Iran's Shia Identity and Regional Influence Amid Historical Sunni-Shia Divide

Iran, the world's largest Shia-majority nation with 90-95% of its population identifying as Shia Muslim, plays a central role in the longstanding Sunni-Shia divide dating back to the 7th century. Its religious identity evolved from ancient Zoroastrian Persia through the Muslim conquest and the Safavid imposition of Shi'ism as the state religion. Iran's influence extends across the 'Shia crescent,' including Lebanon, Iraq, Bahrain, and Yemen, shaping regional political and sectarian dynamics amid recent conflicts involving the United States and Israel.