Was this an inappropriate question for the manager to ask me?

So the region manager came in today (my managers' manager) to have a chat with my manager about the store and it was my only my second week working here so I had never met him before. I was cleaning out the stands and he comes over has a conversation with me. He asks me how far I live from here and I say I live very closeby only 10 minute walk, then he asks me 'you have an accent where are you from' and I'm thinking in my head I already told you I live 10 minutes away. Then I ask him 'you mean my ethnic origins?' to which he nods yes. I said I'm iranian and then he says 'explains the eyes' as I have a unique green eye color.
Given the setting and context was this an inappropriate question to ask and the comment he made afterwards?

So the region manager came in today (my managers' manager) to have a chat with my manager about the store and it was my only my second week working here so I had never met him before. I was cleaning out the stands and he comes over has a conversation with me. He asks me how far I live from here and I say I live very closeby only 10 minute walk, then he asks me 'you have an accent where are you from' and I'm thinking in my head I already told you I live 10 minutes away. Then I ask him 'you mean my ethnic origins?' to which he nods yes. I said I'm iranian and then he says 'explains the eyes' as I have a unique green eye color.
Given the setting and context was this an inappropriate question to ask and the comment he made afterwards?

I guess he just wanted to get to know you because you are a relatively new employee? He's probably talktive and being extra when he said 'explains the eyes'. As a girl I would've felt weirded out too, like ok?? why did you feel the need to say that? Just try to keep your distance with him, don't talk to him unless you need to. Hope this helps

So the region manager came in today (my managers' manager) to have a chat with my manager about the store and it was my only my second week working here so I had never met him before. I was cleaning out the stands and he comes over has a conversation with me. He asks me how far I live from here and I say I live very closeby only 10 minute walk, then he asks me 'you have an accent where are you from' and I'm thinking in my head I already told you I live 10 minutes away. Then I ask him 'you mean my ethnic origins?' to which he nods yes. I said I'm iranian and then he says 'explains the eyes' as I have a unique green eye color.
Given the setting and context was this an inappropriate question to ask and the comment he made afterwards?

It depends on his motivation really. If he was just trying to be friendly it’s one thing, if it was an attempt to be flirty it’s inappropriate due to the power imbalance and particularly when it’s unwelcome. As a one off I’d give it the benefit of the doubt

Its either passive aggressive or he’s flirting my best advice is stay distance away from him.

idk I just found it strange because of the position hes in asking about my ethnicity within 5 minutes of meeting me, I hate it when people ask 'where you from' after I've just said I am from around here just tell me with chest 'you clearly don't look british what's your ethnicity?'

Commenting on accents can be suspect although not always. My Irish accent get picked up on fairly frequently and sometimes I find it friendly interest and other times there’s an aspect of irritating stereotyping around it