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Harvard Professor Answers Iranian History Questions | Tech Support | WIRED
Professor Tarek Masoud joins WIRED to answer the internet’s burning questions about the history of Iran. Is Iran an Arab country? Why did the Iranian revolution happen? Is Iran the only middle eastern country whose modern borders were not created by colonial powers? Answers to these questions and many more await on Iran History Support.…
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@chelseafan4eva
April 24, 2026 at 7:24 pm
oil prices didnt fall in 1979 they were pretty high
@devanman7920
April 24, 2026 at 7:32 pm
Anyone who has even a passing interest in world history knows the Iranians/ Persians are one of the great societies/ people of history.
@relife3348
April 24, 2026 at 7:33 pm
The CiA did assiated there democratic ly elected leader as soon as he said we will keep our oil and won’t share it.
@GGora
April 24, 2026 at 7:35 pm
Do people really not know that Persians/ Iranians are not arab??? 😮
Islam? No. We don’t practice Islam. Wasn’t brought to us either. Was FORCED upon us. We created SHIA CULT to avoid paying jizza & keep our heads.
We never left Zoroastrianism. At all. We went in-cognito. Today, we are out. Try talking about Islam in front of us Iranians even inside of Iran. Try it. Try it.
@FoxasaurusRex
April 24, 2026 at 7:38 pm
WELCOME BACK PROFESSOR MASOUD 🗣️🗣️🗣️🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@pezboy715
April 24, 2026 at 7:39 pm
I absolutely love this guy’s videos
@mohammadheydari7995
April 24, 2026 at 7:39 pm
Not all Iranians are persians. Below 50% are. We use Iranian amongst ourselves. Don’t call us all persians please. Professor, I know you know better
@jeradjenkins2110
April 24, 2026 at 7:51 pm
I mean some of these are very basic answers I’m sorry
@nftgoku476
April 24, 2026 at 7:52 pm
Funny how people focus on Pahlavi and the BS propaganda of them being “dictators” while completely disregard current terrorist regime! the Islamic regime killed and executed more people in the past year than Pahlavi dynasty did in 40 years! The current regime executed 1600 people in the past 3 months, The shah did not even exiled that many people in over 20 years! The media only calls Pahlavi a dictatorship because they fought extremists and tried to control oil prices which was painful for the west. go check the list of people Pahlavi imprisoned or exiled, all of them later became heads of Islamic regime and IRGC and terrorist groups all over the Middle East.
@flytoday
April 24, 2026 at 7:53 pm
C. I. A. agitprop
@TheSharok
April 24, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Can we finally get an actual Iranian to talk about our country ? Thanks.
@ramtinradafzoon454
April 24, 2026 at 8:01 pm
There are many parts that i can say you are wrong , Specially about Prince Reza Pahlavi , First you should call him Prince Reza Pahlavi ( Respect to Royal Family) and not just reza pahlavi !! Secondally , The arabs and kurds that you are talking about they got slaughterd in rallies 3 months ago in Iran’s cities for supporting Pahlavi , That millions of people rallied in the streets shouting for Prince Reza Pahlavi , If you know , IRGC killed +40,000 People in less thand 48 hours.
@RisedTheworldchanger
April 24, 2026 at 8:06 pm
Iranian here. I would say 75 percent accurate, but the Pahlavis are downplayed here for no reason. Yes, freedom of speech was not written into the law, but in practice it was granted. The Islamic revolution happened over decades, and the Shah was so peaceful with them they had to forge atrocities in his name like Cinema Rex
@TawfiqIsm-f9b
April 24, 2026 at 8:14 pm
I like how he put both Iranian flags before and after 1979 Revolution to remain non-partisan in the conversation lol
@parnian2276
April 24, 2026 at 8:21 pm
Oh love this
@avestas4684
April 24, 2026 at 8:25 pm
Iran has the most complicated history and culture and yet he nails the explanation. His students are lucky.
@Kievlar
April 24, 2026 at 8:34 pm
Refreshing to learn something new. I clicked on the video expecting U.S. tattered propaganda. These colonial powers really messed up our world.
@wajdanmahbub495
April 24, 2026 at 8:38 pm
Its Farsi not Persian
@NavidManuchehrabadi
April 24, 2026 at 8:41 pm
As an Iranian who was born during the revolution and raised in postrevolution Iran, I have serious concerns about this narrative. While some of the historical points mentioned are correct, many critical aspects are either oversimplified or completely left out, which creates a misleading overall picture.
First, regarding Iran’s borders, it is important to understand that they were not simply “naturally formed” or static. A large portion of what is now outside of modern Iran was historically part of Persia. Territories such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and even parts of present day Pakistan were lost over time, particularly during conflicts with imperial powers like the Russian Empire and the British Empire. These were not minor adjustments they were major geopolitical losses that deeply shaped Iranian historical consciousness.
Because of this long history of external pressure and territorial loss, there has always been a strong sensitivity in Iranian society toward foreign intervention. This is not just ideology, it is rooted in lived historical experience. That helps explain why Iranians, across different political systems, have often been resistant to outside influence, especially when it comes to shaping domestic culture and governance.
Regarding the Pahlavi era, it is true that it was not a fully democratic system, but that characterization alone is incomplete. The Pahlavi dynasty carried out significant modernization efforts, expanding infrastructure, education, and women’s rights. At the same time, Iran was situated next to the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and that geopolitical reality heavily influenced how the Shah viewed internal and external threats. Ignoring that context leads to an unbalanced assessment.
On the topic of identity, while Iranians adopted Islam, Persian cultural identity has remained distinct and deeply rooted. There has historically been tension between preserving that identity and broader Arab-Islamic influence. This tension is complex and cannot be reduced to simple binaries, but it does play a role in how many Iranians perceive both their past and present. Interestingly, in the postrevolution era, attempts to emphasize Islamic unity have sometimes had the opposite effect, especially among younger generations, many of whom feel a stronger cultural connection to the West.
