Misconception: Iran used chemical weapons during the Iran-Iraq war.
These allegations first surfaced by the Defense Intelligence Agency in which Iran was accused of using chemical weapons as well as Iraq. These allegations however, were later shown to be erroneous at best. Joost Hiltermann, who was the principal researcher for the Human Rights Watch between 1992-1994, conducted a two year study, including a field investigation in Iraq, capturing Iraqi government documents in the process. According to Hiltermann, the literature on the Iran-Iraq war reflects a number of allegations of Chemical Weapons use by Iran, but these are "marred by a lack of specificity as to time and place, and the failure to provide any sort of evidence". [1] And Gary Sick and Lawrence Potter call the allegations against Iran "mere assertions" and state: "no persuasive evidence of the claim that Iran was the primary culprit [of using chemical weapons] was ever presented".[2] Policy consultant and author Joseph Tragert also states: "Iran did not retaliate with Chemical weapons, probably because it did not possess any at the time".[3]
Misconception: The word Iran and Iraq are related.
The two words of Iran and Iraq have absolutely no relation, etymological, or historical. "Iraq" is Aramaic or Sumerian in origin. "Iran" literally means Land of the Aryan.
Misconception: Iranians are Arabs.
Iran is home to many different ethnic groups, including the Kurds, Persians, etc. The majority are speakers of Indo-Iranian languages[2]. However, all of these, even the great majority of Iranian Arabs, are descendants of the Aryans or the non-semitic indigenous peoples living on the Iranian plateau before the Aryans arrived. See: Iranian peoples
Misconception: Persian language is similar or from the same family as Arabic.
The official language of Iran, as well as Kurdish, Gilaki, Luri, all are derived from Indo-European origin, contrary to Arabic. The script is the same (with a few extra letters in Persian), and modern Persian shares a good portion of vocabulary with Arabic, but the languages are from completely different roots, and are mostly unintelligible.
Misconception: Persia and Iran are different entities.
Persia was the official international name of Iran before 1935. This name was coined by occidentals. The name "Iran" has been used by Iranians themselves in history, not unsimilar to the situation of Deutsch vs. German. See: Iran naming dispute.
Misconception: "Farsi" is a different language than "Persian".
"Farsi" is the Arabicized name of "Perse" or "Persis" or "Pars", and is hence an inaccurate usage in English. Although Iranians themselves use the word Farsi to refer to their language, but the proper way to address the name of the language is "Persian". See: The English name of the Persian Language.Dari is also an accented form of Persian. The language is officially used in Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan.
Misconception: Iran is desert, hot, and arid.
Iran is largely mountainous and rugged, similar to Afghanistan. However northwestern Iran receives much rain and is therefore covered with greenery. The Caspian coasts of Iran are covered with humid forests. 10% of Iran's area is covered with vegetation, hence not arid. See: Geography of Iran.Dizin skiing resort, Iran.
Misconception: It never snows in Iran.
Some areas of Iran see more snow than what the average American is used to seeing in America year round. The city of Zanjan for example, sees below freezing temperatures on a daily regular basis during winters. Iran has a dozen or so ski resorts. See: List of Iranian ski resorts.
Iranians continue to exhibit relative affinity for American culture and ideals, in spite of their national line of policy.[3][4] However, Iranians also highly value their independence, and have a strong sense of national pride.[5] And many Iranians are increasingly resentful of the way Iran is being treated in the international arena. They hold the U.S. Government (not its people) directly responsible for the failed democratic government of Prime Minister Mossadegh, which was ousted by the CIA and the British in 1953 (operation Ajax). See: US-Iran relations
Misconception: Iran is interfering in Iraq.www.infowars.com infowars.com is fringe, does not meet our sourcing guidelines and should not be used/articles/ww3/iran_rumsfeld_iran_interfering_iraq.htm][11]www.infowars.com infowars.com is fringe, does not meet our sourcing guidelines and should not be used/articles/ww3/iran_rumsfeld_iran_interfering_iraq.htm]
Iraq holds the holiest cities of Shia Islam, such as Kerbala, Najaf, and Samarra. Iran is largely and officialy Shia. Iranians have therefore been traveling to or resided in these cities for centuries. The name Baghdad itself comes from a Persian name, and Ctesiphon, now 30 miles from Baghdad, was capital of the Persian empire, until the Islamic conquests. Almost every famous Ayatollah of Iran was a permanent resident of Iraq at one time or another. Khomeini, Ayatollah al-Shirazi, Grand Ayatollah Mirza Hassan Shirazi, and Allameh Tabatabaei are examples. Many Iraqis in fact still have Persian names, and are Persian descendants. Examples are Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and Ayatollah al-Udhma Muhammad Shirazi are notable examples. In many ways, Najaf and Karbala to Iranians are what The Vatican is to Catholics.
Iran has a limited form of democracy. It holds elections for both legislative and executive posts at the local and national levels, including for its president. Iran's parliament was in fact first inaugurated in 1907. Iranian women obtained the right to vote before their American siblings did a century ago.
