Leaguer Kam Shenai explores the connections in the current world upheaval in a two-part series. Read the first part:
These Conflicts are Not Separate. They are Connected.
Why Understanding Iran’s History Matters Today
By Kamalakar (Kam) Shenai
As tensions involving Iran dominate global headlines, many Americans understandably ask a simple question: Why does this matter to us?
Yet conflicts in the Middle East rarely stay confined to the region. They influence international stability, global energy markets, and ultimately everyday life in the United States.
To understand today’s headlines, we need to look beyond the latest developments and examine the deeper forces shaping Iran’s worldview.
For Iran especially, history rarely stays in the past.
Iran’s actions today are influenced by four powerful factors: its ancient civilizational identity, its unique religious role, its historical experience with foreign intervention, and its strategic geography. Understanding these forces helps explain the “why” behind the “what” we see in the news.
1. A Civilization Older Than Most Nations
Iran is the modern successor to Persia, one of the world’s oldest civilizations.
In the sixth century BCE, the Persian Empire founded by Cyrus the Great stretched from India to Egypt. It governed diverse peoples through sophisticated administrative systems and trade networks.
That legacy still shapes how many Iranians see their country today. Iran is not viewed internally as a modern state created in the twentieth century. Instead, it is widely seen as the continuation of a civilization that is more than 2,500 years old.
This long historical memory contributes to a strong sense of national identity and independence.
2. Religion Shapes the Region
Another defining feature of Iran is its religious identity.
In 1501, Persian rulers declared Shia Islam the official religion of the state. Today, roughly 90 percent of Iranians follow Shia Islam, making Iran the largest Shia-majority country in the world.
Because most Muslim countries are Sunni, this distinction has important geopolitical consequences.
Iran often views itself as a protector of Shia communities across the Middle East, particularly in countries such as Iraq and Lebanon. As a result, religion influences not only Iran’s domestic life but also its regional relationships and alliances.
3. A History of Foreign Intervention
Modern Iranian politics are also deeply shaped by the country’s experience with foreign intervention.
One event continues to resonate strongly: the 1953 coup that removed Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh after he nationalized Iran’s oil industry.
The coup, supported by the United States and Britain, restored the Shah to power.
For many Iranians, the episode reinforced the belief that outside powers were willing to intervene in their country’s affairs to protect strategic interests.
That sentiment later fueled the 1979 revolution, when a movement led by Ruhollah Khomeini overthrew the Shah and established the Islamic Republic.
The new government defined itself in part through resistance to foreign influence.
4. Geography That Moves Global Markets
Iran is also a large and strategically important country.
With more than 90 million people and a land area of roughly 636,000 square miles — about the size of Alaska — Iran is one of the largest nations in the Middle East.
Its location gives it enormous strategic influence.
Iran borders the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow channel connecting the Persian Gulf to global shipping lanes.
Approximately 20 million barrels of oil pass through this waterway every day, representing roughly one-fifth of global petroleum consumption.
When tensions rise in this region, the ripple effects travel quickly through global energy markets and can ultimately influence the price Americans pay at the gas pump.
Understanding the “Why” Behind the Headlines
For citizens in a democracy, understanding these dynamics matters.
International conflicts are not abstract events reserved for diplomats and analysts. They influence economic stability, energy prices, and the foreign policy decisions made in Washington.
Recognizing the historical and geopolitical forces shaping Iran does not require agreement with its government’s policies.
But it does help us interpret global events more clearly.
In an interconnected world, the distance between international crises and everyday life is smaller than it often appears.
And when headlines involving Iran emerge, understanding the deeper context behind them is the first step toward informed public judgment.
Authors Bio
Kam Shenai is Co-Founder of AAPI Coming Together (ACT Florida). He holds an MS from UC Berkeley and an MBA from RIT. Previously VP Marketing Operations Xerox North America and CCO at Sutherland Global Services; he currently serves as Chair of the Myrtle Creek District Board and on the Board of Trustees for UCF Lake Nona Hospital. He is a patient advocate with the National Kidney Foundation. Kam is also a member of the League of Women Voters of Orange County.