Finally, what is often referred to in the West as the “Islamic Golden Age” should be understood more carefully. Many of the key scientific and intellectual figures of that period were Persian or heavily influenced by Persian culture. While they operated within an Islamic political framework, attributing their achievements solely to a generic “Islamic civilization” overlooks the significant Iranian contribution to science, medicine, mathematics, and philosophy.
@Lolsiee
April 24, 2026 at 8:42 pm
You have no idea how glad we all are. Thanks for listening to the comments and bringing him 😄
@janetf23
April 24, 2026 at 8:46 pm
I’m really enjoying this Iran Tech Support series 👏
@Cult-Follower
April 24, 2026 at 9:00 pm
A-FCKIN-GAIN? Keep it coming!!!
@EK-2583
April 24, 2026 at 9:11 pm
Iranian here, the real flag of Iran is the sun and lion flag. That fake flag with that ugly symbol on it is not our flag. Thank you
@paulmullin6962
April 24, 2026 at 9:19 pm
Some discussion of the democratic Iran in 1953 is in order. They had a prime minister who was overthrown by the UK and the US because he wanted Iranian oil to be for the Iranian people. As is frequently the case, hatred of the west can be traced back to western colonialism and resource theft.
@rashiid187
April 25, 2026 at 4:10 pm
We trade with persians long time here in somalia
@Sherluck93
April 25, 2026 at 4:13 pm
4:52 So can they have their hair showing or not?
@BaharBarh
April 25, 2026 at 4:15 pm
What kind of a professor are you when you don’t know that the script is not Arabic?
@mohamadrahimi810
April 25, 2026 at 4:17 pm
I am writing as an Azerbaijani who borned in Iran. Iran is not just persians Professor!
@Adnan_122s
April 25, 2026 at 4:37 pm
Even a Harvard professor of them couldn’t resist taking a shot at Arabs, these people have some serious issues
@Ex0dus111
April 25, 2026 at 4:52 pm
No.
@ehsanh.n9485
April 25, 2026 at 4:56 pm
Islam no longer exists in the minds of the Iranian people
@natalieruth6436
April 25, 2026 at 5:01 pm
i love him!! he is one of my favorite features for this series
@Sherluck93
April 25, 2026 at 5:14 pm
10:23 Creating a martyr out of a moderate?
10:35 And… Trump-ish? 🤷♀️
@SednaKheirdoust
April 25, 2026 at 5:16 pm
Persian here, we want Reza Shah Pahlavi back! He never mentioned the 40,000 Iranian citizens systematically killed, very recently, by the Islamic regime for protesting for basic human rights. Very convenient for his agenda isnt it?
@novida4770
April 25, 2026 at 5:17 pm
This is propaganda and I’m letting you know a lot of us see through it
@FarzanFasaei
April 25, 2026 at 5:19 pm
Iran doesn’t have a shortage of experts outside of Iran to answer questions about its history. I wonder why someone that is not Iranian is answering questions and changing to historic facts. As an Iranian that was born and raised in Iran I have to say that there are a lot of points that he makes that aren’t factual at all.
@transcendence_insights
April 25, 2026 at 5:31 pm
Professor you started well! Then, you stated a lot of biased and wrong information. I wanted to scream at the end. PEOPLE THE INFORMATION ARE BIASED.
@transcendence_insights
April 25, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Harvard Professor?! Why you lied?
@yw1971
April 25, 2026 at 5:41 pm
2:04 – Who eats grasshoppers now?… The modern Iran is so beneath was use to be Persia.
@lostvarius
April 25, 2026 at 6:02 pm
Lots of pahlavist bots here
@aliferdowsi8014
April 25, 2026 at 6:42 pm
I truly wished u guys hired an Iranian Professor to do theses sections. He is delivering his bias masked. hard for non iranians to see
@cJeremy
April 25, 2026 at 6:56 pm
did this fool even talk about interference and coup detats caused by GB and USA? don’t think so. this guy’s not credible. pathetic.
@krisat16
April 25, 2026 at 7:09 pm
I wish there was a question of CIA involvements in coup
@EnemyOfEldar
April 25, 2026 at 7:13 pm
Islam “given” to Iran by the Arabs. Yes, “given”. What a euphemism for conquered, colonised and forced.
@dariushmehr
April 25, 2026 at 8:49 pm
To answer the question of whether we Iranians want the Pahlavi dynasty back, the answer is an absolute yes. Do not attempt to manipulate this response. While human rights issues and atrocities during the Pahlavi era should be acknowledged, they were not only far less severe than those under the Islamic regime, but also not comparable to those in many European countries at the time.
@California-x1s
April 25, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Most Iranians including me, don’t see ourselves represented by the thief-ayatollahs, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps terrorists, and Basiji gangs of thugs. And let’s be honest: Islam was not peacefully “brought” to Persia, it arrived through conquest by the sword. That history still matters, and many Persians reject being lectured about who they are today.
@California-x1s
April 25, 2026 at 9:04 pm
Your tech support on Reza Shah is completely wrong. He did not overthrow the previous king by direct force. He first served as Minister of War under governments formed during the reign of Ahmad Shah Qajar, with new prime ministers appointed by Ahmad Shah. Reza Shah rose through the existing state structure before the monarchy was later transferred through a parliamentary process.
@AverageWalmartAmerican
April 25, 2026 at 9:25 pm
this was really good
@breamatt
April 26, 2026 at 1:54 pm
it truly only takes a political revolution for women to have their rights questioned. I may be wrong, but the majority of those who sided with khomeini in 1979 were men?
@ninjasword629
April 26, 2026 at 2:05 pm
not mentioning MOsadeqh is crazy
@ParsclickTV
April 26, 2026 at 2:25 pm
Iran had freedom of speech and freedom back in 1979, indeed. You forgot to mention Khomeini killed at least 100k political prisoners right after the revolution. You ruined it at the end. People want Reza Pahlavi, and we will vote for him.
@SparrowMorning
April 26, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Great question, YoghurtClosetOpen!
