Ancient Persians Were Zoroastrians, Not Muslims

Ancient Persians followed Zoroastrianism, venerating Ahura Mazda as their supreme deity. The name of the Strait of Hormuz likely derives from “Hormoz,” a Middle Persian form of that god’s name. Modern Iran is officially a Shia Muslim state, yet many Iranians take pride in their pre-Islamic heritage. Independent surveys also point to significant secularism alongside strong cultural ties to ancient Persia. The Persian language was originally called “Parsi.” Over time, Arabic influence changed it to “Farsi,” since Arabic lacks the “P” sound. Similarly, political shifts have led some maps to label the waterway as the “Arabian Gulf” instead of the “Persian Gulf.”

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