Iranian government builds bridges to Sunni minority
Iran’s Sunni community is estimated at 9% of the country's population.
![Iranian Sunni Kurd women wearing traditional clothes pose for photograph as they stand in Caraftoo cave historical site in Divandare Two Iranian Sunni Kurd women wearing traditional clothes pose for a photograph as they stand in the Caraftoo cave historical site in Divandare, Kurdistan province, 540 km (338 miles) west of Tehran May 13, 2011. Iranian Shi'ite and Sunni Kurds live in harmony with each other in Divandare, although Sunni is the religion of the majority of the people. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl (IRAN - Tags: TRAVEL SOCIETY RELIGION) - RTR2MDZX](/sites/default/files/styles/article_hero_medium/public/almpics/2013/12/RTR2MDZX-001.jpg/RTR2MDZX-001.jpg?h=603532df&itok=eOFPtpnQ)
Despite its numerous attempts to encourage unity among different sects of Islam, the Islamic Republic has been unsuccessful in creating amicable relations with its own Sunni Muslim citizens. Therefore, every once in a while in different regions of the country, there is tension between the government and the Sunni community. These conflicts are evidence of historical problems between the two sides.
Sunni Iranians are usually scattered across the border regions of Iran. A majority of them live in Kurdistan, West Azerbaijan, Golestan, Sistan and Baluchistan, and Northern and Southern Khorasan. There are also smaller communities in provinces bordering those mentioned above, as well as in metropolises.