@SH-bi3ej
April 26, 2026 at 2:43 pm
I love how he answers the questions with such clarity and class – a breath of fresh air in a world where a lot of sociopolitical conversation has devolved into a snark contest
@drobviouslol
April 26, 2026 at 3:05 pm
W mans
@shermine5651
April 26, 2026 at 3:13 pm
Just for your audience information about Iran’s flag: The islamic regime changed the flag into arab words ×22 and the central arabic symbol which is so similar to Indian sikhs, Khanda.
On the other hand the flag that Iranian people are carring with Sun and Lion in the center is reffereing to the sun’s position in the constellation of Leo. Aligning the king with Mithra (god of light/sun) and the strength of the Leo constellation, symbolizing the “perfect state”.
@aka.Mokasa
April 26, 2026 at 3:56 pm
11:50 i have to say some points about this section: reza pahlavi currently is the main opposition leader for us iranians. He wants to lead the transitional period to democracy, and yes the people absolutely want him and accepted him as their leader during the transition.
Very important to note that people are not asking for an autocracy or dictatorship. And in the case people choose monarchy after the transitional phase(via referendum) it will be a constitutional monarchy.
@weston.weston
April 26, 2026 at 4:03 pm
I really like this historian’s presentation.
@siamakafiat7517
April 26, 2026 at 4:14 pm
No one Wii never understand Iran and it’s 1978 revolution until
Realizing the personality of Khomeini and his mystical dimension
@marcus_i_13
April 26, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Thank you for addressing the flags and the Shah. I’m tired of seeing street protests in the US and other western countries where the monarchists proudly wave that flag and cheer on Trump and Israeli bombs. The Shah was a tyrant and his heavy handed rule created the conditions for Islamic extremism to take over. Cheering on the change of one master for another by waving the monarchist flag is not justice for the Iranian people who just want stability. the choice of which flag to wave at a protest is a huge act that speaks volumes and I don’t think most people put that much thought into it.
@sainaee
April 26, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Best video so far ✍️
@JeanetteBahraini
April 26, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Not Some. 90 million.
@iknowimwrongbut4491
April 26, 2026 at 5:43 pm
Some of what he states are opinions, not fact. And also he doesn’t pronounce any of the Persian words correctly.
@manaShojae
April 26, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Az an Irani Azari we love Pahlavi dynasty and we want them back
@didi_mega_dudu
April 26, 2026 at 5:59 pm
Mossadegh is not mentioned? Quasi-professor… Iran was a democracy before the puppet Shah regime was installed by CIA.
@manaShojae
April 26, 2026 at 6:02 pm
How do you write this song called Professor? Didn’t say anything about the Islamic government’s brutal killing in January 2020 6/50,000 young innocent people were killed brutally by the Islamic government in Iran just for demanding dignity and human rights
@manaShojae
April 26, 2026 at 6:03 pm
People who were killed on January 2026 were demanding the coming back of our beloved son of our king more than 50,000 killed but this man even didn’t mention a word of them
@Yummyalchemy
April 26, 2026 at 6:50 pm
Don’t you think there’s a lack of context in the last section about Pahlavi dynasty? Many Iranians believe that Pahlavi is not just the only real alternative but it’s absolutely the best by far. He’s been away but hasn’t stopped fighting for Iranians’ right to freedom. Are you really comparing the suppression by the Islamic regime and the Pahlavi dynasty? Obviously you haven’t done enough research and verification as we hear different stories.
@mohammadkhalili7562
April 26, 2026 at 7:49 pm
Wtf is this guy talk about? A lot of misinformation. What a shame for western academia and journalism.
@christianb.7696
April 26, 2026 at 8:00 pm
*Questions by Americans. The rest of the world knows where Iran isn🤡
@JesperMilling
April 26, 2026 at 8:14 pm
No mention of the coup in 1953, by CIA and UK
@Randomgirlxo3123
April 26, 2026 at 8:42 pm
I don’t understand why you bring an Egyptian man to speak about Iranian history and current Iranian issues? Many aspects of Iranian society a foreigner cannot understand no matter how many wikipedia articles they read.
@alnazari1829
April 26, 2026 at 8:49 pm
I am Iranian. This guys knows his sh!t! ❤️
@10Sethg
April 27, 2026 at 2:36 pm
Not a reliable source
@Gumbaman1990
April 27, 2026 at 3:08 pm
professor omits the fact that Persians make only 40% of the population; another 30-40% are Turks; so such Turkic languages as Azerbaijani, Qashqai, Turkmen, Afshar and others are among most spoken languages in country
@taoyizhi
April 27, 2026 at 3:29 pm
I can listen to you all day. Thank you!
@berzerker3238
April 27, 2026 at 3:51 pm
Actually even the lion in middle of our old flag is the symbol of first İmam of shia moslems, İmam Ali the lion of Allah .
@alirezaghadimi7873
April 27, 2026 at 3:55 pm
Yes
We want the King back and all ethnicities are supporting him
@Cupofgo
April 27, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Thank you Professor Masoud. You have been such an amazing source of knowledge concerning Iran and policies around Southwest Asia. I really appreciate you sharing all of this with us. You are just another amazing example of why education and universities are so incredibly important.
@gofiodetrigo8756
April 27, 2026 at 4:16 pm
I had read is iran an airbnb country
@Artubaruba
April 27, 2026 at 4:22 pm
wasn’t the Shah azeri?
@DrHammadQureshi
April 27, 2026 at 4:28 pm
Arabs refer to Persians as Farsi
@faridmohammadi-f3s
April 27, 2026 at 4:38 pm
Professor, with all due respect, millions of Iranians risked, and many gave their lives in protests while chanting the name of Reza Pahlavi. To sit in a Harvard office and reinterpret their words, to claim they didn’t really mean what they said, is deeply troubling.
We don’t get to override people’s explicitly stated demands with our own preferred interpretation. If someone says no, it means no. If a nation chants a name, they mean that name. Anything else is intellectual dishonesty at the expense of people who paid for those words with their blood.
