Reclaiming the Narrative: Iran

Iran is a country located in Western Asia, bordered by countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Turkey, with coastlines along the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf. Home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, Iran has a rich cultural and historical heritage that includes the Persian Empire. Its capital is Tehran, and the official language is Persian (Farsi), a branch of the Indo-European language family.

Iran is known for its vast oil and gas reserves, strategic geopolitical importance, and diverse ethnic and religious makeup. Beside that Iran is also famous for its intricate Persian carpets, treasured worldwide for their craftsmanship and beauty, as well as for producing some of the finest saffron, pistachios, pomegranates, and dates.

Iranian cuisine is rich and diverse, featuring dishes such as kebabs, stews like ghormeh sabzi and fesenjan, rice specialties like zereshk polo (barberry rice) and tahdig (crispy rice), and a wide array of herbs, nuts, and spices. Persian literature, especially the poetry of Hafez, Rumi, Ferdowsi, and Saadi, continues to inspire readers around the world. The country is also renowned for its achievements in art, architecture, and calligraphy, with UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Persepolis, Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Square, and the gardens of Shiraz standing as lasting symbols of its cultural greatness.

After the Islamic Revolution in Iran in 1979, which led to the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and the establishment of an Islamic Republic under Ayatollah Khomeini, the first major waves of migration began. In the early years following the revolution, the new regime targeted a wide range of political groups, including secularists, liberals, nationalists, and especially leftist organizations. Mass arrests, executions, and widespread repression forced thousands of political activists, intellectuals, and their families into exile.

Over the following decades, the reasons for Iranian migration have remained largely political, as authoritarianism, human rights abuses, and the violent suppression of dissent have continued to intensify. In addition to political persecution, social and religious discrimination, particularly against women, ethnic minorities (such as Kurds, Baluchis, and Arabs), and religious minorities (such as Baháʼís, Christians, and Sunni Muslims), have become major drivers of migration.

While some recognized religious minorities are granted limited official rights, systemic discrimination and restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly, and belief persist. Today, a combination of political repression, economic hardship, and lack of personal freedoms continues to push many Iranians to seek refuge abroad.

This article was written by Sheida Najafi, edited by John Shotton. Photography credits for this article can be found in our magazine.