Religious Tolerance of Iranians in the Face of Religious Minorities as one of the Characteristics of National Identity

Lack of peaceful coexistence and lack of tolerance are among the negative characteristics that are sometimes attributed to Iranian society as a historical and cultural issue. In some of the works related to the Iranian temperament, it is often said that the Iranian man lacked the spirit of dialogue and interaction and in the face of another, he always had a hostile and non-peaceful spirit. This article bases its claim on the critique of this image of Iranian national identity and tries to show that tolerance, especially in the face of religious minorities, is one of the special features of Iranian society. This research is a descriptive and analytical study and in collecting data, the method of documentary study has been used with emphasis on foreign travelogues of Safavid and Qajar periods. Based on the research findings, it can be said that from the point of view of foreign travel writers, although in some cases there have been some restrictions on some religious minorities, but Muslim Iranians based on Shiite culture throughout history. Religious minorities have always been treated with tolerance and moderation. And a lot of evidence and reports from tourists show the favorable situation of religious minorities in Iranian society and their enjoyment of citizenship rights and religious freedoms