Houshmand Aghili (August 2, 1937 – September 14, 1404) was a prominent Iranian singer and composer whose career spanned nearly seven decades. Known for his dedication to traditional and classical Persian music, he became one of the voices that bridged the pre-revolutionary and diasporic Iranian cultural experiences. Aghili’s music combined the elegance of Iran’s radif-based traditions with lyrical melodies that …

Ebrahim Solati, better known by his stage name Shahram Solati, is one of the most prominent figures in the history of Iranian pop music. Born on November 10, 1979, in Tehran’s Sarcheshmeh neighborhood, he developed an early interest in music and later pursued professional training at the Tehran Conservatory of Music, where he studied piano, clarinet, and voice. His musical …

Sir Hossein Yassaie FREng FIET is widely recognised as one of the most influential technology entrepreneurs to emerge from the United Kingdom in the last few decades. His story is not only that of a successful executive, investor, and thought leader but also of an immigrant whose journey from Iran to Britain in the mid-1970s coincided with the transformation of …

The years between 1940 and 1943 occupy a special place in the history of Iranian theater. Scholars and researchers often refer to the subsequent years of 1944–1945 as the era of stage theater in Iran, but the roots of that flourishing lie in the conditions and cultural atmosphere of the early 1940s. This period marks a decisive stage in the …

The transatlantic bond between the United States and the United Kingdom has long been described as “special.” From Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt’s wartime alliance, to Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher’s ideological partnership, to George W. Bush and Tony Blair’s controversial cooperation in Iraq, the relationship has evolved in response to the changing tides of global politics. In September 2025, …

The Charity Foundation for the Support of Children with Cancer, known universally by its Persian acronym “MAHAK”, stands today as one of the most respected humanitarian institutions in Iran and the broader Middle East. Founded in 1991 by Saeideh Ghods, a mother whose own personal experiences with illness and social awareness shaped her mission, MAHAK has become synonymous with compassion, …

ranian television of the 1980s and 1990s underwent a unique transformation in the field of children’s programming. During a time marked by social, political, and cultural changes following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988), television producers sought to balance entertainment with educational and moral lessons. Out of this movement came a wave of children’s series designed not …

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the “King of Pop”, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and culturally significant figures of the 20th century. Over a career that spanned more than four decades, his achievements transformed the music industry, broke racial barriers, and …

In September 1955, Tehran was at the center of heated debates and media attention concerning the government’s opium supply and the violent incidents that occurred at dispensaries—known locally as pacharagh. These establishments, which had existed in various forms for centuries, were deeply embedded in Iran’s social fabric, but they also symbolized vice, addiction, and, in the eyes of reformers, the …

The decades leading up to the 1979 Iranian Revolution were years of rapid cultural transformation. Tehran, the bustling capital, witnessed a surge of modernization under Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, where Western cultural influences merged with Iranian traditions. Nightclubs, cabarets, and cinemas flourished, becoming key elements of the city’s nightlife. Among the prominent figures shaping this entertainment world was Parviz Hejazi, …