Zoroastrians in Iran

Zoroastrians are the oldest religious community of Iran. Prior to the Islamization of Iran, which was preceded by the Muslim invasion, Zoroastrianism was the primary religion of the nation.

According to the country's official census, there were 25,271 Zoroastrians within the country in 2011.

There are no written records from Zarathushtra's time. The earliest surviving written references to Zarathushtra are those of Greek writers from 1000 BC. Prophet Zoroaster and his first followers were proto-Indo-Iranians that lived between the Bronze Age and Iron Age (est. 1200-600 BC). The term "Prophet" is of Western origin and is an inexact description of Zarathushtra, who is more appropriately designated "Khordad," a term for that unique mortal who achieved spiritual perfection (he radiated an aura-"Khor") within his lifetime. The name "Za-rath-ush-tra" also translates to a Divine (Zari/Hari) Chariot (Rath) that brought heavenly Light-Knowledge (Ushtra).

The time of the Iranian peoples' migration to Iran can be mainly estimated through Assyrian records. Also, Herodotus (I, 101) recalled one of the Mede tribes to be called "Magoi", better known as "Magis", a tribe known to have included many priests, who served both Medes and Persians. By the time of the Median empire (est. 612 BC), Zoroastrianism is known to have been well established in both the Pars region (later capital of Persia) as well as in the Eastern regions.

Persians led by Cyrus the Great soon established the second Iranian dynasty, and the first Persian empire by defeating the Medes dynasty in 549 BC. As Persians expanded their empire, Zoroastrianism was introduced to Greek historians such as Hermodorus, Hermippus, Xanthos, Eudoxus and Aristotle; each giving a different date regarding the life of Zoroaster but naturally believed him to be a Persian prophet and called him "Master of the magi"

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