Armenian Iranians
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Iranian-Armenians ( hy, իրանահայեր ''iranahayer''), also known as Persian-Armenians ( hy, պարսկահայեր ''parskahayer''), are
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ians of
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
ethnicity who may speak
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
as their first language. Estimates of their number in Iran range from 70,000 to 200,000. Areas with a high concentration of them include
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
,
Tehran Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
,
Salmas Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
and
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
's Jolfa (Nor Jugha) quarter. Armenians have lived for millennia in the territory that forms modern-day Iran. Many of the oldest Armenian churches, monasteries, and chapels are located within modern-day Iran. Iranian Armenia, which includes modern-day
Armenian Republic Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ' ...
was part of
Qajar Iran Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
up to 1828. Iran had one of the largest populations of Armenians in the world alongside neighboring Ottoman Empire until the beginning of the 20th century. Armenians were influential and active in the modernization of Iran during the 19th and 20th centuries. After the
Iranian Revolution The Iranian Revolution ( fa, انقلاب ایران, Enqelâb-e Irân, ), also known as the Islamic Revolution ( fa, انقلاب اسلامی, Enqelâb-e Eslâmī), was a series of events that culminated in the overthrow of the Pahlavi dynas ...
, many Armenians emigrated to Armenian diasporic communities in
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
and
Western Europe Western Europe is the western region of Europe. The region's countries and territories vary depending on context. The concept of "the West" appeared in Europe in juxtaposition to "the East" and originally applied to the ancient Mediterranean ...
. Today the Armenians are Iran's largest
Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
religious minority.


History

Since Antiquity there has always been much interaction between ancient
Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
and
Persia Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
(
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
). The Armenian people are amongst the native ethnic groups of northwestern Iran (known as
Iranian Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan ( fa, آذربایجان, ''Āzarbāijān'' ; az-Arab, آذربایجان, ''Āzerbāyjān'' ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq, Turkey, the Nakhchivan ...
), having millennia-long recorded history there while the region (or parts of it) have had made up part of historical Armenia numerous times in history. These historical Armenian regions that nowadays include Iranian Azerbaijan are
Nor Shirakan Nor Shirakan ( hy, Նոր Շիրական), Parskahayk ( hy, Պարսկահայք) or Persarmenia, was the seventh province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, situated on the western shore of Lake Urmia, bordered on Adiabene and Atropatene, now i ...
,
Vaspurakan Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...
, and
Paytakaran Paytakaran ( hy, Փայտակարան, translit=Pʻaytakaran) was the easternmost province ( or ) of the Kingdom of Armenia. The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. It ...
. Many of the oldest Armenian chapels, monasteries and churches in the world are located within this region of Iran. On the Behistun Inscription of 515 BC,
Darius the Great Darius I ( peo, 𐎭𐎠𐎼𐎹𐎺𐎢𐏁 ; grc-gre, Δαρεῖος ; – 486 BCE), commonly known as Darius the Great, was a Persian ruler who served as the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his d ...
indirectly confirmed that
Urartu Urartu (; Assyrian: ',Eberhard Schrader, ''The Cuneiform inscriptions and the Old Testament'' (1885), p. 65. Babylonian: ''Urashtu'', he, אֲרָרָט ''Ararat'') is a geographical region and Iron Age kingdom also known as the Kingdom of Va ...
and Armenia are synonymous when describing his conquests. Armenia became a
satrap A satrap () was a governor of the provinces of the ancient Median and Achaemenid Empires and in several of their successors, such as in the Sasanian Empire and the Hellenistic empires. The satrap served as viceroy to the king, though with consid ...
y of the Persian Empire for a long period of time. Regardless, relations between
Armenians Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
and
Persians The Persians are an Iranian ethnic group who comprise over half of the population of Iran. They share a common cultural system and are native speakers of the Persian language as well as of the languages that are closely related to Persian. ...
were cordial. The cultural links between the Armenians and the Persians can be traced back to Zoroastrian times. Prior to the 3rd century AD, no other neighbor had as much influence on Armenian life and culture as
Parthia Parthia ( peo, 𐎱𐎼𐎰𐎺 ''Parθava''; xpr, 𐭐𐭓𐭕𐭅 ''Parθaw''; pal, 𐭯𐭫𐭮𐭥𐭡𐭥 ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Med ...
. They shared many religious and cultural characteristics, and intermarriage among Parthian and Armenian nobility was common. For twelve more centuries, Armenia was under the direct or indirect rule of the Persians. While much influenced by Persian culture and religion, Armenia also retained its unique characteristics as a nation. Later, Armenian Christianity retained some Zoroastrian vocabulary and ritual. In the 11th century, the Seljuk Turks drove thousands of Armenians into Iranian Azerbaijan, where some were sold as slaves and others worked as artisans and merchants. After the Mongol conquest of Iran in the 13th century, many Armenian merchants and artists settled in Iran, in cities that were once part of historic Armenia such as
Khoy Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985. Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
,
Salmas Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
, Maku,
Maragheh Maragheh ( fa, مراغه, Marāgheh or ''Marāgha''; az, ماراغا ) is a city and capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Maragheh is on the bank of the river Sufi Chay. The population consists mostly of Iranian Azerb ...
,
Urmia Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
, and especially
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
.