@lensman5762
April 27, 2026 at 5:04 pm
Iran/ Persia has beena kingdom and an Empire for over 4000 years. Monarchy is in our blood, in our DNA. Like governments, there have been bad kings, the Qajar dynasty for example, good kings like Karim Khan Zand,though he never called d himself king, and great kings, like Cyrus, Darius, Khosro Anoushirvan, Nader Shah, Reza Shah and even the late Shah of Iran!!! This western inspired Islamic Revolution in Iran has been a catastrophe for Iranians and for the region as a whole!!!
@StephenAkin
April 27, 2026 at 5:32 pm
Why isn’t the former Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh and his government promoted by Iranian dissents as an ideal successor to the current regime rather than the repressive governance of the Shah?
@ArmanM2
April 27, 2026 at 5:36 pm
The Shah was NOT an “American Client.” If he was, how did he engineer the oil shock in 73 that crippled western economies, and is considered the greatest transfer of wealth in history. The Shah relied on the west for industrialisation, his “white revolution” and to keep communism out of the country. When Iran became powerful, he cut ties or stopped being reliant. That’s when they got rid of him. Iran being a stooge for the west is propaganda, islamic marxist beliefs
@APS-w2r
April 27, 2026 at 5:41 pm
Unfortunately, some of his assertions are incorrect, misleading, or incomplete in a way that does not convey the complete situation. I.e. Iranian “revolution” did NOT happen as “no body saw it coming”. Quite the opposite. It was engineered by UK, USA and France. It was about oil and at the same time, fighting a possible USSR and communism expansion into Iran. As a matter of fact, Kissinger famously said to the Shah, “…don’t try to privatise the oil. You will be overthrown.”
@saimalishahid1406
April 27, 2026 at 6:19 pm
Iran not only survives, it impacts all civilizations that it comes in close contact with profoundly.
@frankiesalmon7545
April 27, 2026 at 6:28 pm
Wow. Nothing about the 1953 coup pushed by MI6 and CIA?
@Khosro-CR7
April 27, 2026 at 7:35 pm
With all respect, you’re like BBC who gets some obvious things right and then twist the narrative ilwhen it comes to the details. Pahlavi dynasty was never a hated one. Even the government officials do not dare to do that because they know that people love them because they did so much for the country. And then about the support and tortoise those people who came onto the streets on those days were called by Reza Pahlavi so they were supporting him not doing that to only enrage the regime. And I don’t know why you don’t wanna acknowledge the fact that US and the British wanted Shah to go in 1979!
@InSfFaSf
April 27, 2026 at 8:14 pm
Why didn’t Zoroastrianism, Judaism, or Christianity get a cool accented pronunciation, but islam did?
@Markgraf_ON
April 27, 2026 at 8:30 pm
as always, another ” Americans start learning about country after invading one”
@cyonushonis7533
April 27, 2026 at 8:41 pm
Bro, learn Persian. You can’t even pronounce the names.
@flightmasterr231
April 27, 2026 at 8:55 pm
Lol the most laughable exaggeration of foreign pronunciation. Only in America
@arkadasy
April 27, 2026 at 8:56 pm
Iranians don’t speak Persian, they speak Farsi, dear professor!
@desertpooch
April 27, 2026 at 9:01 pm
You need corrections made: 1. Its untrue that nobody saw the Islamic revolution coming. 2. Islam was not brought to Persians it was FORCED on them with merciless cutthroat brutality ….. fix those 2 points at the very beginning then I might watch the rest.
@Butoygirl
April 27, 2026 at 9:09 pm
Prof. Masoud is working overtime to give us knowledge again. Thank you!
@ToobaTr
April 28, 2026 at 12:37 pm
8:00 as opposed to now which is a bastion of freedom 😒
@ToobaTr
April 28, 2026 at 12:40 pm
9:50
Because the Shah was raising oil prices and Jimmy Carter (according to declassified CIA documents) conspired with UK and France to overthrow the Shah and bring about a religious shield against Soviet influence.
@ToobaTr
April 28, 2026 at 12:43 pm
11:45 Khomeini was the antithesis of “charismatic”. He was cold and duplicitous, he famously felt “nothing” upon returning to Iran after years of exile. He was put in power by a coalition of foreign forces who wanted Iran weak.
@Nikki-catmom
April 28, 2026 at 3:59 pm
I almost threw up in my mouth when he said “khomeini” and “charismatic” in the same sentence 😂
I think the problem was the lack of communications that now is possible with internet! People had heard second hand what Khomeini was preaching, but didn’t get a full picture of what he stood for!
@Kitty8791
April 28, 2026 at 7:19 pm
@Nikki-catmom He had a radio show while he was exiled in France. He lied just like current day podcasters & the stupid people ate it up.
@ToobaTr
April 28, 2026 at 12:44 pm
11:56, not a pretender. He has said repeatedly that he doesn’t want to be king. For fuck’s sake.
MILLIONS of Iranians want Pahlavi back. He does have the wherewithal, but western powers don’t want him.
@ToobaTr
April 28, 2026 at 12:45 pm
13:00
Nobody sees Pahlavis as Persian supremacists. This is a nonsense claim perpetuated by separatist movements funded by Turkey and Azerbaijan.
@bendover4952
April 28, 2026 at 1:23 pm
Absolute bias against the Pahlavi dynasty and especially against the Shah. F U
@jtcorey7681
April 28, 2026 at 1:46 pm
What about the democracy in the 1950s that was ended by the CIA and the Shah was installed. The US has been interfering in Iran for decades!
@faridhakimi7815
April 28, 2026 at 2:21 pm
You say there is no democracy in Iran as if you do have it in your country. If you have freedom of speech, please talk about Israel and Holocaust and see how you will be treated. I dare you. please do it. You have freedom to the point your governments think its safe.
@connortracy1217
April 28, 2026 at 4:15 pm
6:02 why did he follow the words backwards?
