The Enduring Genetic Continuity of the Iranian Population Over Five Millennia

Language Is Not Always a Genetic Marker
One of the study’s most fascinating findings is the disconnect between language and genetics in some cases. For example, many Iranian Azeri- and Arabic-speaking populations show close genetic proximity to Persian-speaking groups. This suggests that language shifts in Iran have often occurred through sociopolitical or cultural mechanisms rather than mass migrations. Conversely, groups like the Baluchis and Sistanis, despite genetic intermixing with South and Central Asians, have preserved their Indo-European linguistic heritage.