kamangir

Iranian Armenians

So much has been said about the cordial relationship between Armenians and Persians from Ancient time. Today, Iran and Armenia enjoy a warm and friendly relationship despite the current geopolitics. I am, too, an Armenian from Iran and I remember growing up in Tehran in an Armenian neighborhood. Our house was right next to an Armenian school/church. My Persian neighbor across the street grew up learning Armenian and spoke Armenian fluently.

It's no secret that the Iranian revolution and the chaos in early years brought hardship to a lot of Iranians. Religious minorities were no exception and they went through several setbacks in Iran. The implementation of Islamic rules in Iran alienated religious minorities from the mainstream to an extent. Despite these setbacks, Armenians in Iran are well respected and enjoy a warm and friendly relationship with their Muslim compatriots.

After the independence of Armenia from Soviet Russia, Armenia and Iran have become two friendly nations. Armenians and Iranians continue to maintain their friendly relationship despite Azeri and Turkish influence to destroy the tie between these two nations.

I'm proud of my heritage, and I continue calling myself Iranian-Armenians anywhere I go. Some of my Persian friends try to hide their identity in the U.S. but I never did.

Let there be peace among all nations!

Armenian Iranians

Well I am only a quarter Armenian-Iranian (my grandmother) and the rest Iranian/Kurdish and I have to also agree that of all outside ethnic groups within Iran, Armenians are very well spoken for in the Iranian community...ya know ya got the turk/azeri jokes, kurds are thought of as these rebellious unsettled people, afghans are stereotyped as poor and uneducated....but armenians...no one says anything horrible or stereotypical about armenians..they have truely assimilated within Iranian culture...and let me add that they are truely beautiful...they look like iranians with just one difference....better noses ( which is the aesthetic iranians desire)..not trying to offend anyone but thats just a physical trait ive noticed with any armenian-iranians ive met....however..i have met some armenian-iranians that try to distance themselves from Iran as if they are embarrassed..but who could blame them...our country has killed itself..but hopefully one day ( and I hope I can live to see this day) Iran will resurrect itself with a secular democracy...and this time the US wont fuck it up --- i.e. mosadegh

Arash

The only thing is there are

The only thing is there are a lot of Armenian-Iranians that don't see themselves as Iranian at all even though they have lived there for so long after they come to America. A lot of them have hatered for Muslims and they see most Iranians as that. That's why so many Armenians hated Vigen as they it as him betraying his own people. Its quite unfortunate. My mother is Iranian and my father is Iranian-Armenian and I live somewhere with a prevalent amount of Armenian-Iranians in the USA so i know what i'm talking about.

I really enjoyed your

I really enjoyed your article and everybody else's comments. Being an Iranian Armenian myself, I am proud of being Iranian. Today I had a discussion with one of my Armenian from Armenia coworkers. She was insisting that I should reffer to myself as armenian. No matter how I hard I tried to explain to her that I and my anscesters have been in Iran for 500 years which makes me an Iranian. She would just not get it. I think it is hard for other Armenian to sort of understand our love for our beloved Iran. They do not understand how we could be proud of being Iranian with the current government . They do not get it that being and Iranian has nothing to do with politic and religion, it is the love for that beloved country, those streets, alleys, and memories of our beautiful days in Iran. I think no one would understand us besides those who have been blessed by having been born in Iran. Long live Iran and its wonderful nation

"armenian-iranian"

Im not that Armin no. i wouldnt even set my foot in USA to live there.

Im in Scandinavia not that Armin you think sorry.

Yes huge thanks to Viguen one of Irans best musicians ever.

Zendebad Iran

from Grandpa!

Do you think Vigen (or all other Armenians, are not always in our hearts?!)
Especially for me Vigen was Iran!!
He was my youth!
May God rest his soul.

Thank you

As an Iranian-Armenian, I thank you for this great post and your acknowledgment. It is also so nice to read all the positive comments about Iranian-Armenians.

Armenians have 400 years history in Iran and it is so sad that Armenian population has decreased more than 50% in Iran(by some estimate that number is even higher). Many churches are being abandoned and due to many difficulties (some due to government pressure and so economical reasons),the young generation sees no future for themselves and they are leaving 400 years history behind.

Thank you readers for your wonderful support.

Armenians are in our hearts

Armenians are in the hearts of every Iranian.

They are economically suffering

My parents had an accident on the way to Rezayeh, the accident was pretty bad and my parents were transferred to
the hospital in Rezayeh in coma, I was kept by an Armenian farmer near the site, later on they kept in touch and I attended their Christmas, Janvieh and PAK parties, unfortunately on my last visit to Iran (after 30 years) none of those farms were held by Armenians They were always poor but now they are even poorer, its economic cleansing.

Armenian.......

It is wright, that we iranians have lived with our armenic countrymates in peace and understandig. after the islamic revolution are the friendly relation to the armenian intensifeid.A colligue of mein is from armenia, a very nice fellow. In tehran i knew also several armenies. The turky may have had different relations to armenians. is this now a reason for europeans and soon america to damn turky? Why do they politisize the very old history? My Friend does not want to know a word about thease KASSE GARMTAR AS ASH HA. which missuse the , may be not in all points correct interpreted, history for their own devilish purposesGreetings

Armenians are the most

Armenians are the most peaceful and pleasant people that I have met.

well said

History of Iran and Armenia are intertwined and some what linked together. Today we share a lot of similarities in our culture, music, and way of life and so on....
Iranian Armenian are among some of the best Iranians out there and I am proud to have some of them as friends and as a “ham mihan”.

bang

Armenians are a nice bunch. Very pleasnat people. In fact, people from all sorts of religions and sects have been, more or less, living in harmony, except members of MEK who all they did was social unrest, terror, and assassination, while their chief was busy banging his followers's wives :)

YAY!!!

