I'm John Batchel, and I welcome my good colleague of many years Brenda Schaefer,

Professor Dr. Brenda Schaefer of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School,

to help me understand what we're seeing through a glass darkly in Iran these last hours and these last years.

Iran is more than Persia, is the name of Brenda's book.

It's very helpful to understand that this is ethnic politics that we're witnessing right now in the reporting of the tragedy in Tehran.

And that is a way of talking about the Islamic Revolution since 79, and also for the last several centuries.

Iran is more than Persia.

Brenda, a very good day to you.

My conversations with you over the years have taught me that my mother's people, the Assyrians, they are based in Lake

Irmae region of the northwest part of what is now called the state of Iran, once called Persia.

And they are in a city and a place where they're comfortable with their colleagues and

marry among themselves. Many are Christians.

They were Christianized in the 4th century as well as the missionaries of the 19th century.

That is one piece of the largest story of Iran.

And he taught me the metaphor of Tehran as the donut hole, and that the donut is made up of different cultures,

histories, technologies, and ambitions. Do I say all that correctly, Professor? Good day to you,

Brenda. Good day to you. Of course, you say it correct. And it's very interesting that you have

the family link to Urmia.

Omea is a very special place.

Most of the population is Azerbaijani Turks and Kurds.

And Lake Ormia, it's one of the largest saltwater lakes in the world.

Very special place.

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