2023 – 2024 YEAR IN REVIEW
Director’s Letter
Last year was one of much tumult and anxiety, hope for peace and news of war. Iran was often in the center of the news and keeping our eyes on the academic prize was not without challenge. While actively participating in the campus, community and national debates about these urgent matters, we also highlighted stories about the brilliant achievements and incredible contributions of Iranians around the world–and even from outer space! We engaged with scholars, journalists, filmmakers, authors, musicians, astronauts, actors, and chefs, some from inside Iran, to showcase the multifaceted and critical work of those engaged with the study of Iran.
As in the past, Iran’s women’s movement for equality and democratic rights was at the center of our attention. To mark the one-year anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death, we discussed the Woman, Life, Freedom movement with award-winning author and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi. Another guest of our program last year was Iranian chess woman grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour. The strength and determination of her defiance, her willingness to risk her career—one that had attracted global attention when she first emerged as a child prodigy—to defend women’s rights, at home and abroad, was ennobling.
We are grateful to the Nategh family for the donation of Homa Nategh’s archive to Stanford’s Green Library. A prominent Iranian historian, Dr. Nategh’s research work and writings focused on Iran’s social, political, and intellectual history from the 19th century through the 1979 revolution. The collection contributes to the growing archives at Stanford focused on the history and culture of modern Iran.
At a time of increased world-wide strife and terrible losses, Hamed Esmaeilion, Moniro Ravanipour, and Azadeh Heydaripour accepted our invitation to explore, each from a different perspective, grief and mourning through the eyes of the victims of flight PS752 shot down by the Iranian regime in 2020. It was an event extraordinary in its depiction of the
enormity of the pain, the resilience of the human spirit, and the healing power of art.
Iranian American NASA astronaut Lt. Col Jasmin Moghbeli uplifted us all through a live conversation from the International Space Station with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7 where she discussed with our students the inspiration she draws from her Iranian culture and the value of persistence. It was historic in that for the first time, Farsi was spoken in space. She was one of this year’s recipients of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and it was my special pleasure to also receive the award this year and offer in person my gratitude to her for her willingness to join our students from space.
A multi-generational, bilingual conversation with Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton and the Zafari family highlighted the power of storytelling, family, and culture. Award-winning actor Arian Moayed discussed the important role of the artist as a citizen and his ability to use the power of theater, and celebrity, in the cause of defending the dignity and the rights of each individual, particularly those from marginalized communities.
The 14th Bita Prize for Persian Arts was awarded to Maestro Shahram Nazeri this year. A renowned vocalist, classical singer, and composer, Nazeri’s mastery of Persian poetry inspired his rich compositions and performances influenced by the Shahnameh and the poetry of Rumi.
We were honored to launch the Christine Mona Khademi annual lecture to highlight the work of Iranian women in particular making substantial contributions to Iranian culture and society in the fields of politics, science, technology, public service, art, or culture. The inaugural lecture was delivered by Dr. Maryam Shanechi on the intersection of AI and neurotechnology.
We celebrated another wonderful cohort of graduating Iranian studies minor students, supported several new publications including The Lament for Siavash (Mage Publishers), hosted our third Zahedi Fellow, and prepared for the premiere of part one of Professor Bahram Beyzaie’s new play “Dash Akol According to Marjan,” almost four years in the making and made possible by the Stanford Festival of Iranian Arts.
In the year ahead, we hope to continue our academic programming; organize conferences about our indispensable archive on modern Iranian politics, culture, letters, and women’s movement; stage the second part of “Dash Akol According to Marjan”; and try, as best as we can, to contribute to further understanding the many paradoxes that are Iran.
Abbas Milani
Hamid & Christina Moghadam Director of Iranian Studies
Event Highlights
The 2023-24 academic year featured a diverse range of in-person courses, gatherings, and events at Stanford, bringing together distinguished scholars, social justice activists, influential artists, and a groundbreaking NASA astronaut who spoke to students live from space. The Iranian Studies Program hosted 29 in-person and virtual events, drawing over 2,560 people. Additionally, more than 500 people attended co-sponsored events with the Persian Student Association, the Sohaib and Sara Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies, and the Foundation for Iranian Studies.