I am not Armenian but have 3 close Armenian friends, and all thru my life I've never thought of them as Armenians! They are simply my close friends and I love them from the bottom of my heart. I pretty much think they love me the same way too.
Yay for A and M and C!!!

To "Armenian-Iranian" Armin.

Armin ! is that you ? is your last name Rosta...... from Northridge, CA?????????

Thank You

As a Moslem Iranian, I had the pleasure of attending an Arminian-run elementary school in Tehran (Bahar e No). I could'nt agree more with your comments. I found Arminian Iranians to be first and foremost Iranian. A strong sense of patriotism and loyalty to Iran resonated in every aspect of thier teachings. May they (along with all other Iranian ethnicities) continue to be part of the fabric of the great nation of Iran.

As far as the "Islamic Republic" thing goes....this shall also pass.

Thank you for reminding us of good and kind Armenian compatriots

I have the best memories of all Armenians in Iran. Infact, everything for my wedding was done by the great hearted Armenians and what a fantastic job! I grew up among Armenians and I never forget their honesty, kindness and wisdom. I also have some Armenian friends here in US and I cherished them all. They are blessings to Iran.

Thanks again

Armenian males and females were the top class Iranian citizens

Do you guys remember "Charshabeh Soories"? The Armenians were the best to treat our crowd with their goodness and generosities. Armenians were civilized in appearance, social skill, life style, celebration, parties, education, and work ethics. They always treated others with preserving their dignities. They had great influence in our neighborhood.

There were stupid and ignorant Muslim kids calling them “Armani Sag Armani” (Armenians are dogs) or “Armani kon nashoor” (Armenians do not wash their asses). We always felt awful hearing such verbal lashes and abuses since we had many Armenian friends in our koocheh (alley) that we would exchange home visits on regular basis.

Their dance parties, Christmas celebrations, social and dinner gatherings, listening to them play music, exchanging good books and more were enlightening life experiences for our friends and my family.

Armenian males and females were the top class Iranian citizens. I am x-Muslim. Let me express my intense apology to all Iranian-Armenians for my other Iranian citizens mistreating you all out of dogma that they themselves have been a victim of.

From upper portion of Bahar Street – Tehran.

Thank you

Wonderful piece. It's rare that we acknowledge "others" among us.

Me too

I am not armenian, yet i love armenians. I am still looking for my armenian school friend who walked with me home every day and we talked about everything. I also miss the armenian sandwich shop that i bought salad oliviyeh sandwich from for lunch. Does anyone remember that, on one of the side street crossing shah avenue.

We are Iranians

Dr. Ala is Professor of Business and and a Board member of www.iran-heritage.org, www.iranalliance.org, and www.persiangulfonline.org

Thank you for your lovely text

I have yet to meet an Armenian-Iranian, who isn't civilised, educated, cultured, well-mannered, generous, gentle and astute. It would be interesting if a sociologist made a study on how this group of immigrants have managed to 'fit in' for over 500 years, as well as keeping their own cultural heritage alive and enriching to the point of respect from the current regime in Iran (although, it must be said that Iranians do tend to be in general a hospital lot).

Right on. It was a blessing

Right on. It was a blessing for Iran that many nationalities and religions were forced, or chose to live in Iran. In my view, the Armenians have been the best community because they contributed the most (per capita) to the progress of Iran with their skills and power of minds. I once read that Reza Shah noticed that our female population at the time looked like cave women with the exception of girls in Armenian neighborhoods. Indeed, we have learnt a lot from the Armenians and hope one day, we can provide them with a decent living environment in their country, Iran.
PS. The coolest thing that I recently learnt was that Iran has about 140,000 African-Iranians currently living in Iran. Apparently, they moved to Iran during slave trades about 400 years ago.

from an "armenian-iranian"

Hi

its so wonderful to read your text.
My mother is iranian-armenian and my father persian. i can tell you that some of the most nationalistic (iran loving) people ive meet are from my mothers side.

I know armenian families myself that lost sons to the war. we love our iran and my home will always be iran.

interesting that you are referring to the term armenian-iranian. i dont consider my self iranian-armenian. i always say im 100% iranian when people ask me about nationality. We armenians were so happy in iran. unfortunately this current could be a little more open to armenians, for instance nothing have been said about armenians who lost their lives for our country. if i had stayed in iran i also probably would fight for my dear iran.

one of the saddest things that have happened is that most of the minorities have fled the country after the revolution. there was even a general that was armenian during the reza shah era i think. nowadays almost all armenians have fled the country. and its sad when we remember how much minorities have contributed to iran. there is shockingly many things that was started by armenians. some of the car industry. some of the best instrument maker in iran were armenians. my own family did a lot of work for reza shah. my grandmother for instance made some of his curtains for one of his palaces. and my grandfather helped reza shah with the marmor stone for a palace.

i will never come over the fact that this regime caused most armenians to flee to bloody america. that alone saddens me.

we are iranians and darn proud to be iranians.

Respect and Love your fellow man!!!

"IMAGINE" Kamangir your writing is AWSOME!!! As I was growing up in Iran in 1970's I had many close friends whom weren't Muslims and this it was the same with my parents. I was and I'm blessed to have known such folks in my life!!!! Thanks again for your thoughts.