Iranian nationalism
Iranian nationalism is the pride and loyalty of people who identify as Iranian. It looks at Iran’s culture, languages, and history, and it often shows up as political and social movements that support the country and its people. National feeling has long existed in Iran, but it has been especially influential since the 20th century.
In ancient times, the Sasanian Empire framed Iranian identity around the throne and the altar, with a strong sense of Persian culture at its center. After the empire fell and Islam spread, Persians and their culture faced pressure from Arab rule. A movement called Shu’ubiyya arose as Persians sought to protect their language and culture.
Later, during a period called the Iranian Intermezzo, native Iranian Muslim dynasties rose on the Iranian plateau between big empires. With the Safavid dynasty, Iran revived a distinct national spirit inside an Islamic framework: Shia Islam became the state religion, and Persian language and culture spread widely, even as Iran lived next to Sunni powers like the Ottoman Empire.
Modern Iranian nationalism began to take shape in the 19th and early 20th centuries as a reaction to European influence and lost territories. A key early nationalist thinker, Mirza Fatali Akhundov, spoke for a strengthened Iranian identity. The 1905 Constitutional Revolution created Iran’s first parliament and pushed for reform. Reza Shah Pahlavi, who came to power in the 1920s, promoted a secular, Persian-centered nationalism and tried to modernize the state, reducing the formal role of religion in public life. He encouraged the use of the Persian language and even changed the country’s name in some contexts to emphasize Iran’s pre-Islamic heritage. This set the stage for a form of nationalism that highlighted Persian history and language, sometimes at the expense of minority groups.
In 1951 Iran nationalized its oil wealth under Mohammad Mossadegh, a move that sparked international pressure and an economic crisis. After a coup, the monarchy under the Pahlavis continued to push modernization and stronger national identity, often stressing Persian language and culture and limiting the authority of religious leaders.
The 1979 Islamic Revolution brought a shift: national identity moved more toward Shi’a Islam, though many Iranians still think of themselves as Iranians rather than just Persians. The new system widened inclusion for Shia Muslims but sometimes sidelined ethnic and secular perspectives. Iran’s many ethnic groups—Azeris, Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis, and Turkmen—have long pressed for rights to language and cultural expression. Ethnic politics have been a feature of elections, and the government’s approach to minorities is guided by security concerns and high-level decisions rather than direct, regular electoral policy.
Some observers note a tension in Iranian identity: “Persian” often means a specific ethnicity, while “Iranian” refers to all people of the country. This distinction was emphasized by Reza Shah’s policies, which promoted a Persian-centric national story. After the revolution, a broader sense of Iranian identity that includes multiple ethnic and religious communities has been encouraged by some thinkers and movements, while others still focus on a Persian- or Shi’a-centered view.
Today, debates about identity continue. Ethnic diversity is real, and many argue that recognizing Iran’s multi-ethnic, multicultural heritage is essential for a united and peaceful country.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:50 (CET).