Why is the country of Iran not called Persia anymore?

Geography of Iran. When "Persia" became "Iran" This article is a part of "Persia or Iran" by Professor Ehsan Yarshater, published in Iranian Studies, Vol. XXII, No.1, 1989. read more

It is not called Persia because in 1935, Reza Shah asked the international community to refer to the country as “Iran” and not “Persia”. In 1959, the government of Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, Reza Shah Pahlavi's son, announced that both "Persia" and "Iran" could officially be used interchangeably. read more

Before that time Europeans used the term Persia. In fact the term Iran is always used by Iranians, but foreigners used Persia. Actually Iran means the homeland of Aryans and this place was called Iran since Aryans immigrated to this land. read more