@Michael-r2c8k
April 28, 2026 at 4:26 pm
Iranians aren’t Arabs they are farsee
@danrightnow3880
April 28, 2026 at 4:51 pm
If this was meant to be an unbiased Q&A, I do not understand why most of the focus was on why the previous dynasty was overthrown, rather than on all the horrific things the current regime is doing now.
After the mass killing of protesters in January, how many protesters have been executed since then?
I hope for a day when Iranians have truly unbiased representation in Western media.
@Ralphpincher
April 28, 2026 at 5:05 pm
Are you stupid?
@Chawk282
April 28, 2026 at 5:14 pm
Exactly true.
@SenatorKodi
April 28, 2026 at 5:13 pm
As an Iranian I appreciate the effort of this professor to teach Iran’s contemporary history to the world.
@rts3822
April 28, 2026 at 5:23 pm
a Professor of Iran calling the language Persian 😭
@JimmyHeller
April 28, 2026 at 5:31 pm
The green does not have anything to do with Islam btw.
@liamnixon4428
April 28, 2026 at 5:31 pm
“Peacock throne” is an amazing way to refer to the Pahlavi dynasty
@be.t.gooood
April 28, 2026 at 5:39 pm
I probably just learned more about Iran than our president knows
@Mmad-Rb
April 28, 2026 at 6:08 pm
Your understanding of Iranian history and culture is fundamentally flawed, and your claims do not reflect the reality of our country. A significant portion of the Iranian people holds great respect for the exiled crown prince and desires his return. I urge you to stop spreading misinformation and to educate yourself more thoroughly before addressing your audience on these matters. SHAME ON YOU!
@jakecrim9178
April 28, 2026 at 6:38 pm
Making no mention of Mohammad Mosaddegh being overthrown by the US/UK in 1953 is shameful, but surely intentional
@kyonkochan
April 28, 2026 at 6:51 pm
I have a question for anyone who would like to answer. Which do you feel is more “accurate” to call the country of Iran when referring to it historically? It seems to be most people refer to it as Persia up until the 21st century, but they have been calling themselves “Eran” for centuries.
@iamroberty
April 28, 2026 at 7:20 pm
This video is a master class in selling regime change wars to liberals. Is this guy CIA?
@sherifffruitfly
April 28, 2026 at 7:27 pm
Wait Americans STILL don’t know the difference between Arab and Persian?
My god we’re a stupid, stupid country.
@nw42
April 28, 2026 at 7:46 pm
As an American, I despise what we’re doing to Iran. I have no love for their current government (or any oppressive theocratic regime) but we had an agreement with them that was working… and we threw it away, for nothing. Persia is an ancient and beautiful world civilization, and the fact that our leaders are slaughtering their children and openly threatening genocide against them is unconscionable.
@miladgh1212
April 28, 2026 at 8:55 pm
“Pretender to the the throne? Wtf?
I was genuinely struck when you brought up Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. He is widely seen as the only opposition figure with the credibility and recognition to help guide a transition toward democracy.
When people in Iran took to the streets on January 8th and 9th following his call, it wasn’t just symbolic or meant to provoke the regime. It reflected something deeper — a real level of trust and belief. For many, this isn’t about nostalgia or comparing eras; it’s about expressing a clear vision for the future they want.
Long live the king
Javid Shah 👑
@CosmicCat1128
April 28, 2026 at 9:20 pm
A few points that weren’t discussed:
1. Britain and Russia invaded a neutral Iran in WW2 to take their oil.
2. Iran’s 1979 revolution was also, in part, a protest against the Shah’s being viewed as ‘puppet’ to the west, specifically the US. Hence, the hostages.
@Lovesickpuppy1
April 29, 2026 at 10:24 am
3:58 WTF is South Asia?? 3:58
Parsis don’t live in lsIamic Pakistan, fanatic Bangladesh,,,,
They live in India with Hindus. So stop diluting Indian & Hindu subcontinent identity.
@smaswqa4208
April 29, 2026 at 10:30 am
As an Iranian, I think what the professor said toward the end is very important. It’s not clear if Iranians truly want Pahlavi to return, or if they just want to taunt the current regime by showing support to Reza Pahlavi, but I think the latter is true.
@buzzlightyear7752
April 29, 2026 at 10:41 am
3:36 He said, “They ultimately converted to Islam……..” No bro, real and brave Zoroastrians still practice their religion in Iran and India. Coward and Timid once were forced and by force they became Muslims.
@buzzlightyear7752
April 29, 2026 at 10:55 am
Short Summary: Shah Pahlavi n his all things: BAD. Khomeini: GOOOOOOD..
@pegahrazavi7050
April 29, 2026 at 11:07 am
I appreciate your effort, but you are somewhat anti-pahlavi. Many of your sentences are biased and untrue.
@LoveAll12345
April 29, 2026 at 11:27 am
Nobody saw the revolution coming?!
@eidoggg
April 29, 2026 at 11:41 am
The Persian language is called “Farsi”, not Persian
@rafaeloliveira9353
April 29, 2026 at 11:46 am
The Harvard professor having the wrong Iranian flag on the table 💀💀💀
@CG_VON
April 29, 2026 at 12:19 pm
Who didn’t see it coming? It would seem the country was better under the King instead of the revolutionary movement. I do understand the revolutionary but I cannot support it.
@nourighorbani3844
April 29, 2026 at 12:29 pm
The reasons for Islamic revolution were1- uneducated and religious people of Iran 2- Power hungry mullahs 3- Western oil companies and countries who wanted cheap oil. That’s it.
@WeAreNotSheep2023
April 29, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Thank you Professor Masoud. Love listening to you.
@RostamTorki
April 29, 2026 at 12:48 pm
A few corrections:
You failed to speak on England and France’s role in the revolution.
Prince Pahlavi himself states that he is only to be a transitional leader and nothing more – letting the Iranians vote on the type of leadership they desire and implementing it only. He has no desire to even live in Iran after that.
@hansmeyer7225
April 29, 2026 at 1:29 pm
6:44 It would have been helpful to briefly explain what “conservative” meant in Iran at that time, as the term is used very differently in a political context today, depending on personal perspective. Most people probably wouldn’t think of a feudal system among large landowners, for example.
