Reimagining Iran in the World Square: میدان نقش جهان
SARAH WATSON: Naqsh-e Jahan Square, or Image of the World Square, sits proudly in the center of Isfahan, Iran, as a UNESCO world heritage site. Built in the 16th century during the Safavid dynasty by the Shah Abbas and the temporary capital of the Persian Empire, the square remains a cultural and historical masterpiece of ancient Iran. The design of the square, surrounded by the Shah Mosque, Imperial Bazaar, and Ali Qapu Palace represents the distribution of power among the clergy, merchants, and Shah. This symbolism applies today, as despite misconceptions about the nation, Iran’s economy maintains a cosmopolitan sphere.
Despite its relevance to modern international relations and political history, Iran still remains on the outskirts of American national discourse. It is associated with the Iranian hostage crisis with the U.S. embassy, nuclear development, tense relations with Western nations, and a history of U.S. intervention.
But Iran keeps popping up in the news cycles more and more often. In 2018, President Trump pulled the U.S. out of the Iran Nuclear Deal and reinstated economic sanctions. In 2019, Iranian forces attempted to impede British tankers in the Strait of Hormuz following the detention of an Iranian cargo ship by the U.K. Finally, in the most recent escalation of tensions in January 2020, President Trump killed Qasem Soleimani, major general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, by drone strike.
Iran’s role in foreign policy is constantly changing, and it would be easy to reduce Iran to just another nation that clashes with the United States. More and more, Americans are viewing Iran as an enemy to U.S. interests. But is this the reality? There is so much more to the beautiful country of Iran than is captured in the daily headlines of conflict and fear.
Before last year, I knew so little about Iran. I knew where it was, I read newspaper articles about its nuclear development program. It was not until I began learning the Persian language, or Farsi, that I only began to realize the greater extent of Iran’s fascinating culture.
Iran has one of the most ancient histories in our modern world. It’s story is intertwined with the regions of Greater Iran, including present-day Azerbaijan, Georgia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, and even western China. The Achaemenid Empire, considered the First Persian Empire and existing between 550 to 330 B.C., was founded by Cyrus the Great and marks a rough beginning of Iranian history with the first major civilization and state. Over centuries, what is present-day Iran has experienced the rise and fall of numerous great empires, the construction of the beautiful and ancient city of Persepolis, the cultural and material exchanges of the Silk Road, the development of fine arts, and the creation of some of the world’s best poetry and literature.
Despite Iran’s deep beauty, it has so quickly been demonized as a nation of violence, and today many misconceptions persist. Before I began to learn more about Iran, I assumed it was a Middle East nation, predominantly Muslim, and similar to Saudi Arabia. Iran’s predominant religion is Shi’i Islam, but the Persian ethnic group is of Indo-European descent and is not to be confused as Arab. Islam is also not the only, nor the original, religion of Iran. A minority of the nation continues to practice Zoroastrianism, a pre-Islamic Persian religion dating back to the 6th century. Christian and Jewish minorities also maintain their place in Iranian society.
Misconceptions about Iran’s ethnic and religious make-up are only the beginning. Its own politics and history of U.S. intervention in the national government is complex. Following World War 1, Iran was subject to multiple attempts of imperial influence by wester powers. The very foundation of the current Islamic government instituted after the 1979 Revolution resulted partially from U.S. intervention in national Iranian politics. Under the former Reza Shah Pahlavi’s regime, Iran was one of the biggest allies of the United States in the Middle East. But this relationship came at the cost of common Iranians, with only the upper elite economically benefiting from the western collaboration. Even the rise of Pahlavi was against the interests of many Iranians, as a CIA sponsored coup overthrew the government of Mohammad Mosaddeq and reinstated the Shah, following Mosaddeq’s controversial plan to nationalize the Iranian oil industry.
It is impossible to dissect the entirety of Iranian politics in a single article, or even a single column. But Americans cannot continue to elect fear of a nation over understanding. As a non-Iranian, I do not claim to have even partial knowledge of Iran’s politics, society, religions, or culture. So let this be a learning experience, for both you and me, a journey that looks at Iran’s constantly changing position in the world square.
Consider this column an argument, a thesis first showing that Iranian foreign policy is vitally important to U.S. relations in the Middle East, but also acknowledging the rich beauty, history, literature, and architecture of Iran. As a non-Iranian, I do not claim to have even partial knowledge of Iran’s politics, society, religions, or culture. So let this be a learning experience, for both you and me, a journey that looks at Iran’s position in the world square.
Sarah is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service interested in foreign policy in Iran and Central Asia. Her major is Regional and Comparative Studies, and she is learning Persian.