Middle East Islamic republic" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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