@Crossword131
April 29, 2026 at 1:40 pm
This is 101 level.
Was hoping for more depth.
@JellyDoughnuuuuut
April 29, 2026 at 2:46 pm
If Iranians were Arabs we would be on out knees not standing up toe to toe ! Arabs don’t understand sovereignty!!
@tylerhobbs7653
April 29, 2026 at 2:46 pm
I love this guy!
@exgod1
April 29, 2026 at 4:35 pm
2:34 Hippocrates. Avi came in much later.
@m.s.1326
April 29, 2026 at 4:42 pm
Why are u totally wiping out other languages like Turkish, Arabic, beluchi and kurdish. Iran is not a persian country, it is majority persian country. Since the topic is language and ethnicity it is not right to inform in this misleading way
@Mojorisin4003
April 29, 2026 at 5:02 pm
As an Iranian I see a lot of misinformation in this video.
@saltycrabslovegozo
April 29, 2026 at 5:33 pm
How would you describe the Maltese? I am curious. Kindly.
@funnypantshd150
April 29, 2026 at 7:32 pm
the goat is back
@cultofhampter
April 29, 2026 at 7:53 pm
“Tark masood”
Bro…
@Chri3tian
April 29, 2026 at 8:10 pm
What an educated lad.
@Chartress
April 29, 2026 at 9:19 pm
THERE IS NO COUNTRY IS IRAN
TURKEY IRAN IRAQ AND SYRIA
THEY UNITED TO STEAL LANDS AND RESOURCES THIS LANDS ARE BELONGS TO KURDS ARMENIANS GREEKS AND JEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! STOP BRING OCCUPIERS AS A PREFESSOR!!!!!
@Liquid_Alchemy
April 30, 2026 at 12:07 am
Great content. Thank you.
@Liquid_Alchemy
April 30, 2026 at 12:10 am
@4:52 answers the question, why I have so many Persian friends in California (“Who like to party”). 1979 Iran’s loss, America’s gain.
@drrouzbeh
April 30, 2026 at 12:21 am
While many of Prof. Masoud’s answers were solid, a few important things should be pointed out:
1. HRH Reza Shah II or “Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi” is not “pretender to the throne” but the legitimate Shah of Iran who was sworn in after his father Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi passed away; he is THE MOST POPULAR LEADER OF THE IRANIAN OPPOSITION and someone who has the most legitimacy to lead Iran after the fall of the Islamic Republic
2. There is ABSOLUTELY no ethnic issues on behalf of the Kurds, Azeris, Arab, or Balouch minorities in Iran; they consider themselves Iranian and have FULL IRANIAN CITIZENSHIP and those of them that are proponents of the return to the Monarchy and leadership of HRH Reza Shah II
3. The “political oppression” stories that are told as one of the reasons behind the 1979 revolution are greatly exaggerated by Leftists / Communists who created a coalition with the Islamists (Khomeini’s political faction) against the monarchy; ironically after the revolution succeeded the Islamists marginalized the Leftists and executed many of them after they were imprisoned, this time by Khomeini’s regime…
@MilaniranMilaniran-h2n
April 30, 2026 at 12:26 am
You clearly don’t understand the realities of Iran, either inside the country or among Iranians abroad. Your claim that Farah Pahlavi was not popular only highlights that lack of knowledge.
@elliemanesh1380
April 30, 2026 at 1:01 am
You were doing good until your very biased opinion kicked in!
@niamotullah99
April 30, 2026 at 2:47 am
Is Israel an Arab country?
@biswaranjanmallick7407
April 30, 2026 at 3:01 am
The modern Iranians are not Persian, they don’t even look Iranian.
@HashimPervase
April 30, 2026 at 3:08 am
6:20 notice the Sasanian flag behind, I wonder what significance it has here?
@hannuvepsalainen74
April 30, 2026 at 3:23 am
Heavily pro iranian government and false session! Unbelievable. Wired either you only care about views and money and not the truth or you have an agenda. And in both cases it’s not okay!
@track.monsters
April 30, 2026 at 5:19 am
What about the coup us and brits supported againts an elected leadee in the 40s
@LaPlaya-rw1cp
April 30, 2026 at 5:37 am
Iran isn’t even Arab but Pakistani and Bangladeshis claim that they are Arab😂
@Biggy111
April 30, 2026 at 6:26 am
12:44 Wherewithal, Never heard that word in my 38 yrs on this planet.
@ralphe5842
April 30, 2026 at 6:33 am
You failed to mention Mohammad Mosaddegh someone that was a rather important person in the history particularly when it comes to the USA
@Ojassssssss
April 30, 2026 at 6:34 am
South Asia? Lol
They only live in india.
@OtterThunder
April 30, 2026 at 8:55 am
So a country that believed their leader was squandering their wealth led a revolt and over threw their leader? ….. Hmm. This is one time I pray history repeats itself!
@fully0p
April 30, 2026 at 9:42 am
No mention to the 1953 coup, I wonder why…
@vickomen333
April 30, 2026 at 11:06 am
Amazing. I was reading a book called Iran and your points are definitely right.
@elisa680
April 30, 2026 at 11:46 am
This was way over simplified and missed very important facts to the point that it can change your view on the depth of what is actually happening to Iran right now or even make you take sides!!
@sinnerrrrrrr
April 30, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Professor, what is the name of gulf in south of Iran? Tell me honestly please
@smarteveryday1606
April 30, 2026 at 1:40 pm
Iran is just a victim of ISLAM. Once you accept the virus the old identity, tradition, culture erased overnight goal is to establish Caliphate.
By nature it is an engineered virus infected 50+ nation and spreading. I have nothing personal against someone belief but close observation.
The main chanting itself threatening anything other than the Islamic god should not exist and must be erased to establish the truth.
And to become a muslim you must remind that chanting 5 times each day.
