Statement on Iran - United States Department of State state.gov - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from state.gov Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
For thousands of years, Iran has stood out as a culture that prized diversity and a place where religious minorities have flourished as independent communities. The Islamic Republic now seeks to change that, however, by implanting its own leaders inside different faith groups to protect and advance its interests. This approach could doom these ancient minorities to a future that includes altered traditions and even the risk of disappearing from Iran altogether.