Iran has many ethnic, linguistic and tribal groups

 

Iran is a highly diverse country composed of numerous ethnic, linguistic, and tribal groups. While Persians are the largest group, approximately 40–50% of the population belongs to various ethnic minorities. 

Major Ethnic Groups

• Persians (approx. 61%): The predominant group, concentrated in the central plateau and major cities like Tehran, Isfahan, and Shiraz. They speak Persian (Farsi).
• Azerbaijanis (Azeris) (approx. 16%): The largest minority group, primarily inhabiting the northwestern provinces of East and West Azerbaijan. They are a Turkic-speaking people.
• Kurds (approx. 10%): Residing mainly in the western mountainous regions (Kordestan, Kermanshah). They speak Kurdish and have a distinct cultural identity.
• Lurs (approx. 6%): Inhabiting the central and southern Zagros Mountains, particularly in Lorestan. They are closely related to Persians and speak Luri.
• Balochis (approx. 2%): Located in the southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province near the borders of Pakistan and Afghanistan.
• Arabs (approx. 2%): Concentrated in the southwest Khuzestan province (near Iraq) and along the Persian Gulf coast.
• Turkmen (approx. 1-2%): Primarily found in the northeast (Golestan province) near the Turkmenistan border. 

Smaller Minorities and Tribal Groups

• Caspian Peoples: Including the Gilakis and Mazandaranis who live along the southern shores of the Caspian Sea.
• Tribal Confederations: Such as the Qashqai (Turkic-speaking nomads in the south) and Bakhtiari (part of the Lur group).
• Ethno-Religious Groups: Including Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians, Jews, and the Mandaean community.
• Talysh and Tats: Smaller Iranian groups living in the northern and Alborz regions.

Ramadan -- Feb 17 to March 19 this year

 

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic lunar calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a period of fasting (sawm), prayer, reflection, and community. It commemorates the month in which the Quran was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. 

Ramadan 2026 Dates

Because the Islamic calendar is lunar, dates shift roughly 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. 

• Start: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 (first full day of fasting was Wednesday, Feb 18).
• End: Expected around Wednesday, March 18 or Thursday, March 19, 2026.
• Eid al-Fitr: The "Festival of Breaking the Fast" marks the end of Ramadan, expected around March 19 or 20, 2026. 

Core Practices

• Fasting: One of the Five Pillars of Islam. Healthy adult Muslims abstain from all food, drink (including water), smoking, and sexual relations from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib).
• Daily Meals:
  • Suhoor: The pre-dawn meal consumed before the fast begins.
  • Iftar: The meal to break the fast at sunset, traditionally starting with dates and water.
• Spirituality: Increased prayer, recitation of the entire Quran, and nightly communal prayers called Tarawih are central to the month.
• Charity: Known as Zakat or Sadaqah, Muslims are encouraged to be extra generous and support those in need. 

Exemptions

Fasting is not required for those who are ill, traveling, elderly, pregnant, breastfeeding, or menstruating. Children are also exempt until they reach puberty, though many participate in "half-day" fasts to practice. 

Greetings

Common ways to wish someone a blessed month include:

• Ramadan Mubarak: "Blessed Ramadan".
• Ramadan Kareem: "Generous Ramadan". 

Starvation remains a problem in DPRK

Yes, starvation remains a significant and systemic problem in the 

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)

 as of early 2026. While the country is not currently experiencing a nationwide famine on the scale of the "Arduous March" of the 1990s, food insecurity has reached its most critical level in decades. 

Current Food Security Status

• Widespread Malnutrition: Approximately 12 million people—nearly half the population—are estimated to be undernourished.
• Starvation Reports: Reliable accounts from inside the country, including those collected by the BBC, indicate that some North Koreans have recently starved to death in their homes as informal markets and coping mechanisms collapsed.
• Stunting: Chronic malnutrition is evident in the physical development of children; one in five North Korean children suffer from stunting (being too short for their age). 

Key Drivers of the Crisis

The current situation is exacerbated by a combination of government policy, environmental factors, and international isolation: 

• Isolation & Border Closures: Strict border controls initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the import of grain, fertilizer, and farming machinery.
• Economic Mismanagement: The regime continues to prioritize funding for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs over agricultural investment.
• Extreme Weather: Successive years of drought, heatwaves, and severe flooding (notably in 2023 and 2024) have devastated crop yields.
• Market Crackdowns: The government has recently reasserted control over private food sales, banning many items from local markets (Jangmadang) and forcing people to rely on a failing state distribution system. 

Regional Disparities

Food availability is highly unequal. While the elite in Pyongyang often have access to relatively stable supplies, those in rural areas and northern provinces face the highest risk of acute hunger. Vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and orphans, are frequently the most affected when rations are cut. 

Despite offers of humanitarian assistance from the UN, South Korea, and Russia, the DPRK leadership has frequently rejected aid, insisting on national "self-reliance" even as prices for staples like rice and corn reach record highs. 

These reports detail the critical food security situation in North Korea, including widespread malnutrition and government market crackdowns:

https://youtu.be/I2QZJAONJFI?si=7WzQXsrzYl222UH3