Furthermore , there has been a thriving native Christian Armenian community since ancient times in northwestern Iran , nowadays Iranian Azerbaijan .
These were added to by other Semites , followers of the Nestorian church , some of whom were Assyrians from Mesopotamia , others being from Syria .
There has been a thriving native Christian Armenian community since ancient times in northwestern Iran , nowadays Iranian Azerbaijan .
These were added to by other Semites , followers of the Nestorian church , some of whom were Assyrians from Mesopotamia , others being from Syria .