Iran: The Latest ‘Iran thinks it’s still a great power’: Why the regime won’t surrender
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Apr 3, 2026 
Ali Ansari, historian of Iran at St Andrews, gives a brisk tour of Persia’s long past and its echo in today’s politics. He explores Iran’s self-image as a great power, the role of ancient myths and Noruz, the shift to Shia Islam, and how rulers borrow legendary stories for legitimacy. Short, vivid takes on history shaping modern defiance.
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Iranian Identity Dates And Cultural Continuity
- Iran's identity stretches back to Cyrus the Great but meaningfully stabilises from the Sasanian era around 242–637 AD.
- Ali Ansari argues cultural continuity matters more than uninterrupted statehood, with Persian civilization re-emerging by the 13th–17th centuries.
How Geography Forged Persian Power
- The Iranian plateau's mixed geography created both hardy mountain warriors and fertile agricultural centres that shaped imperial reach.
- Mountains gave strategic access to Mesopotamia and Central Asia while water management enabled settled agriculture.
Three Empires That Shaped Iran
- Ancient Iran hosted three major imperial systems: Achaemenid Persians, Parthians, and Sasanians, each shaping mythology and statecraft.
- The Parthian horse-archer and Sasanian standing army both challenged Rome across centuries.