Early modern to late modern era

Although Armenians have a long history of interaction and settlement with Persia/Iran and within the modern-day borders of the nation, Iran's Armenian community emerged under the
Safavids Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
. In the 16th century, the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and Safavid Iran divided Armenia. From the early 16th century, both
Western Armenia Western Armenia (Western Armenian: Արեւմտեան Հայաստան, ''Arevmdian Hayasdan'') is a term to refer to the eastern parts of Turkey (formerly the Ottoman Empire) that are part of the historical homeland of the Armenians. Weste ...
and
Eastern Armenia Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
fell under Iranian Safavid rule. Owing to the century-long Turco-Iranian geo-political rivalry that would last in
Western Asia Western Asia, West Asia, or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost subregion of the larger geographical region of Asia, as defined by some academics, UN bodies and other institutions. It is almost entirely a part of the Middle East, and includes Ana ...
, significant parts of the region were frequently fought over between the two rival empires. From the mid-16th century with the
Peace of Amasya The Peace of Amasya ( fa, پیمان آماسیه ("Peymān-e Amasiyeh"); tr, Amasya Antlaşması) was a treaty agreed to on May 29, 1555, between Shah Tahmasp of Safavid Iran and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire at the cit ...
, and decisively from the first half of the 17th century with the
Treaty of Zuhab The Treaty of Zuhab ( fa, عهدنامه زهاب, ''Ahadnāmah Zuhab''), also called Treaty of Qasr-e Shirin ( tr, Kasr-ı Şirin Antlaşması), was an accord signed between the Safavid Empire and the Ottoman Empire on May 17, 1639. The accord en ...
until the first half of the 19th century, Eastern Armenia was ruled by the successive
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
ian Safavid,
Afsharid Afsharid Iran ( fa, ایران افشاری), also referred as the Afsharid Empire was an Iranian empire established by the Turkoman Afshar tribe in Iran's north-eastern province of Khorasan, ruling Iran (Persia). The state was ruled by the ...
and
Qajar Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
empires, while Western Armenia remained under Ottoman rule. From 1604
Abbas I of Iran Abbas may refer to: People * Abbas (name), list of people with the name, including: ** Abbas ibn Ali, Popularly known as Hazrat-e-Abbas (brother of Imam Hussayn) **Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib, uncle of Muhammad ** Mahmoud Abbas (born 1935), Pale ...
implemented a
scorched earth A scorched-earth policy is a military strategy that aims to destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy. Any assets that could be used by the enemy may be targeted, which usually includes obvious weapons, transport vehicles, communi ...
policy in the region to protect his north-western frontier against any invading Ottoman forces, a policy which involved a
forced resettlement Population transfer or resettlement is a type of mass migration, often imposed by state policy or international authority and most frequently on the basis of ethnicity or religion but also due to economic development. Banishment or exile is a ...
of masses of Armenians outside of their homelands.H. Nahavandi, Y. Bomati, ''Shah Abbas, empereur de Perse (1587–1629)'' (Perrin, Paris, 1998) Shah Abbas relocated an estimated 500,000 Armenians from his Armenian lands during the Ottoman–Safavid War of 1603–1618 to an area of
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
called
New Julfa New Julfa ( fa, نو جلفا – ''Now Jolfā'', – ''Jolfâ-ye Now''; hy, Նոր Ջուղա – ''Nor Jugha'') is the Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the Zayande River. Established and named after the old ...
, which was created to become an Armenian quarter, and to the villages surrounding Isfahan. Iran quickly recognized the Armenians' dexterity in commerce. The community became active in the cultural and economic development of Iran. Bourvari ( hy, Բուրւարի) is a collection of villages in Iran between the city of
Khomeyn Khomein ( fa, خمين, also Romanized as Khowmeyn) is a city and capital of Khomeyn County, Markazi Province, Iran. At the 2015 census, its population was 76,706 in 17,399 families. Khomein is located to the south of the province, in a fertil ...
( Markazi province) and
Aligudarz Aligudarz ( fa, اليگودرز), also known as ‘Ali Gudār, is a city and capital of Aligudarz County, Lorestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 78,690, in 18,115 families. Aligudarz is located 420 km from Tehran and ...
( Lorestan province). It was mainly populated by Armenians who were forcibly deported to the region by Shah Abbas of the Safavid Persian Empire during the same as part of Abbas's massive scorched earth resettlement policies within the empire. The villages populated by the Armenians in Bourvari were Dehno, Khorzend, Farajabad, Bahmanabad and Sangesfid.


