This is CBSI in the world. I'm John Batchewith. Professor Brenda Schaefer, Dr. Schaefer at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.

Right now, the author Brenda Schaefer, is here for Iran is more than Persia, ethnic politics in Iran.

This is a revelation about a state that the whole of

Eurasia regards as a threat. Iran is now providing war-fighting material to Russia, to attack

Europe, Ukraine. In effect, not even in effect, Iran is at war with NATO right now.

So what does that mean about Iran's strength, internal strength?

I learned from read in his book that the Persians, that Tehran Persians dominate the country

in an imperial fashion that is indistinguishable from the two shahs,

that is indistinguishable from the two shahs, that is indistinguishable from the

sovereign powers of kings.

Brenda, you pose the democracy conundrum, that these ethnic minorities are not going to

stay loyal to Tehran if there's a vote.

What is striking about this is an additional puzzle.

This is something that the regime believes, which is why they persecute minorities,

but that the opposition, heretofore, understood as the anti-regime opposition of, say, the Greens also believe this.

Please explain that.

Right.

So, you know, people that are looking now at this wave of anti-regime protests, I keep hearing analysts

write and say, wow, all the minorities are in this together.

Isn't it wonderful how unified they are?

Part one and part two are not necessarily the same. There are a lot of minority groups that wanted to get rid of the Soviet

Union. That doesn't mean they didn't have different agendas once the Soviet Union was weak or once

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