The Relationship Between Persia and Modern Iran

“Persia” is the old Greek and Latin name for Iran, and it is the country’s ancient name. The name’s origin is connected to an ancient people: the Aryans. The “Aryans” were a group of people from northwestern India. In modern academia, the term generally refers to “Indo-Iranians,” or those who speak Indo-Iranian languages—which is also the etymological root of the word “Iran.”

The ancient Aryans were extremely powerful and dominant for a time. Aside from China, they were responsible for the downfall of three of the four great ancient civilizations. Around 500 BC, a branch of the Aryans migrated to the Iranian plateau and evolved into the “Persian” people. They established the Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire), which at its peak spanned from the Indus Valley in the east to Thrace in the Balkans in the west, and south to Egypt and Libya. Covering an area of approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, it was the largest empire in history up to that point and the first to span three continents: Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Persian Empire ruled over 50 million people at its height, more than 40% of the world’s population at the time, and deeply influenced cultures from the Mediterranean to India, leaving a profound impact on world history.

Iran has always been a country of great strategic importance. The Iranian plateau was a stage for frequent interactions between nomadic and agricultural civilizations, where the historical legend of Persian civilization conquering foreign nomadic cultures was played out. Iran was a transit hub on the ancient Silk Road, a bridge for Chinese civilization to reach Europe. In modern times, it was a strategic area of contention between Tsarist Russia and the United Kingdom. During World War II, Iran served as a “golden bridge” for Allied support to the Soviet Union. Iran was also a front-line for the earliest stages of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, acting as a firewall to prevent Soviet expansion into the Persian Gulf. Iran is a strategic corridor in the global energy landscape, and the importance of the Strait of Hormuz is well known. It is also a transportation hub connecting the energy riches of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf, and the most convenient strategic channel for the Caucasus and Central Asia to access the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Iran holds a crucial position in the history of world religions, serving as one of the cradles and centers of global faiths. Buddhism, Christianity, and Judaism have long existed in Iran, and after the introduction of Islam, it evolved into a distinctly Iranian version of the religion.

Iran’s land area, central location, population, historical traditions, oil resources, and level of economic development have established it as one of the core countries of the Islamic world and the only major Middle Eastern power where an Islamic revolution successfully took place. The success of the Iranian Islamic Revolution elevated Iran’s status and influence in the Islamic world, further stimulating the already-emerging Islamic revivalist movement, fostering a sense of Muslim unity, and highlighting Iran’s pivotal role in geopolitics and geo-economics. In the 16th and 17th centuries, Iran was one of the three great empires in Islamic history, and the establishment of Twelver Shia Islam as the state religion solidified Iran’s special position in the Islamic world.

However, even the most powerful nations have periods of decline. In modern history, Iran has been subjected to Western aggression and oppression. Geopolitically, modern Iran was squeezed between Britain and Russia, with the colonial powers either colluding or checking each other, jeopardizing Iran’s sovereignty and national dignity. Iran was forced to introduce a third-party power to defend its national sovereignty. Through this process, Iran gained extensive diplomatic experience and wisdom but also developed a deep suspicion of the international community. Amid this crisis, in 1921, military officer Reza Khan Pahlavi staged a coup, established the Pahlavi dynasty, and changed the country’s name to “Iran.” There were several key reasons for this change:

• National Pride: The Iranians, as a branch of the Aryans, have a strong sense of national pride. In ancient Sanskrit texts, the term “Aryan” was used to refer to the “noble class.” In the 19th century, a misunderstanding of Sanskrit Buddhist scriptures led some Western scholars to develop racist ideas: they believed that a blond, fair-skinned “Nordic Aryan” race conquered various parts of the world, founding great civilizations, and then became “impure” through intermarriage with local populations. Based on this theory, in the early 20th century, Nazi Germany referred to the superior race as “Aryans.” They considered Germans to be one of the purest Nordic peoples and implemented strategies of discrimination, conquest, and extermination against other races (especially Jews and Romani people). To avoid association with the Nazi taboo, the Persians chose to rename the country “Iran” to restore the vast territory and prestige of their ancestral times.

• Representing a Greater Ambition: “Iran” has a broader scope and deeper meaning than “Persia.” Iran can refer to all Aryans, while Persia only refers to Aryans residing in the region of Persia.

• Adapting to Modern Trends: In the 20th century, Europe was the most developed region in the world, with strong national power and a fierce fighting spirit. European nations began to claim descent from the Aryans. Since the Persians were already descendants of the Aryans, they followed this trend and changed their name to Iran. In 1935, the Iranian government officially informed the world that it was restoring its ancient name, changing the country’s official designation from “Persia” to “Iran.”

In the 1950s and 60s, Iran was an “important partner” for the United States in the Persian Gulf. During WWII, Iran was occupied by British and Soviet forces. Thanks to strong US intervention, both the Soviet Union and Britain eventually withdrew. In 1973, the global oil crisis erupted, and the US was eager to control this hard currency. In 1974, the US lobbied Saudi Arabia to reach an agreement, establishing a system that linked the US dollar to oil. A new era of American financial dominance was born, and Saudi Arabia became the US’s most important strategic partner in the Middle East. However, Iran and Saudi Arabia are irreconcilable religious rivals (Iran and Saudi Arabia are both regional powers vying for dominance, and this competition is exacerbated by religious differences; Iran’s population is predominantly Shia, while Saudi Arabia is the leading nation of the Sunni branch of Islam). The US was forced to gradually “distance itself” from Iran. On April 7, 1980, President Carter announced the severance of diplomatic relations, and relations between the two countries were completely frozen. In 2018, the Trump administration reimposed sanctions on Iran. Since then, the relationship between the US and Iran has fully deteriorated to the present day.

In summary, the Iranian people carry a glorious history that they cannot forget. This historical burden drives them to recreate the splendor of the former Persian Empire. Despite suffering numerous foreign invasions and conquests, their civilization has continued unbroken, their cultural identity is deeply rooted, and their national identity is relatively strong. Iran’s special status in the Islamic world has made it the spiritual homeland and leader of Shia Islam. Iran sees the defense of the religious interests and dignity of Shias worldwide as its responsibility and mission, making its historical position in the complex and volatile inter-ethnic relations of the Middle East particularly unique.