Loss of Eastern Armenia

From the late 18th century,
Imperial Russia The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the List of Russian monarchs, Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended th ...
switched to a more aggressive geo-political stance towards its two neighbors and rivals to the south, namely Iran and the Ottoman Empire. As a result of the
Treaty of Gulistan The Treaty of Gulistan (russian: Гюлистанский договор; fa, عهدنامه گلستان) was a peace treaty concluded between the Russian Empire and Iran on 24 October 1813 in the village of Gulistan (now in the Goranboy Distri ...
(1813), Qajar Iran was forced to irrevocably cede swaths of its territories in the Caucasus, comprising modern-day Eastern
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
,
Dagestan Dagestan ( ; rus, Дагеста́н, , dəɡʲɪˈstan, links=yes), officially the Republic of Dagestan (russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н, Respúblika Dagestán, links=no), is a republic of Russia situated in the North C ...
, and most of the
Republic of Azerbaijan A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th ...
. By the
Treaty of Turkmenchay The Treaty of Turkmenchay ( fa, عهدنامه ترکمنچای; russian: Туркманчайский договор) was an agreement between Qajar Iran and the Russian Empire, which concluded the Russo-Persian War (1826–28). It was second o ...
(1828), Qajar Iran had to cede the remainder of its Caucasian territories, comprising modern-day Armenia and the remaining part of the contemporary Azerbaijan Republic.Timothy C. Dowlin
''Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond''
pp 729 ABC-CLIO, 2 dec. 2014
The ceding of what is modern-day Armenia (Eastern Armenia in general) in 1828 resulted in a large number of Armenians falling now under the rule of the Russians. Iranian Armenia was thus supplanted by
Russian Armenia Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
. The Treaty of Turkmenchay further stipulated that the
Tsar Tsar ( or ), also spelled ''czar'', ''tzar'', or ''csar'', is a title used by East Slavs, East and South Slavs, South Slavic monarchs. The term is derived from the Latin word ''Caesar (title), caesar'', which was intended to mean "emperor" i ...
had the right to encourage the resettling of Armenians from Iran into the newly established Russian Armenia. This resulted in a large demographic shift; many of Iran's Armenians followed the call, while many Caucasian Muslims migrated to Iran proper. Until the mid-fourteenth century, Armenians had constituted a majority in
Eastern Armenia Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
. At the close of the fourteenth century, after
Timur Timur ; chg, ''Aqsaq Temür'', 'Timur the Lame') or as ''Sahib-i-Qiran'' ( 'Lord of the Auspicious Conjunction'), his epithet. ( chg, ''Temür'', 'Iron'; 9 April 133617–19 February 1405), later Timūr Gurkānī ( chg, ''Temür Kür ...
's campaigns, Islam had become the dominant faith, and Armenians became a minority in Eastern Armenia. In the wake of the Russian invasion of Iran and the subsequent loss of territories, Muslims (
Persians The Persians are an Iranian ethnic group who comprise over half of the population of Iran. They share a common cultural system and are native speakers of the Persian language as well as of the languages that are closely related to Persian. ...
, Turkic speakers, and
Kurds ug:كۇردلار Kurds ( ku, کورد ,Kurd, italic=yes, rtl=yes) or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Ir ...
) constituted some 80% of the population of Iranian Armenia, whereas Christian
Armenians Armenians ( hy, հայեր, ''hayer'' ) are an ethnic group native to the Armenian highlands of Western Asia. Armenians constitute the main population of Armenia and the ''de facto'' independent Artsakh. There is a wide-ranging diaspora ...
constituted a minority of about 20%. After the Russian administration took hold of Iranian Armenia, the ethnic make-up shifted, and thus for the first time in more than four centuries, ethnic Armenians started to form a majority once again in one part of historic Armenia. The new Russian administration encouraged the settling of ethnic Armenians from Iran proper and
Ottoman Turkey The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
. Some 35,000 Muslims out of more than 100,000 emigrated from the region, while some 57,000 Armenians from Iran proper and Turkey arrived after 1828 (see also Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829). As a result, by 1832, the number of ethnic Armenians had matched that of the Muslims. Not until after the
Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...
and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, which brought another influx of Turkish Armenians, would ethnic Armenians once again establish a solid majority in
Eastern Armenia Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
. Nevertheless, Erivan remained a Muslim-majority city up to the twentieth century. According to the traveller H. F. B. Lynch, the city of Erivan was about 50% Armenian and 50% Muslim (Tatars i.e. Azeris and Persians) in the early 1890s. With these events of the first half of the 19th century, and the end of centuries of Iranian rule over
Eastern Armenia Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
, a new era had started for the Armenians within the newly established borders of Iran. The Armenians in the recently lost territories north of the
Aras river , az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
would go through a Russian-dominated period until 1991.


Twentieth century up to 1979

The Armenians played a significant role in the development of 20th-century Iran, regarding both its economical as well as its cultural configuration. They were pioneers in photography, theater, and the film industry, and also played a very pivotal role in Iranian political affairs. The Revolution of 1905 in Russia had a major effect on northern Iran and, in 1906, Iranian liberals and revolutionaries demanded a constitution in Iran. In 1909 the revolutionaries forced the crown to give up some of its powers.
Yeprem Khan Yeprem Khan ( hy, Եփրեմ Խան; 1868–1912), born Yeprem Davidian ( hy, Եփրեմ Դավթյան, fa, یپرم‌خان داویدیان), was an Iranian-Armenian revolutionary leader and a leading figure in the Constitutional Revolutio ...
, an ethnic Armenian, was an important figure of the
Persian Constitutional Revolution The Persian Constitutional Revolution ( fa, مشروطیت, Mashrūtiyyat, or ''Enghelāb-e Mashrūteh''), also known as the Constitutional Revolution of Iran, took place between 1905 and 1911. The revolution led to the establishment of a par ...
. Armenian Apostolic theologian
Malachia Ormanian Malachia Ormanian ( hy, Մաղաքիայ Օրմանեան; 11 February 1841 – 19 November 1918) was the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople from 1896 to 1908. He was also a theologian, historian, and philologist. Life Boghos Ormanian (baptism ...
, in his 1911 book on the Armenian Church, estimated that some 83,400 Armenians lived in Persia, of whom 81,000 were followers of the Apostolic Church, while 2,400 were Armenian Catholics. The Armenian population was distributed in the following regions: 40,400 in
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
, 31,000 in and around
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
, 7,000 in
Kurdistan Kurdistan ( ku, کوردستان ,Kurdistan ; lit. "land of the Kurds") or Greater Kurdistan is a roughly defined geo-cultural territory in Western Asia wherein the Kurds form a prominent majority population and the Kurdish culture, Kurdish la ...
and Lorestan, and 5,000 in Tehran. During the
Armenian genocide The Armenian genocide was the systematic destruction of the Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, Armenian people and identity in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Spearheaded by the ruling Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), it was ...
, about 50,000 Armenians fled the
Ottoman Empire The Ottoman Empire, * ; is an archaic version. The definite article forms and were synonymous * and el, Оθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία, Othōmanikē Avtokratoria, label=none * info page on book at Martin Luther University) ...
and took refuge in Persia. As a result of the
Persian Campaign Persian expedition or Persian campaign may refer to: * Persian campaign (Alexander the Great) (334–333 BC) *Julian's Persian expedition (363) * Persian expedition of Stepan Razin (1699) * Persian campaign of Peter the Great (1722–1723) * Pers ...
in
northern Iran Northern Iran consists of the southern border of the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountains. It includes the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, and Golestan. (Ancient kingdom of Hyrcania, medieval region of Tabaristan). The major provinces, Gilan ...
during
World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the Ottomans massacred 80,000 Armenians and 30,000 fled to the Russian Empire. The community experienced a political rejuvenation with the arrival of the exiled
Dashnak The Armenian Revolutionary Federation ( hy, Հայ Յեղափոխական Դաշնակցութիւն, ՀՅԴ ( classical spelling), abbr. ARF or ARF-D) also known as Dashnaktsutyun (collectively referred to as Dashnaks for short), is an Armenian ...
(ARF) leadership from
Russian Armenia Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
in mid-1921; approximately 10,000 Armenian ARF party leaders, intellectuals, fighters, and their families crossed the
Aras River , az, Araz, fa, ارس, tr, Aras The Aras (also known as the Araks, Arax, Araxes, or Araz) is a river in the Caucasus. It rises in eastern Turkey and flows along the borders between Turkey and Armenia, between Turkey and the Nakhchivan excl ...
and took refuge in Qajar Iran. This large influx of Armenians who were affiliated with the ARF also meant that the ARF would ensure its dominance over the other traditional Armenian parties of Persia, and by extension over the entire Iranian Armenian community, which was centered around the Armenian church. Further immigrants and refugees from the Soviet Union numbering nearly 30,000 continued to increase the Armenian community until 1933. Thus by 1930 there were approximately 200,000 Armenians in Iran. The modernization efforts of Reza Shah (1924–1941) and Mohammad Reza Shah (1941–1979) gave the Armenians ample opportunities for advancement, and Armenians gained important positions in the arts and sciences, economy and services sectors, mainly in Tehran, Tabriz, and Isfahan that became major centers for Armenians. From 1946–1949 about 20,000 Armenians left Iran for the Soviet Union and from 1962–1982 another 25,000 Armenians followed them to
Soviet Armenia The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,; russian: Армянская Советская Социалистическая Республика, translit=Armyanskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) also commonly referred to as Soviet A ...
. By 1979, in the dawn of the Islamic Revolution, an estimated 200,000 – 300,000 Armenians were living in Iran. Armenian churches, schools, cultural centers, sports clubs and associations flourished and Armenians had their own senator and member of parliament, 300 churches and 500 schools and libraries served the needs of the community. Armenian presses published numerous books, journals, periodicals, and newspapers, the prominent one being the daily "Alik".


