Every couple years when Iran’s in the news I find myself explaining some very basic differences between Iran and Iraq to friends and colleagues. So here’s a quick PSA from your friendly neighborhood Middle Eastern Studies major:

The Middle East is a British term referring to the area between the Near East and the Far East. There are three main ethnic/linguistic/cultural influences in the area, Arabic, Turkish and Persian.
All three are represented in the center of the Middle Eastern region where Iraq and Iran share a border.

Iraq is roughly half the size of Iran in land and population. Iraqis mostly speak Arabic while Iranians mostly speak Farsi/Persian. Both countries are majority Muslim.

Please read more yourself, if you’re up for a fun & informative graphic novel or movie, I’d suggest Persepolis by Marjan Satrapi

I know it’s simplistic to think that bigotry comes only from ignorance, but I really wonder where we would be if most Americans could place Afghanistan and Palestine on a map.

This Fiona Apple song weighed heavily on my May 2025 playlist rotation

The word of the day is; ایستگاه اتوبوس

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