Book Talk: Ahmad Shamlou Behind the Mirror with Bahram Grami
Book Talk: Persian Cypress and the Blooms of Modernity with Mandana Zandian
Film Screening: Alborz, We Climb Mountain with Maryam Sepehri
The Earliest Social History in Persian? A Preliminary Study of the ʿAẕb al-Bayān (1865) with Kioumars Ghereghlou
Defiant Dreams: The Journey of an Afghan Girl Who Risked Everything for Education with Sola Mahfouz and Malaina Kapour
Heroes to Hostages: America and Iran in a Troubled Middle East with Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet
A History of Iranian Masculinities During the Late Qajar and Early Pahlavi Period with Sivan Balslev Quṭb al-Dīn Shīrāzī and His Observations on Ptolemy’s Lunar Model with Kaveh Niazi
Twilight of the Islamic Republic? with Ali Ansari
The Psychology of Revolution with Fathali M. Moghaddam
Visit our YouTube channel to view our event videos.
Woman, Life, Freedom: A Retrospective with Marjane Satrapi and Abbas Milani
In commemoration of the one year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, the 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in police custody for claims of improper veiling, Faculty Director Dr. Abbas Milani spoke virtually with author, activist, and filmmaker Marjane Satrapi.
Moderated by journalist Sima Sabet, they spoke about the release of Ms. Satrapi’s new graphic novel, Woman, Life, Freedom (L ‘Iconoclast), the book’s support of the women’s rights movement that ignited in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini and a young generation of women’s rights activists that are continuing the struggle for freedom, dignity, and equality.
Narratives From the Victims of Flight PS752
In the fall, Dr. Hamed Esmaeilion, Ms. Moniro Ravanipour, and guest Ms. Azadeh Heydaripour came to Stanford to discuss their newly published books on behalf of the surviving families of the victims of the Ukrainian passenger flight 752 that was shot down by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on January 8, 2020.
Acclaimed author Moniro Ravanipour discussed her book I Will Call You Once I Arrive in Kyiv in which she chronicles the writing workshops she led for the surviving family members to help them write their memoirs.
Activist and author Dr. Hamed Esmaeilion talked about his process of editing the book It Should Not Have Been Written as a compilation of writings from the surviving family members. Ms. Azadeh Heydaripour lost her son in the downing of flight PS752 and read her chapter from the book.
Conversation with Astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli — Live from Space
In collaboration with NASA, Stanford Iranian Studies was engaged in a vibrant livestream conversation with Iranian-American astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli on November 29. Lt. Col. Moghbeli took questions from Stanford Iranian Studies students while aboard the International Space Station with NASA’s SpaceX Crew-7.
The event was broadcast live through NASA’s YouTube livestream and later by Iranian Studies with Persian translation subtitles. The video received more than 50,000 views and international news coverage by Iran International, Radio Farda, and others.
In the Stanford Report article, “Interview From Outer Space,” Alex Kekauoha spoke with the director of the Stanford Iranian Studies Program, Dr. Abbas Milani, about the importance of highlighting Iranian women role models.
The Queen’s Gambit for Equality: Mitra
Hejazipour’s
Chess
Career and Women’s
Rights Advocacy
Iranian-French woman Grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour visited Stanford on May 24 to discuss her chess career and her unwavering dedication to the cause of gender equality. Ms. Hejazipour shared her experience as a rising chess star in Iran, her transition to representing France, and her triumphs and challenges along the way. The lecture delved into the pivotal moment when she took a stand against oppressive norms, defying Iran’s compulsory headscarf regulation in international chess tournaments, and the subsequent impact on her life and career.
While at Stanford, Ms. Hejazipour offered to play a simultaneous chess exhibition. Six Stanford students competed against her concurrently over the course of 90 minutes, to an audience of community members and Iranian Studies minor students.
Stanford Festival Of Iranian Arts
The Stanford Festival of Iranian Arts brings to Stanford the best of Iranian art and letters, and ensures that prejudice based on politics, gender, ethnicity, and religious rancor can play no role in silencing these cultural gems. The Festival sponsors lectures, conferences, and performances on Iranian art, mythology, poetry, theater, literature, cinema, and music--and has helped stage some of Iran’s masterpieces of theater and music over the past decade.
Forugh Farrokhzad: A New Edition of Her Collected Works with Domenico Ingenito
Arian Moayed and the Artist as Citizen
Arian Moayed is an Iranian-born, Emmy and Tonynominated actor, and co-founder of Waterwell. Mr. Moayed shared his immigration story, career as a director and producer, and experience acting as an Iranian in the film and theater industry.
Mr. Moayed spent the latter half of the event answering audience questions and engaging in a lively conversation with the Stanford community, Stanford students, and enthusiasts of performing arts from the Bay Area.