Misconception: Iran is fundamentally muslim.
Iran's indigenous religion was Zoroastrianism. Today, Iranians believe in a customized (and often argueably even personalized) form of Islam called Shia Islam. Many traces and roots of Zoroastrianism can still be seen in the current beliefs of Iranians.
Misconception: Iran bans religious minorities.
Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism are allowed and their rights guaranteed by the state and the constitution and have representatives in the Iranian Parliament (Majlis). They can have facilities, gatherings, and even their own communities. Christian communities in Tehran for example hold rock concerts, mixed sex swimming pools, and legal alcohol consumption. All three religions have even reserved seats in Iran's parliament. Other religions however, like the Baha'is are not officially permitted. See: Religious minorities in Iran
A select group of a-political rock music is officially allowed in Iran. Queen[14], Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, The Doors, are some bands whose albums are legally sold in Iran.[15] Rock concerts are allowed in limited conditions, and only by indigenous bands. The practice and teaching of this and other forms of western music is free in private quarters, and above all, even with laws banning certain forms of western music, they are largely disregarded by the populace [16]. Classical music is completely free. See Rock and alternative music in Iran.
Misconception: Women are not free in Iran.[17][18][19]
Unlike neighboring countries, women in Iran do vote, can be elected to limited government positions (such as parliament for example), can drive, and make up over 60% of Iran's university student population. Women can sing or play sports in public, but only in the absence of male audiences. So freedom for women in Iran exists, but is limited. See: Women in Iran
In fact, most Iranians see the Iran nuclear program from the perspective of legal rights and national economic interest. Even members of the former Pahlavi regime support the program. Ardeshir Zahedi for example, who signed Iran into the NPT during the Pahlavi dynasty, in an interview in May 2006, voiced his support for Iran's Nuclear Program stating it as an "inalienable right of Iran".[20]
Misconception: Iran is sitting on oil, and therefore does not need nuclear energy.[5]
Iran is short on energy, and imports gasoline for domestic consumption.[21][22] Many cities continue to see routine blackouts on a fixed schedule, to offset the lack of energy in the national power grid, especially during the summer. Since over 80% of Iran's revenue and economy is based on petroleum exports, it has little choice but to export its oil, and cannot use that oil for domestic consumption only.
Misconception: Persian is the only language allowed in Iran.
"The Official Language and script of Iran, the lingua franca of its people, is Persian. Official documents, correspondence, and texts, as well as text-books, must be in this language and script. However, the use of regional and tribal languages in the press and mass media, as well as for teaching of their literature in schools, is allowed in addition to Persian."
Article 19 of the constitution adds:
"All people of Iran, whatever the ethnic group or tribe to which they belong, enjoy equal rights; color, race, language, and the like, do not bestow any privilege."
Ethnic minorities however do voice sometimes serious concerns on the degree of freedom allowed.
Misconception: Iranians were forced to convert to Islam by Arab conquerors.
The Arabian conquerors originally did not want Iranian peoples to convert to Islam. Majority of Iranian-speaking populations did not become Muslim until hundreds of years after the end of the Arab occupation. Islam was not imposed on Iranian-speaking peoples by Arabs. See: Islamic conquest of Iran
Misconception: Arabs ruled over Iran for hundreds of years.
Arabs occupied Iran for only 200 years, namely during the Umayyid and Abbasid era.
Misconception: The Greeks ruled Iran (Persia) for hundreds of years and spread Greek culture.
The first (of three) Persian Empires was conquered by the Macedonians in the 4th century BCE. However, the Greeks (Macedonians) were defeated and ousted from Persia after only 65 years. Various Greek empires (Ptolemaic, Seleucid) however ruled parts of the former Persian Empire for several hundred years until they were defeated by the Roman. Neither Greek culture or architectural design made a significant dent in Persia. Ironically, Alexander of Macedon "went Persian" to the dismay of his Greek colleagues, as did Seleucid Necatorus. Persian culture would go on to become the predominant cultural influence in the middle east and central asia, not only politically, but religiously, intellectually, architecturally, and linguistically.
References
^Lawrence Potter, Gary Sick. Iran, Iraq, and the legacies of war. 2004, MacMillan. ISBN1403964505 p.153
^Lawrence Potter, Gary Sick. Iran, Iraq, and the legacies of war. 2004, MacMillan. ISBN1403964505 p.156
"...No wonder why many Iranians hate us....People all around the world, from Ireland to Iran, want to drink Coke, eat at McDonalds and wear Levis. They want American products but hate America and Americans." Show Iranians some real love this Valentine's Day. Ben Thelen. Arizona State University Web Devil. Thursday, February 13, 2003.
"...And why does Iran want light water reactors? Iran is sitting on one of the biggest pools of oil in the world....". Testimony of Gary Milhollin. Professor, University of Wisconsin Law School and Director, Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. January 19, 1995.