@svendler2
April 30, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Imagine if all Youtube channels were this competent and to the point
@GarryBuck-m6b
April 30, 2026 at 2:31 pm
For all the criticisms the Shah faced, at least he tried to make the reforms needed to satisfy the people’s demands. Sure, they were probably a lot in his own self interest but the effort was made. Whilst the Revolution was happening, he never authorised the military or his Imperial Guard to use force on the protesters. In the end he choose to leave Iran voluntarily, rather than massacre his own people to stay in power. The same can absolutely NOT be said about the current thugs in charge!
@JamiMilder
April 30, 2026 at 5:36 pm
Persian
@luciustarquiniuspriscus1408
April 30, 2026 at 7:22 pm
So the Persians are run by an Arab elite. That’s confusing at best.
@Memyselfandionyoutube
April 30, 2026 at 10:32 pm
No mention of Operation Ajax in 1953 where the CIA and Britain overthrew Mosaddegh bc Iran wanted to keep their own oil, helping usher in the overly religious laws. Convenient.
@epic_sabi
May 1, 2026 at 1:55 am
Real Iranian flag with a fake on the right.
@amandeepsingh6890
May 1, 2026 at 4:03 am
Good stuff
@anujchandkapoor
May 1, 2026 at 4:59 am
Can you explain your viewers why is Iran so angry ar US and UK.
@DeEmperor1
May 1, 2026 at 5:52 am
You left out that the Shahs handed over Iran’s oil to the British and Americans.
@MuhammadullohMavlonbekov
May 1, 2026 at 5:56 am
Khwarazmi and Avissina were not persian, they were turk
@3LLT33
May 1, 2026 at 7:24 am
The Sasanian / Kingdom Assembly flag making an appearance!
@individualstalksaboutsosia420
May 1, 2026 at 8:08 am
Iranian “rebel” is funny, if they flag the face of gaddough as rebel symbol i will 100% understand them, but they waving flag to kingdom of puppet who installed by british and usa because british don’t want they free oil being tax by gaddough, shame on them
@kal_az6
May 1, 2026 at 8:58 am
As a Harvard professor I would have expected him to mention cia role in their involvement in the 1979 coupe and protests.
@mrklopplfc7055
May 1, 2026 at 11:16 am
a lot of zio bots pretending to be iranians in the comments
@TwoheadedEagle
May 1, 2026 at 12:05 pm
This guy is very smart
@ರಕ್ಷತ್-ಧ3ತ
May 1, 2026 at 12:15 pm
Islam did very progress in iran 🇮🇷 😭😭
@dn9031
May 1, 2026 at 12:17 pm
Oh but no mention to the coup that brought the Shah!
@tyrionlannister6459
May 1, 2026 at 1:19 pm
If they were Arabs the Zionist would’ve already ruled them
@hoomanmoosavi7457
May 1, 2026 at 1:21 pm
As an Iranian I want the king back❤
@LoLolol-h5n
May 1, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Why you put the traitors flag next to you
@Badman-u7u
May 1, 2026 at 2:13 pm
العرب انهى الإمبراطورية الفارسيه و هذ شيء لا ينسانا الفرس، العرب عرق عظيم و تاريخ و ثقافه غنيه و إمبراطورية عربيه عظيمه من المحيط الأطلسي إلى آسيا
@tessz7607
May 1, 2026 at 6:56 pm
This series is awesome. thank you Wired and all the experts who share their passion
@Aestran
May 1, 2026 at 7:41 pm
“Here is the 1% of the population who dresses western”
@baron7755
May 2, 2026 at 12:50 am
“isLAMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!”
@mariabr8954
May 2, 2026 at 1:05 am
Man, my brother can’t even pronounce the persian words correctly Is he the best source to speak about Iran?
@OG-ge8nu
May 2, 2026 at 4:21 am
There is no persia or iran without the Turks. For 1000 years the rulers were Turks …
@fmullars
May 2, 2026 at 4:59 am
Maybe next time use an Iranian professor to explain about Iran! Professor Abbas Milani can explain most of these questions better.
@DialéticaGlobal
May 2, 2026 at 6:12 am
I am Darius the great king, king of kings, king of countries containing all kinds of men, king in this great earth far and wide, son of Hystaspes, an Achaemenid, a Persian, son of a Persian, an Aryan, having Aryan lineage.”
@Samayil_2024
May 2, 2026 at 7:02 am
Harvard playing the race card…
@nj1638
May 2, 2026 at 8:29 am
I think the professor missed the point on the historical scholars who have contributed to our collective knowledge. They are often presented as notably Muslim, more than Arab. It is intended to dispel the notion that muslims are an inferior race.
@Larry-w7z2x
May 2, 2026 at 9:29 am
I’m sure there was leaded gasoline byproducts in the air when all of the Boomer Aged Leaders experienced brain development. Stop acting like Lead isn’t the issue the world is dealing with.
@MalcolmWegg
May 2, 2026 at 11:20 am
Democracy for Iran. No government is legitimate if they slaughtered their civilians by the thousand
@mhosain78
May 2, 2026 at 11:27 am
i only wish we didn’t have to introduce our country to the world this way
@abdallaalmidfa7345
May 2, 2026 at 11:50 am
It is not pronounced AIRAB it is pronounced ARAB , and you look like ARAB and your name is ARABIC , so why are you pronounce ARAB AIRAB ?
@abdallaalmidfa7345
May 2, 2026 at 11:55 am
Since you are claiming that you are a Harvard professor, you should know better but I suggest you go and educate yourself with the differences between ISLAM and the religion of SHIA , and those with the BLACK TURBAN HAS NEVER BEEN THE DISSIDENTS OF THE PROPHET 😂😂😂
@Michaelnew2
May 2, 2026 at 1:04 pm
Newhouse family can’t possibly tell false facts. This is great.
@MrAmit0123
May 2, 2026 at 1:12 pm
Random Hindu can understand to great extend behistun inception written in old Persian in some 5th century bc.
@abbasmoosavi898
May 2, 2026 at 6:39 pm
4:18 What’s your source for “an American client”?
