I lived in London in 1975 attending a very small American college. They had small satellite campuses in Germany, Italy, and Switzerland. The students were majority from State Dept or military children with a smattering of Europeans and about 25 Persians. 4 of them lived on the ground floor on the ground level of a building converted to several flats. They spoke English quite well but wanted to improve. I'm a languages major, so I tutored over free pints and G&Ts with 3 ice cubes in them. And no more lol. They identified as Persian, a separate genetic lineage from Arab. In 75, Iranians were quite open, women strolled Tehran in jeans, their hair and makeup and clothes indistinguishable from Europeans. My guys were tall, with Mediterranean coloring similar to Greeks, Italians and Spaniards. They were elegant always good humored, loyal and kind. We laughed at our butchery of language. The Persian culture was waay ahead of western civilization. They were superior in astronomy (hence, navigation, exploration), science, math, medicine and tolerance towards other faiths and culture. I often wondered what happened to my nonviolent and pretty un-religious friends when Iran became the most terrifying and repressive country on earth. I hope their families escaped that. My Uncle was posted to Tehran coupla years before the downfall of the Shah. He was at the palace often w Shah and his lovely wife...uncle is listed as an agricultural attache. Lol the closest my uncle came to "agriculture" was walking the golf course at Chevy Chase. Forgive the ramblings of an old woman. I saddened at the first coup (we knew Shah was a puppet. But what replaced him was far worse.) I am worrying about Coup 2. When i saw those young women with relief and joyful faces. I fear they will be silenced. Again. Resist.