(U) Persians are the largest and most prosperous ethnic group in Iran, making up 53 percent of the population, or approximately 35 million people.

(U) Persians are members of an Aryan ethnic group who have ruled and dominated the Iranian state for much of the past 2,500 years. Persians are ethnically distinct from Arab and Turkic groups of the Middle East and Central Asia.

Since Persians have been the dominant ethnic group in Iran for several millennia, many Persians do not consider themselves to have an identity distinct from their affiliation with Iran.

(U) Persians speak Persian, which is also called Farsi. Persians consider their language a connection to their past and a force that binds the nation together. Persians are proud that Farsi is one of the few languages not made extinct by the introduction of Arabic during the Islamic conquest. Persians value written and spoken literacy.

(U) Persian language and culture have historically dominated the diverse ethnic and religious groups that exist within the territory of Iran.

(U) Iranian identity is a national identity based on Iranian citizenship. Iranians may be Persians or members of other ethnic groups that live in Iran, such as Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Turkoman, Lurs, Bakhtiaris, or Baluchis.

(U) Maintaining their authenticity and independence from foreign influence is a central theme of Persian culture.

(U) Nearly all Persians are Shi'a Muslims of the Twelver sect. Persians perceive Shi’ism as a unique attribute of Persian identity which makes them distinct in the Muslim world. By adopting a schismatic form of Islam, Persians gave Islam a distinctly Iranian form.

(U) There is a rich lore of martyrdom and oppression in Shi'ism. The overtones of opposition, resistance, and revolt in Shi’ism set the Shi'a apart from other Muslims. This sense of difference resonates with the Persian cultural sense of being a unique people with a distinctive history.

(U) Contemporary Persians accept Islam as an essential part of their identity, but they do not equate Islam with Arab culture. Persians consider Arab culture distinctly inferior to their own.

(U) Persians seek a way to live a modern life without becoming Westernized. Persians think of their interactions with the West as chiefly characterized by exploitation, domination, and humiliation. Persians believe Iran can modernize while maintaining its distinctly Persian character and retaining its cultural traditions.

(U) Justice, the just ruler, and a just society are fundamental concepts in Persian culture. The Persian meaning of justice is the preservation of balance and order in society. The just ruler is charged with the preservation of Iranian sovereignty and defense of Iranian territorial integrity against all enemies, mythical or real. A just society remains a cherished ideal for Persians.

(U) Persians tend to look to those of higher authority and status for direction, control, and protection. This reverence for higher status and authority encourages respect for the strong man, king, religious leader, or foreign power who can protect their dependents.

(U) Persians view poets as sources of wisdom and often use poetry, mystical tales, and proverbs, rather than political and social theories, to orient themselves to social and political events and change in society. Poetry is one of the few means of expression not subject to any restriction under the Islamic Republic.

(U) Persians more than any other ethnic group, gain the most from the wealthiest sector of Iran’s economy, the oil industry.

Cultural Intelligence for Military Operations: Iran

Persians in Iran

Iran