Persia than More Iran:
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challenges. nority state ethnicmulti- the In political the Iran, is that populathe of meaning have will diversity tion’s consequences serious normalizapolitical as conWest the with tion United the Both tinues. European the and States understand should Union Iran’s of significance the and makeup ethnicmulti- can that policies prepare
it. address Brusand Washington prothis view should sels when to similar as cess began Gorbachev Mikhail Union Soviet the opening bequickly it West, the to Sothe that apparent came only not– was Union viet Russians. of composed that clear became it Later, considhad West the what Yugoslavians”“be to ered Czechoslovakians”“or difmany fact, in were, Few groups. ethnic ferent a shared peoples these of
identity. statecivic- while way, same the In referred commonly is Iran acPersians Persia, as to the half roughly for count remaining The population. ethnic of comprised is half Azermainly minorities; Turkmen, Kurds, baijanis,
Baluch. and Arabs are Azerbaijanis The ac- minority, largest the the of third a for counting supreme Iran’s population. an is Khamenei Ali leader is as Azerbaijani, ethnic opposimain the of one HosseinMir- leaders, tion
Mousavi. a pose minorities Ethnic problem security particular primarily They Iran. for regions border the in live with ties share many and ethnic their of members neighborin communities Azerincluding states, ing and Iraq Turkey, baijan, domestic Iran’s Pakistan. foreign its affects makeup its of most with relations
neighbors. Constitution Iran’s minorities ethnic grants eththeir use to right the media in languages nic publications, other and education. for as well as Iran however, reality, In miethnic allowed not has or schools run to norities courts in testimony give languages. native their in and media PersianNon- been have publications
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dominance. Persian minorities ethnic Iran’s devarying demonstrate with identification of grees exseek Most regime. the cultural their of pansion this, In Iran. within rights change to seeking are they not policies, nation’s the
borders. its groups, some However, Baand Kurds including a waging now are luch, against struggle violent meWestern The Tehran. focus often not does dia struggles. ethnic these on usuis it do they When religious in framed ally Sunto referring terms, ignorand minorities ni the of basis ethnic the ing
conflict. now skirmishes Regular governbetween place take residents and forces ment provincKurdish Iran’s of Iranian of Hundreds es. arrested been have Kurds many and year last the in
detention. in still are vioof focus Another beis confrontation lent Bathe and Tehran tween regions populatedluch- and Pakistan border that IraniSenior Afghanistan. govother and security an have personnel ernment this in assassinated been a recently most region;
prosecutor. public governforeign Most including however, ments, not have States, United the polispecific formulated miethnic the toward cies even rarely They norities. aswhen in them factor stability, regime sessing their in cautious are and represenwith contacts miethnic the of tatives outside seek who norities
support. acethnic rising The likely will Iran in tivity demands increased to lead from responses policy for Euand States United the governments These rope. is It prepared. be should peountil wait to not best pubin marching are ple understand to squares lic
aspirations. their
Shaffer Brenda By