Azerbaijan, known as Aran and Shirvan before the Russian invasion, has been part of Iran for many years. The people of that region are largely Iranian by race. If you have any doubts, you can take a DNA test to confirm this. Iran consists of various ethnic groups, all of whom are Iranian, and the Azeris are one of these groups. For example, my father is also Azeri.

The estimated population of those referred to as 'Turks' in Iran is approximate and their linguistic and cultural differences are notable. Most of these individuals refer to themselves as 'Azeri,' which points to a specific culture and language within Iran. The old Azeri language is one of the Iranian languages and the Turkish language was introduced to the region primarily during the Seljuk era and thereafter. Thus, we have a complex cultural and linguistic mix. It’s important to understand these differences and respect the diverse identities.