Semitic peoples - middle eastern generally, are officially considered caucasian. I'm sure that includes Persians as well.
LOL hahaha
I don't know where the hell you came up with that idea, but it is ridiculous. Go to Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi, Egypt, Yemen, etc...and tell them that they are all a bunch of White People. I don't think it would go over very well. But you are welcome to try. Regardless of how America may or may not classify them, they certainly would never call themselves caucasians or White people. They refer to themselves as Semites with what is called Olive skin tone.
Having lived over there for several years, in a few different countries, I can tell you absolutely that these are not caucasians. Skin tone varies widely as it does in all nations but the variation goes from deep brown almost black to light brown. Think of India for example. While there are some legitimately caucasian people living there, they are but a segment of the population. And they usually have come there from Europe.
If we are going to call Arabs and Persians caucasians, then we would have to call Spanish and Indian people caucasians as well. Because they all look so similar in terms of the various skin tones. Maybe CNN got it right. Maybe Zimmerman is a White guy after all?
ZimmermanArabsPersians - Iran Revolutionary GuardItaliansPeople of India