What is the difference between persians and iranians?

Question

What is the difference between persians and iranians?

Answer 1

Yep you're right Kim!

http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-diff...

Answer 2

nothing except the language and script. I have known people from Iran who call themselves Persian.

Answer 3

Persian is an ethnicity and Iranian is a nationality.  The two are pretty closely associated though.  Iran used to be the center of Persia.  So it's like the difference between England vs United Kingdom.  Alot of brits would tell you they're Scottish, others English, and others still Welsch.  So yes Iranians are basically Persian.

Answer 4

Persia was an area comprised of regions that have evolved into Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Bahrain, and Azerbaijan. If you were to refer to a Persian, you would geographically be referring to one from either of these countries, or historically be referring to one that existed within and during the existence of Persia. So an Iranian is and is not a Persian. It is, because Iran resides in an area once part of Persia. And it is not because Persia no longer exists. Both Iran and Persia can be described as separate nations, with the later now non-existent. So it would be incorrect to call current residents of Iran, Persians.

Answer 5

To my mind Iran used to be called Persia until  the name was changed to Iran.