History

The fall of the Berlin Wall (German: Mauerfall) on 9 November 1989 stands as one of the most defining moments of the twentieth century — a spectacular event that marked the symbolic and practical end of the Cold War, the collapse of communism in Eastern and Central Europe, and the reunification of Germany after forty years of division. For decades, …

Amin Hayaei (امین حیایی), born on June 19, 1960, in the Qeytariyeh neighborhood of Tehran, is one of Iran’s most beloved and versatile actors. His journey from a young theater enthusiast to one of the most acclaimed faces of Iranian cinema represents a rare blend of perseverance, artistic curiosity, and emotional intelligence. Hayaei was born into a middle-class family. His …

Ali Akbar Jamshidi, better known as Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri, was born on 14 October 1944 in the northern Iranian city of Noor, Mazandaran Province. Over the past five decades, he has been one of the most prominent conservative clerics and politicians in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Known for his dual roles as a religious scholar and a political …

When Ali Amini became prime minister of Iran in May 1961, he inherited a country burdened by economic crisis, administrative inefficiency, and deep-seated corruption within the state and military elite. His government came to power with the backing of the Shah, yet its mission quickly placed it in confrontation with entrenched interests across Iran’s bureaucracy and armed forces. Within months, …

Ramin Parchami , born on September 17, 1973, in Tehran, Iran, is one of the most well-known Iranian actors of his generation—an artist whose career has spanned over three decades across film, television, and theater. His life story is not only that of an actor who rose through the ranks of Iran’s performing arts but also of a citizen who …

Abdullah Taleh Hamedani, the son of Suleiman, was born in the city of Hamedan in 1292 AH (approximately 1875 CE) into a Jewish family. His life’s journey from a culturally active childhood to becoming one of Iran’s most versatile poets, composers, and musicians of the early 20th century reflects not only his individual brilliance but also the broader currents of …

Monireh Taslimi, born Monir Akhundnia in 1926 in Bandar Anzali (then known as Bandar Pahlavi), was one of the early pioneers of Iranian theater during a time when the stage was just beginning to attract women performers. Despite her short life — she died tragically in 1955 in Tehran at the age of 29 — Taslimi’s artistic courage and her …

The Qajar dynasty was a formerly aristocratic and later royal Iranian family that ruled Iran from 1789 to 1925. Originating from the Turkoman Qajar tribe, a branch of the Qizilbash confederacy, the Qajars played a decisive role in Iran’s transition from the fragmented post-Safavid era to a unified monarchy under Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, the dynasty’s founder. Though their rule …

Saeed Poursamimi (born March 23, 1943) stands among the most beloved and enduring figures in Iranian cinema and theater. His career, which spans over six decades, reflects both the transformation of Iranian performance arts and the social and cultural evolutions of Iran itself. Known as “the gentleman of Iranian acting,” Poursamimi has consistently combined humor, intellect, and humanity in his …

Nasser Taghvaei: The Auteur of Southern Light Introduction Nasser Taghvaei (July 12, 1945 – October 12, 2025) was an Iranian filmmaker, photographer, and writer whose artistry left an indelible mark on modern Iranian cinema. Often described as an auteur and a pioneer of the Iranian New Wave, Taghvaei’s cinematic voice was poetic, deeply human, and steeped in the cultural and …