After the 1979 Revolution

Many Armenians served in the
Iranian Armed Forces The Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, are the combined military forces of Iran, comprising the Islamic Republic of Iran Army (''Arteš''), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (''Sepâh'') and the Law Enforcement Force (Police). Iran ...
, with 89 killed in action during the
Iran–Iraq War The Iran–Iraq War was an armed conflict between Iran and Iraq that lasted from September 1980 to August 1988. It began with the Iraqi invasion of Iran and lasted for almost eight years, until the acceptance of United Nations Security Council ...
. Ayatollah
Ali Khamenei Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei ( fa, سید علی حسینی خامنه‌ای, ; born 19 April 1939) is a Twelver Shia ''marja and the second and current Supreme Leader of Iran, in office since 1989. He was previously the third president o ...
has praised the role of Armenians in the war, saying to the
Armenian Prime Minister The prime minister of Armenia is the head of government and most senior minister within the Armenian government, and is required by the constitution to "determine the main directions of policy of the Government, manage the activities of the Gove ...
that "Armenian martyrs of the imposed war are like Muslims martyrs and we consider them as honors of Iran". The fall of the
Soviet Union The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
, the common border with Armenia, and the Armeno-Iranian diplomatic and economic agreements have opened a new era for the Iranian Armenians. Iran remains one of Armenia's major trade partners, and the Iranian government has helped ease the hardships of Armenia caused by the blockade imposed by
Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is a part of th ...
and
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
. This includes important consumer products, access to air travel, and energy sources (like petroleum and electricity).


Current status

The Armenians remain the largest religious minority in Iran, and is still the largest Christian community in the country, far ahead of Assyrians. They are appointed two out of the five seats in the
Iranian Parliament The Islamic Consultative Assembly ( fa, مجلس شورای اسلامی, Majles-e Showrā-ye Eslāmī), also called the Iranian Parliament, the Iranian Majles (Arabicised spelling Majlis) or ICA, is the national legislative body of Iran. The P ...
reserved for religious minorities (more than any other religious minority) and are the only minority with official observing status in the
Guardian Guardian usually refers to: * Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another * ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper (The) Guardian(s) may also refer to: Places * Guardian, West Virginia, Unite ...
and
Expediency Discernment Council The Expediency Discernment Council of the System ( fa, مجمع تشخیص مصلحت نظام ''Majma'-e Taškhīs-e Maslahat-e Nezām'') is an administrative assembly appointed by the Supreme Leader and was created upon the revision to the Co ...
s. Half of Iran's Armenians live in the Tehran area, most notably in its suburbs of Narmak, Majidiyeh, Nadershah, etc. A quarter live in Isfahan, and the other quarter is concentrated in Northwestern Iran or Iranian Azerbaijan.Իրանահայ «Ալիք»- ը նշում է 80- ամյակը
/ref> There are Iranian Armenians who converted to the
Shia Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...
sect of
Islam Islam (; ar, ۘالِإسلَام, , ) is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic Monotheism#Islam, monotheistic religion centred primarily around the Quran, a religious text considered by Muslims to be the direct word of God in Islam, God (or ...
.


