Aspire to reform Iran in the past (6)

I believe the answer is:

persia

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'iran in the past' is the definition.
'Persia' can be an answer for 'iran' (synonyms). I'm not sure about the 'in the past' bit.

'aspire to reform' is the wordplay.
'to reform' indicates an anagram (letters in a new form).
'aspire' is an anagram of 'PERSIA'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for persia that I've seen before include "Praise be to ancient Iran" , "It's now known as Iran" , "Old land" , "Old Iran" , "Former name of Iran" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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