>>About the only thing they have in common with ancient Persia is geography.
>
>More or less my thoughts - but just to be accurate, wouldn't the people of today be, to a great extent, descendants of the ancient Persans? - I am not sure about this.

They are the same people. The Persians are the Aryan race, which Adolph Hitler idolized. It was suggested by Nazi Germany that Persia be renamed Iran.