Distribution


Azerbaijan

In 387 AD when the
Sasanian Empire The Sasanian () or Sassanid Empire, officially known as the Empire of Iranians (, ) and also referred to by historians as the Neo-Persian Empire, was the History of Iran, last Iranian empire before the early Muslim conquests of the 7th-8th cen ...
and the
Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
split Armenia, the historically Armenian areas of
Nor Shirakan Nor Shirakan ( hy, Նոր Շիրական), Parskahayk ( hy, Պարսկահայք) or Persarmenia, was the seventh province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, situated on the western shore of Lake Urmia, bordered on Adiabene and Atropatene, now i ...
,
Paytakaran Paytakaran ( hy, Փայտակարան, translit=Pʻaytakaran) was the easternmost province ( or ) of the Kingdom of Armenia. The province was located in the area of the lower courses of the Kura and Arax rivers, adjacent to the Caspian Sea. It ...
, and the eastern half of
Vaspurakan Vaspurakan (, Western Armenian pronunciation: ''Vasbouragan'') was the eighth province of the ancient kingdom of Armenia, which later became an independent kingdom during the Middle Ages, centered on Lake Van. Located in what is now southeaster ...
were ceded to the Persians, these territories comprise the western and northern regions of Azerbaijan. Following the
Russo-Persian War (1826–28) The Russo-Persian Wars or Russo-Iranian Wars were a series of conflicts between 1651 and 1828, concerning Persia (Iran) and the Russian Empire. Russia and Persia fought these wars over disputed governance of territories and countries in the Cau ...
about 40,000 Armenians left Azerbaijan and resettled in newly established
Russian Armenia Russian Armenia is the period of Armenian history under Russian rule from 1828, when Eastern Armenia became part of the Russian Empire following Qajar Iran's loss in the Russo-Persian War (1826–1828) and the subsequent ceding of its territorie ...
. The area retained a large Armenian population until 1914 when World War I began the Azerbaijan was invaded by the Ottomans who slaughtered much of the local Armenian population. Prior to the Ottoman invasion there were about 150,000 Armenians in Azerbaijan, and 30,000 of them were in Tabriz. About 80,000 were massacred, 30,000 fled to Russian Armenia, and the other 10,000 fled the area of the modern West Azerbaijan Province and took refuge among the Armenians of Tabriz. After the war ended in 1918 the 10,000 refugees in Tabriz returned to their villages, but many resettled in Soviet Armenia from 1947 up until the early 80s. Currently, about 4,000 Armenians remain in the countryside of East Azerbaijan and about 2,000 remain in Tabriz living in the districts of Nowbar, Bazar, and Ahrab owning 4 churches, a school and a cemetery. This is a list of previously or currently Armenian inhabited settlements: *Maku (''Շավարշան'' / ''Shavarshan'' or ''Արտազ'' / ''
Artaz The district of Mardistan, in historic Armenia corresponds to Artaz, the origin of the Amatuni.A History of Armenia by Vahan M. Kurkjian - Armenia as Xenophon saw it The district of Mardali (Mardaghi) must have been located to the south of Erzurum, ...
'' ( hy) in Armenian) now in Maku and Chalderan counties in West Azerbaijan Province: ** Maku, Qareh-Kelisa,
Avajiq Avajiq ( fa, آواجيق; az, Avacıq, Kilsəkəndi; tr, Avacık; formerly, Arab Dizaj (Persian: عرب دیزج), also Romanized as ‘Arab Dīzaj, and ‘Arab-e Dīzaj; also known as Arāb Dizeh, ‘Arab-e Dīzehsī, and ‘Arab Dizehsī) is ...
,
Siah Cheshmeh Siah Cheshmeh ( fa, سيه چشمه; also Romanized as Sīāh Cheshmeh, Seyah Cheshmah, Siāh Chashmeh, and Sīyah Cheshmeh; also known as ( az, Qareh Eynī or Kara Aineh.) is a city and capital of Chaldoran County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran ...
, Shaveran,
Sadal , native_name_lang = fa , settlement_type = Village , image_skyline = , imagesize = , image_alt = , image_caption = , image_flag = , flag_alt = , i ...
and Baron (Dzor Dzor). *
Khoy Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985. Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
(''Հեր'' / ''Her'' in Armenian) now in
Khoy Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985. Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
and Chaypareh (
Avarayr Plain The Avarayr Plain ( hy, Ավարայրի Դաշտ) is the location of the Battle of Avarayr in 451, and is described as being along the banks of the Ṭłmut River ( hy, Տղմուտ գետ) (Rūd-e Zangemār, Iran), apparently the Armeno-Persian ...
) counties in West Azerbaijan Province: **
Khoy Khoy (Persian and az, خوی; ; ; also Romanized as Khoi), is a city and capital of Khoy County, West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. At the 2012 census, its population was 200,985. Khoy is located north of the province's capital and largest city ...
, Mahlazan, Ghris, Fanai, Dizaj Diz, Dizeh, Qatur, Qotur, Churs, Chors, Var, Iran, Var, Quruq, Shur Ab, West Azerbaijan, Shurab, Qarajelu, Khoy, Qarajelu, Qareh Shaban and Saidabad, Khoy, Saidabad. *Salmas County, Salmas (''Սալմաստ'' / ''Salmast'' or ''Սաղամաստ'' / ''Saghamast'' in Armenian) now in Salmas County in West Azerbaijan Province: **
Salmas Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
t, Tazeh Shahr, Kohneshahr, Akhteh Khaneh, Akhtekhaneh (:fa:گورستان ارامنه (آخته خانه), fa), Aslanik, Chahriq-e Olya, Charik, Dereshk, West Azerbaijan, Drishk, Qalasar, Qezeljah, Salmas, Qezeljeh, Haftvan, West Azerbaijan, Haftvan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه هفتوان, fa), Khosrowabad, West Azerbaijan, Khosrowabad (:fa:قبرستان ارامنه, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه خسروآباد (قوچ), fa), Golozan, Goluzan, Malham, Salmas, Malham (:fa:گورستان ارامنه سلماس, fa), Sheitanabad, Pekajik, Payajuk (:fa:گورستان ارامنه پکاچیک, fa), Karabulagh, Vardan, Iran, Vardan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه وردان, fa), Hadar, Salmas, Hodar, Malham, Salmas, Malham (:fa:گورستان ارامنه سلماس, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه مهلم, fa), Saray-e Malek, Saramelik, Sarnaq, Sarna (:fa:گورستان ارامنه سرنق, fa), Sureh, West Azerbaijan, Savera (:hy:Սավուռա, hy), Ziveh Jik, Zivajik, Kuchameshk, Kojamish and Owlaq, Ula. *Urmia County, Urmia (''Ուրմիա'' / ''Urmia'' or ''Ուռմի'' / ''Urmi'' in Armenian) now in Urmia County in West Azerbaijan Province: **
Urmia Urmia or Orumiyeh ( fa, ارومیه, Variously transliterated as ''Oroumieh'', ''Oroumiyeh'', ''Orūmīyeh'' and ''Urūmiyeh''.) is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province of Iran and the capital of Urmia County. It is situated at an alt ...
, Balanej, Badelbu, Badelbo, Surmanabad, Jamalabad, Urmia, Jamalabad, Gardabad, Ikiaghaj, Isalu, Qareh Guz-e Il, Karaguz, Nakhjavan Tappeh, Nakhichevan Tepe, Reyhanabad, West Azerbaijan, Reihanabad, Sopurghan, Sepurghan, Qarah Bagh, West Azerbaijan, Karabagh, Adeh, Urmia, Adeh, Dizej Ala, Khan Babakhan, Kachilan, Shirabad, West Azerbaijan, Shirabad, Charbakhsh, Chehreh Gosha, Chahar Gushan, Balu, West Azerbaijan, Ballu, Darbarud, ِDigala (:fa:دیگاله, fa), Kukiya, Kukia and Babarud, West Azerbaijan, Babarud. *Jolfa County, Julfa (''Ջուղա'' / ''Jugha'' in Armenian): **Upper Darashamb, Middle Darashamb and Lower Darashamb. *Arasbaran (''Պարսպատունիք'' / ''Parspatunik'' (:hy:Պարսպատունիք, hy) or ''Ղարադաղ'' / ''Gharadagh'' (:hy:Հայերը Ղարաղանում, hy) in Armenian) now in Jolfa County, Julfa, Khoda Afarin County, Khoda Afarin, Varzaqan County, Varzaqan, Ahar County, Ahar and Kaleybar County, Kaleybar counties in East Azerbaijan Province: **Dizmar (Dizmar-e Gharbi Rural District, West, Dizmar-e Markazi Rural District, Central and Dizmar-e Sharqi Rural District, East): ***Aqan, Aghaghan, Khaneqah, Khoda Afarin, Khaneqah, Qeshlaq-e Aramaneh, Qeshlaq, Yurgiutiun, Sardu (:hy:Սարդու, hy), Owli. **Misheh Pareh Rural District, Mishepara: ***Naposhteh, Nepesht, Mikandi, Mikidi, Aghuyeh, East Azerbaijan, Aghayi, Balan, Kaleybar, Balan, Kalalaq, Berd, Qasem Kandi, East Azerbaijan, Qasmushen, Garmanab. **Minjavan District, Mnjivan: ***Vinaq, Ayenehlu, Aynalu, Sevahogh, Gandom Nan, Vardanashen, Dash Bashi, Karaglukh, Keshish Qeshlaqi, Keshish Qeshlaq, Abbasabad, Khoda Afarin, Abbasabad, Norashen, Masjedlu, East Azerbaijan, Mzget, Luma, Vayqan-e Maqadas, Vayqan. **Keyvan Rural District, Keivan: ***Siran, East Azerbaijan, Siran, Avanlu, Qalamlu, Avarsin, Asiran, Asran, Ashraf, East Azerbaijan, Ashraf, Seqin, Dowgi Daraq, Dogidara. **Central District (Ahar County), Hagar: ***Abellu, Abella, Armedlu-ye Sofla, Amredul. *Tabriz County, Tabriz (''Թավրիզ'' / ''Tavriz'' or ''Թաւրէժ'' / ''Tavrezh'' in Armenian) now in Tabriz County in East Azerbaijan Province: **
Tabriz Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
, Mujumbar, Sohrol, Alucheh Malek, Aljamolk and Monavvar, Minavar. * Ardabil (''Արտավիլ'' / ''Artavil'' or ''Արտավետ'' / ''Artavet'' in Armenian) *
Maragheh Maragheh ( fa, مراغه, Marāgheh or ''Marāgha''; az, ماراغا ) is a city and capital of Maragheh County, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Maragheh is on the bank of the river Sufi Chay. The population consists mostly of Iranian Azerb ...
(''Մարաղա'' / ''Maragha'' in Armenian) *Miandoab County, Miandoab: **Taqiabad


