Iranian culture

Bijan Khalili

Step inside a Los Angeles bookstore that takes on Iran’s censors

Books

“Reading books is a human right,” says bookseller Bijan Khalili, who runs Ketab Corporation, a Persian bookstore in Los Angeles. It started as a simple service to exiles who had fled the Iranian Revolution, leaving their books behind.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (L) holds a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry (R) on the second straight day of talks over Tehran's nuclear program in Vienna, July 14, 2014.

The Persian art of declining what you really want and offering what you’ll never give could play a role in US-Iran nuclear talks

Culture
The World

Iranians want answers and action after a spate of acid attacks on women

Justice
Richard Frye

He’s an American scholar who wished to be buried in Iran, but will it happen?

Lifestyle & Belief
Richard Frye

He’s an American scholar who wished to be buried in Iran, but will it happen?

Lifestyle & Belief
The World

An Iranian-American comic takes on Nowruz — the Persian New Year celebration

Arts, Culture & Media

New clothes and goldfish? Not your usual spring rituals, we know. But those are two ways to celebrate Nowruz. Iranian-American comedian K-von Moezzi explains the rest of the Persian New Year festivities in his offbeat, video mini-doc.

The World

An Iranian-American comic takes on Nowruz — the Persian New Year celebration

Arts, Culture & Media

New clothes and goldfish? Not your usual spring rituals, we know. But those are two ways to celebrate Nowruz. Iranian-American comedian K-von Moezzi explains the rest of the Persian New Year festivities in his offbeat, video mini-doc.

Sepideh Hooshyar

A young Iranian woman’s dream of becoming an astronaut goes to the Sundance Film Festival

Arts, Culture & Media

One documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival follows a young Iranian woman’s struggle to become an astronaut.

President Obama’s video address to Iran

Iranians and Iranian-Americans think Barack Obama’s video message was nuanced, genuine, and a departure from past U.S. presidents.

Iranian-American Band The Yellow Dogs Leave Tehran for Brooklyn, and Greater Freedom

Arts, Culture & Media

The members of The Yellow Dogs fled Tehran’s underground rock scene after being featured in a movie about that scene. They’re now based in Brooklyn, touring the US, and living the dream.