Final answer:
Iran is not considered an Arab country because its people are ethnically Persian and speak Farsi. Its unique identity is rooted in the history of the Persian Empire and the predominance of Shia Islam versus the Sunni Islam more common in Arab nations. Historical and religious differences, as well as distinct geographical features, further distinguish Iran from Arab countries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Iran is not considered an Arab country despite its location in the Middle East because its people are predominantly Persian in ethnicity and speak Persian (Farsi), rather than Arabic. The history of Iran is deeply connected to the ancient Persian Empire, which has origins dating back to 648 B.C.E. Although there have been political struggles and protests in Iran similar to those during the Arab Spring, these were not a result of pan-Arab sentiment but rather internal political frictions. The Iran-Iraq War underscored these differences, as the largely Arab and Sunni-led Iraq clashed with the Persian and Shia-majority Iran.
The term 'Middle East' refers to a geographic area without specifying the ethnic composition of the countries within it. Iran has a distinct cultural identity shaped by its Persian heritage and the Shia branch of Islam, which differs from the Sunni branch more common among Arab nations. This distinction is evident in historical conflicts like the Iran-Iraq War, where ethnic and religious differences fueled tensions.
Furthermore, Iran's physical geography, with its rugged mountains and deserts, also contributes to its unique national characteristics, such as being larger than the U.S. state of Alaska, with varying levels of population density and urbanization.