Do more research before making BS videos.
Iranian here:
A lot of wrong information in this video! … majority sounds like lefties narrative.
@pounehasanpour9197
May 2, 2026 at 7:02 pm
You should mention that meeting in Paris between Britannia, USA, France and Germany, where oil price getting up and inflation. Oil Price was also on of the reason that revolution 1979 happened.
@unknown-kj4qp
May 2, 2026 at 11:25 pm
The cultural disagreements in the comments are not the cultural disagreements I was expecting, and it’s kind of refreshing
@Tantangerine-m5b
May 3, 2026 at 2:35 am
this has been SO HELPFUL
@arvinhoo.11
May 3, 2026 at 4:06 am
Yet the Iranian goverment now puts all our countries wealth into terrorist groups
@snakeson9246
May 3, 2026 at 5:41 am
I’ve made a few Iranian friends throughout my life. They do NOT like you calling them Arabs.
@saeedsoltanizadeh6116
May 3, 2026 at 5:42 am
Accurate. Thx.
@benharris8013
May 3, 2026 at 8:21 am
love how this skips the 1953 Iranian coup d’état
@leotavira7854
May 3, 2026 at 10:00 am
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that there was no mention of Mosaddegh and the Western-backed coup that empowered the Shah to be so tyrannical.
@homelabpc
May 3, 2026 at 11:15 am
is iran an arab country ? no / is iran an persian country ? no / is iran an isian country ? no
iran is a muslim diversified nation , period
@Fighback
May 3, 2026 at 12:28 pm
No they are persian. Arab is not a race rather a language. Iranian speak farsia and Kurdish in some area.
@h3il4
May 3, 2026 at 1:59 pm
Last question about Reza Pahlavi’s question on how he would govern Iran is laughable because for the past 47 years the Islamic Regime has only terrorized, oppressed, murdered, executed, hanged, and raped it’s own people. As “authoritative” as the last shah was he not even as close to being as cruel as the current Islamic regime. You cannot compare apples to apples in this scenario. For everyone who is watching, as a Iranian I can tell this video has a hint of bias to it.
@aruyys
May 3, 2026 at 3:35 pm
We shouldn’t forget that figures like Ibn Sina and Al-Khwarizmi were born and raised in Central Asia. While they are often associated with the Persian cultural world of their time, their roots are undeniably Central Asian.
The same land also gave rise to great scholars such as Imam al-Bukhari and Al-Tirmidhi
@iliaghp
May 3, 2026 at 4:53 pm
Thanks for the lion and sun flag
@AKAWKW
May 3, 2026 at 9:42 pm
wow this guy is a real idiot
@arezou_nekouei
May 4, 2026 at 2:33 am
Absolutely it is NOT!
@mojtabaes2744
May 4, 2026 at 3:36 am
Fair answers. As a Persian, I approve the video. Thank your for attention to this matter!
@YasaminDzn
May 4, 2026 at 4:53 am
Yes love to see that Lion and Sun flag🦁☀️🤍
@Dir3ctH3X
May 4, 2026 at 6:21 am
Small correction – Shias don’t think ALL Sayids ( descendants of the Prophet) are infallible. Only the 12 Imams. Sure Sayids get respect, but not exclusively because of descent, and there are MILLIONS of Sayids across the world, including the current Royals of Morocco and Jordan.
@rezamehrad9315
May 4, 2026 at 8:46 am
Yes all Iranians wants Reza Pahlavi back
@Amy-kr4tc
May 4, 2026 at 1:13 pm
I’m practiced in religion and educated in international studies and have been to/ worked in 56 – including Arab and Muslim countries – THIS taught me something I didn’t know. Pretty cool. Thank you/Shukran.
@ustazi
May 4, 2026 at 1:28 pm
No mention of USA in qurestions or answers. Suspicious at the least
@Jose.AFT.Saddul
May 5, 2026 at 7:41 am
I think the video is meant to educate people about Iran. Not the US
@shayanakbarnia3878
May 5, 2026 at 1:39 am
13 minutes video and not a single mention of the January 28 & 29 Protests, in which the Islamic regime, under Khamenei’s order, massacred over 40 thousand peaceful protestors. You want people to know about Iran and what’s going on in the country WIRED, maybe instead of an Arab actually bring an Iranian to answer questions next time.
@mohammadmg2015
May 5, 2026 at 6:28 am
Reza Pahlvai is our king and you also better to what we people want
@westerndominanceofgoodwill
May 5, 2026 at 7:50 am
It just sounds like iran is an over worked computer with no safety checks and needs refurbishment.
@GoddessDestinova
May 5, 2026 at 8:05 am
Does one of these on Palestine exist so people can know that it’s ancient?
@jakob8884
May 5, 2026 at 10:35 am
Not one word about US meddling and interest in controlling the oil.
@Kungfu1
May 5, 2026 at 11:40 am
With the flags u r wrong
@a-squaredprojects
May 5, 2026 at 11:52 am
I don’t really trust Iranians professors in Ivey League schools. They are usually with NIAC. Seeing both flags on the table shows me enough I need to see 😂
@a-squaredprojects
May 5, 2026 at 11:54 am
This guy clearly hates Pahlavi. Iranians don’t support this professor’s takes…
@parissaamohsseni
May 5, 2026 at 1:38 pm
Non questions ask on how the islamic regime is an evil and cruel regime… makes me wonder if people already know about it or just too brainwashed to ask about it
@gabedxbyul
May 5, 2026 at 2:04 pm
Iran is not a country anymore .. they are Israel new slave state lol
@BlackVinylMusic
May 5, 2026 at 2:13 pm
No mention of the CIA?
@Qilichbek-s3f
May 5, 2026 at 2:17 pm
Avicenna and Al-Khwarizmi, they were turks
@vanillalattecoffee
May 5, 2026 at 4:34 pm
I will say, as a persian myself. I am persian, but I am not Arab, but I still can speak Arabic myself.
@omniferousswan593
May 5, 2026 at 7:24 pm
Better question. Who cares?