Tabriz

Traditionally, Tabriz was the main city in Iranian Azerbaijan where Armenian political life vibrated from the early modern (Safavid) era and on. After the ceding of swaths of territories to Russia in the first quarter of the 19th century, the independent position of the Tabrizi Armenians was strengthened, as they gained immunities and concessions by Abbas Mirza.Christoph Werner. ''An Iranian Town in Transition: A Social and Economic History of the Elites of Tabriz, 1747–1848'' page 90. Otto Harrassowitz Verlag, 2000. The particular importance of the Tabrizi Armenians also grew with the transfer of the bishop's seat from St.Taddeus (or ''Qara Kelissa'') near
Salmas Salmas ( fa, سلماس; ; ; ; syr, ܣܵܠܵܡܵܣ, Salamas) is the capital of Salmas County, West Azerbaijan Province in Iran. It is located northwest of Lake Urmia, near Turkey. According to the 2019 census, the city's population is 127,864. ...
to Tabriz in 1845. Tabriz has an Armenian Apostolic Diocese of Atrpatakan, Arajnordaran, three Armenian Churches (Saint Sarkis Church of Tabriz, St. Sargis, Shoghakat Church of Tabriz, Shoghakat, and Saint Mary Church of Tabriz, St. Mary), a chapel (:fa:کلیسای مریم ننه, fa), a school, Ararat Cultural Club and an Armenian cemetery (:fa:گورستان ارامنه تبریز, fa) (:fa:گورستان مریم ننه, fa).


