The Iranians: For centuries, governments have come and gone.

But they do endure. The truly global Sir Eldon Griffiths–former MP, writer and diplomat who for decades has traveled extensively in the Mideast–has popped up this month on Richard Lewis’s fine Cross-Culture. See Sir Eldon’s article “The Islamic Republic won’t last forever. The Iranian Phoenix will be reborn“. It concludes:

The Mullahs are not forever. One way or another, they too will pass or be absorbed into the cultural fabric of historic Iran. With Ardeshir Zahedi, I cling to the belief expressed by a mutual friend, Houshang Navahandi, when he served as Rector of Shiraz University:

“Four thousand years of history with so many ups and downs have taught this to the Iranians: Iran has always survived, overcome its invaders”¦ absorbed its occupiers. The Phoenix is always re-born from the Ashes.”

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