Thank you for your in-depth response. I have one remaining clarifying question, after reading this:

"The Persian People have a 3000 year old history (& close relationship with the Jewish People)."

Being very familiar with the Book of Esther and the Jewish celebration of Purim, I have no question of this statement historically. However ... The arrival of one man (amazing how many times in history a single individual dramatically changes it), Mohammad, presumably permanently altered that.

Is it the position of the Jewish people that even after Islam began to spread the Persian people still had a close relationship with them? Perhaps, as a related question, which branch of the Islamic faithful do they believe are more accepting / accommodating of the Jewish people - the Sunni or the Shia branch?