=Notable Armenians from Tabriz

= ;Pre-Pahlavi period (pre-1925) * Arakel of Tabriz, historian * Mohammad Beg, statesman * William Cormick, physician (half Armenian) * Hayk Bzhishkyan, Soviet military commander (half Armenian) * Ardashes Badmagrian, movie theater owner * Hambarsoom Grigorian, composer * Vartan Hovanessian, architect * Ivan Galamian, violin teacher * Hakob Karapents, author * Gegham Saryan, poet and translator * Vahan Papazian, political activist and community leader * Avetis Nazarbekian, poet, journalist, political activist and revolutionary * Louise Aslanian, writer and figure in the French Resistance ;Pahlavi and post-Pahlavi period (post-1925) * Alexander Abian, mathematician * Varto Terian, Iran's first stage actress of theater and educator * Samuel Khachikian, film director, screenwriter, author, and film editor * Arman (actor), actor, film director, producer * Robert Ekhart, film director (half Armenian) * Emik Avakian, inventor * Khachik Babayan, violin player * Grigor Vahramian Gasparbeg, painter * Vartan Vahramian, composer, artist, and painter * Vartan Gregorian, academic * Vartan Hovanessian, architect * Rouben Galichian, scholar * Henry D. Sahakian, businessman


Central Iran

List of Armenian villages in central Iran: *Kharqan District, Kharaqan (''Ղարաղան'' / ''Gharaghan'' in Armenian) now in Zarandieh County in Markazi Province: **Chenaqchi-ye Olya, Upper Chanakhchi, Lar, Markazi, Lar, Chahar Hadd, Charhad and Chenaqchi-ye Sofla, Lower Chanakhchi. *Hamadan County, Hamadan: **Hamadan and Sheverin. *Malayer County, Malayer: **Anuch, Deh Chaneh and Qaleh-ye Fattahiyeh, Qaleh Fattahieh. *Kazaz (''Kiazaz'' in Armenian) now in Shazand County in Markazi Province: **Shazand (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شازند, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شازند ۲, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شازند ۳, fa), Qaleh-ye Abbasabad, Shazand, Abbasabad, Kureh Zar, Gurezar (:fa:گورستان ارامنه گورزار, fa) and Anbarteh. *Kamareh District, Kamareh (''Kiamara'' in Armenian) now in Khomeyn County in Markazi Province: **Minudasht, Markazi, Lilian (:fa:گورستان ارامنه لیلیان, fa), Qurchi Bashi, Qurchibash (:fa:قبرستان ارامنه قورچی‌باشی, fa), Chahar Taq, Markazi, Chartagh, Davudabad, Khomeyn, Davudabad, Kandha, Iran, Kandha, Darreh Shur, Markazi, Darreh Shur, Mazar, Markazi, Mazra, Saki-ye Olya, Saki, Ortachiman, Asadabad, Khomeyn, Asadabad, Danian, Markazi, Danian, Farajabad, Khomeyn, Farajabad, Hajjiabad (33°40′ N 49°59′ E), Kamareh, Hajiabad, Nasrabad, Markazi, Nasrabad, Kajarestan and Mazraeh Qasem. *Borborud-e Gharbi Rural District, Borborud (''Բուրւարի'' / '' Bourvari'' in Armenian) now in Aligudarz County in Lorestan Province: **Shahpurabad, Aligudarz, Shapurabad, Khorzand, Parmishan, Fahreh, Lorestan, Pahra, Sang-e Sefid, Borborud-e Gharbi, Sang-e Sefid, Bahramabad, Lorestan, Bahramabad, Dehnow Aligar, Dehnow, Qareh Kahriz, Nasrabad, Lorestan, Nasrabad, Guran, Lorestan, Goran, Jowz, Cherbas, Jahan Khvosh, Jahan Khosh and Anuj-e Sofla, Anuj. *Japelaq District, Japloq (:hy:Հայերը Գյափլայում, hy) (''Գյափլա'' / ''Giapla'' in Armenian) now in Azna County in Lorestan Province and Shazand County in Markazi Province: **Azna, Lorestan, Azna, Ahmadabad, Azna, Ahmadabad, Bosnava, Berk, Perchestan, Marzian, Lorestan, Marzian, Qataat, Lorestan, Qataat, Gorji, Lorestan, Gorji, Kamian-e Bala, Kamian, Masudabad, Lorestan, Masoudabad, Abbasabad Poshteh, Abbasabad, Bamian, Bagh Muri, Zarnan, Lorestan, Zarna, Tokhmar and Sharafabad, Markazi, Sharafabad. *Faridan (''Փերիա'' / ''Fereydan, Peria'' in Armenian) now in Faridan County, Faridan, Buin va Miandasht County, Buin & Miandasht and Fereydunshahr County, Fereydunshahr counties in Isfahan Province: **Zarneh, Isfahan, Zarneh (Boloran), Khuygan-e Olya, Upper Khoygan, Nemagerd, Gharghan, Barf Anbar, Sangbaran, Hezar Jarib, Isfahan, Hezar Jarib, Singerd, Khuygan-e Sofla, Lower Khoygan, Adegan, Chigan, Hadan, Mila Gerd, Milagerd, Sureshjan, Isfahan, Surshegan, Savaran, Isfahan, Savaran, Chigan, Derakhtak, Punestan, Qaleh Khvajeh, Isfahan, Qaleh Khajeh, Aznavleh, Isfahan, Aznavleh, Bijgerd, Khong (now part of town of Fereydunshahr), Moghandar, Isfahan, Moghandar, Qaleh-ye Malek, Isfahan, Qalamelik, Nanadegan and Darreh Bid, Faridan, Darreh Bid. *Karvan District, Karvan, now in Tiran and Karvan County, Tiran & Karvan County in Isfahan Province. *Lenjan and Alenjan, now in Lenjan County, Lenjan, Falavarjan County, Falavarjan and Mobarakeh County, Mobarakeh counties in Isfahan Province: **Khvansarak, Khansarak, Kelisan, Mehregan, Isfahan, Mehregan, Pelarat, Pelart, Semsan, Zayandeh Rud, Kaleh Masih, Karkevand, Garkan, Zudan, Barchan, Iran, Barchan, Jushan, Isfahan, Jushan, Bondart, Koruj, Isfahan, Koruj, Zazeran, Kafoshan, Kapashan and Mohammadiyeh, Falavarjan, Mamad. *Charmahal (:hy:Հայերը Չարմահալում, hy) or Gandoman District, Gandoman now in Borujen County, Borujen, Kiar County, Kiar, Lordegan County, Lordegan and Shahrekord County, Shahr-e Kord counties in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province: **Vastegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Vastegan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه وستگان, fa), Geshinerjan, Geshnigan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه گشنیز جان, fa), Shalamzar, Gandoman, Sirak, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Sirak (:fa:گورستان ارامنه سیرک, fa), Boldaji (:fa:گورستان ارامنه بلداجی, fa), Azadegan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Azan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه آزادگان, fa), Shahrak-e Galu Gerd, Galugerd (:fa:گورستان ارامنه گلو گرد, fa), Konarak-e Bala, Konarak (:fa:گورستان ارامنه کنرک علیا, fa), Aqbolagh, Borujen, Aqbolagh (:fa:گورستان ارامنه غرب آق‌بلاغ, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شمال آق‌بلاغ, fa), Sena Jan, Sinagan (:fa:گورستان ارامنه سناجان, fa), Mamureh, Mamura (:fa:گورستان ارامنه ماموره, fa), Qaleh-ye Mamka, Mamuka (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شرق قلعه ممکا, fa) (:fa:گورستان ارامنه شمال قلعه ممکا, fa), Sulgan, Sulugan, Gushki, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Gushki (:fa:گورستان ارامنه گوشکی, fa), Ferendigan, Hajjiabad, Kiar, Hajiabad (:fa:گورستان ارامنه حاجی‌آباد, fa), Ahmadabad, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Ahmadabad, Livasian (:fa:گورستان ارامنه لیواسگان, fa) and Shahrak-e Zeverdegan, Zorigan. The settlements of Lenjan, Alenjan and Karvan were abandoned in the 18th century. The other settlements depopulated in the middle of the 20th century due to emigration to New Julfa, Teheran or Soviet Armenia (in 1945 and later in 1967). Currently only 1 village (Zarneh, Isfahan, Zarneh) in Peria is totally, and 4 other villages (Khuygan-e Olya, Upper Khoygan, Gharghan, Nemagerd and Barf Anbar, Sangbaran) in Peria and 1 village (Chenaqchi-ye Olya, Upper Chanakhchi) in Gharaghan are partially settled by Armenians. Other than these settlements there is an Armenian village near Gorgan (Qoroq, Golestan, Qoroq) which is settled by Armenians recently moved from Soviet territory.


