If they ever wanted to increase tourism, just consider:
1. Would you like to visit Persia?
2. Would you like to visit Iran?
1. Would you like to visit Persia?
2. Would you like to visit Iran?
The only weird thing with the name Iran, is that it literally means "The Land of Aryans" which got a bad rep after Nazis (rightfully so).
It’s not just about an empire for the Persians. (But Persia is pretty good branding, that’s all)
I know that you're not confusing this but as some others might: Persian language is of the Persian people (although there are many non-persian L2 speakers), it should rightfully still called that and should not be confused with the (settled at this point) debate about the name of the country as a whole