One often gets a feeling of “unreality” when discussing or reading about the Middle East in general.

One reason for this is that explanations often have little to do with reality, and facts are misrepresented or are simply left out.

Using Iran as an example, it is hardly ever mentioned that at bottom, Iran has a great antipathy towards Islam and reacts with palpable revulsion towards Arabs of whatever sect.

There are historical reasons for all this which I cannot get into here, but these two “mind-sets” -hardly ever expressed openly- are deeply ingrained in the Iranian consciousness and have a determining influence on the actions of Iranians, whether sacred or profane.

The development and undoubtedly the origins of Shia Islam were determined and largely grew out of Persian culture reacting to the Arab conquest of Iran and the imposition of Islam on the far older and proud tradition.

The Iranians have never forgotten nor forgiven this alien intrusion into their territory.

Shia Islam is really Persian Zoroastrianism and culture masking as an Islamic sect.

When Ahmadinejad gets in front of the UN podium, he’s there superficially as a representative of an “Islamic”cause.

But at a more fundamental level, he is both led and guided by the belief in the return of the “Mahdi” (the Savior-To-Return), a figure long awaited in ancient Iranian religious beliefs and traditions and represented in Shia Islam as the “Hidden Imam”.

It is also important to understand that Iranians, while Moslem to all outward appearances, consider themselves to be a part of the Western tradition in both race and culture. Iranians are, after all, Caucasian and speak an Indo-European tongue, something that is not true of Arabs.

My point is that to approach modern day Iranians in the same way one would approach modern day Arabs is, for governments, a grave miscalculation.

ML:

Hardly anyone, and certainly no one who regularly follows Middle Eastern affairs, would disagree with your last sentence. Iranians aren’t Arabs.