Culture and language

In addition to having their own churches and clubs, Armenians of Iran are one of the few linguistic minorities in Iran with their own schools. The Armenian language used in Iran holds a unique position in the usage of Armenian in the world, as most Armenians in the Diaspora use Western Armenian. However, Iranian Armenians speak an Eastern Armenian dialect that is very close to that used in
Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...
, and Russia. Iranian Armenians speak this dialect due in part to the fact that in 1604 much of the Armenian population in the Lake Van area, which used the eastern dialect, was displaced and sent to
Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...
by Abbas I of Persia, Shah Abbas. This also allowed for an older version to be preserved which uses classical Armenian orthography known as "Mashtotsian orthography" and spelling, whereas almost all other Eastern Armenian users (especially in the former Soviet Union) have adopted the reformed Armenian orthography which was applied in
Soviet Armenia The Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic,; russian: Армянская Советская Социалистическая Республика, translit=Armyanskaya Sovetskaya Sotsialisticheskaya Respublika) also commonly referred to as Soviet A ...
in the 1920s and continues in the present Republic of Armenia. This makes the Armenian language used in Iran and in the Armenian-Iranian media and publications unique, applying elements of both major Armenian language branches (pronunciation, grammar and language structure of Eastern Armenian and the spelling system of Western Armenian).


See also

* Armenia–Iran relations, Satrapy of Armenia, Battle of Avarayr, Persian Armenia, Marzpanate Armenia, Arsacid dynasty of Armenia, Armenians in the Persianate, Iranian Armenia * Ethnic minorities in Iran, Christians in Iran * List of Armenian churches in Iran * Monasteries: St. Thaddeus Monastery, Monastery of St. Thaddeus, Saint Stepanos Monastery, Monastery of St. Stephen the Protomartyr * Cathedrals: Saint Mary Church of Tabriz, Holy Mother of God Cathedral, Vank Cathedral, All Saviour's Cathedral, Saint Sarkis Cathedral, Tehran, St. Sarkis Cathedral * List of Iranian Armenians * Media: Alik (daily), Alik, Arax (weekly), Arax, Hooys * Sports: F.C. Ararat Tehran, Ararat Football Club, Ararat Tehran BC, Ararat Basketball Club, Ararat Stadium, Pan-Armenian Games * Politics: Armenian Revolutionary Federation in Iran * Art: Lilihan carpets and rugs


Notes


References


Sources

* * Yves Bomati and Houchang Nahavandi,''Shah Abbas, Emperor of Persia,1587–1629'', 2017, ed. Ketab Corporation, Los Angeles, , English translation by Azizeh Azodi. * * * *


External links


Armenian Iranians news portal

Hamaynk: Iranian Armenian News Network

"Iranian Armenians" BBC Persian

Alik, Armenian daily in Iran

Arax Armenian weekly in Iran

Hooys Armenian Biweekly
{{Armenian diaspora Armenian diaspora by country, Iran Armenian diaspora in the Middle East, Iran Iranian people of Armenian descent, Ethnic groups in Iran, Armenians Ethnic groups in the Middle East