The Evolution of Female Protagonists in Bahram Beyzaie’s Oeuvre with Saeed Talajooy
Book Talk: Lament for Siavash by Shahrokh Meskoob with Mahasti Afshar
Humans of New York, Brandon Stanton, and Telling Stories About Iran
A hybrid conversation with Humans of New York founder Brandon Stanton explored his story-telling process and the decision to write his longest story about Iran—as told by Parwiz Zafari and the Zafari family. Mr. Stanton discussed the 54-part series that was told in English and Persian over the course of six days leading up to the one year anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini that sparked the Woman, Life, Freedom movement in Iran.
Brandon Stanton, Parwiz Zafari, and his grandson Rostam Zafari talked about Mr. Stanton’s travels to Iran, why he chose this story, reactions to the series, and thoughts on the future of Iran.
In The Name of The Rainbow: The Bridge-Building Goddess of Hope With Farzaneh Milani
Dr. Farzaneh Milani explored the semiotics of the rainbrow in Iranian literature and its recent resurgence in Iran following the death of Kian Pirfallak amidst the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising in 2022. In her talk, Dr. Milani used the rainbow as a metaphor for a bridge and focused on how this metaphor illuminates and is illuminated by the specific story of Iranian writers and poets at this incisive turning point in Iranian literature.
Finding Home and Community Through Food With Nasim Alikhani
The James Beardnominated founder of Sofreh restaurant in New York, Chef Nasim Alikhani, visited Stanford in spring quarter and discussed her new cookbook, Sofreh: A Contemporary Approach to Classical Persian Cuisine (Penguin Random House, 2023). In this talk, she elaborated on her journey to opening her restaurant and the ways in which it has empowered her to express herself, her culture, and what home means to her.
In tandem with this event, she also taught a cooking class session as a part of the Iranian Cuisine course (Global 104) and helped Stanford students cook one of the recipes from her cookbook.
Fourteenth Bita Prize for Persian Arts
The recipient of the 14th Bita Prize for Persian Arts this year was the acclaimed Iranian musician Shahram Nazeri.
Mr. Nazeri traveled from Iran to attend the celebration and accepted the award on May 10th. He gave a heartfelt speech about his rise as a prominent vocalist in Iranian classical music, his pioneering musical style, and his hopes for a new generation of musicians in Iran.
The event was attended by more than 450 guests. The celebration included remarks by Abbas Milani, Bita Daryabari, and Stanford’s Dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences, Debra Satz.
Mr. Nazeri is a renowned vocalist and classical singer from Kermanshah, Iran. He has worked with some of Iran’s and the world’s foremost composers, conductors, and ensembles. He is himself a composer of great acclaim and accomplishments. His mastery of Persian poetry has led to his uniquely rich and varied compositions and performances of pieces inspired by Iran’s grand epic Shahnameh. In his mastery of the Shahnameh, and deep immersion in the poetry of Rumi, he has had the unique role of bridging the heights of Iranian epic and mystical traditions. He has been no less a creative pioneer in using masterpieces of modernist Persian poetry from poets like Nima and Akhavan to create pieces that brilliantly bridge tradition and modernity in Iran. Read more about the 14th Bita Prize event.
The annual Bita Prize for Persian Arts is awarded to an artist of Iranian ancestry whose work, in the course of their lifetime, has exhibited singular achievements in both the realm of aesthetics and in the essence of defending the rights of artists to create, free from any fetters. Since its inception in 2008, the Bita Prize has been awarded to outstanding Iranian scholars, artists and creators.
Inaugural Khademi Lecture
The Inaugural “Christine Mona Khademi” lecture: The Intersection of AI and Neurotechnology
The new annual “Christine Mona Khademi lecture,” established in 2024, was made possible through a generous gift from Monib Khademi, MBA ‘90, to the Iranian Studies Program in memory of Christine, B.S. ‘12. The lecture seeks to support and highlight the work of women in particular who are making substantial contributions to Iranian culture and society in the fields of politics, science, technology, public service, art, or culture.
Dr. Maryam Shanechi delivered the inaugural “Christine Mona Khademi” on May 16, 2024. She is Dean’s Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Southern California and Founding Director of the new USC Center for Neurotechnology. In her talk she presented her ground-breaking work on the intersection of AI and neurotechnology and discussed developing neurotechnologies to help restore lost motor and emotional function in millions of patients with disabling neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
The Iranian Studies Program is grateful to Mr. Khademi for his ongoing support of academic programming promoting peace and democracy in Iran and around the world.
Christine Mona Khademi
1989 - 2013
Christine Mona Khademi (1989-2013) graduated from Stanford with a B.S. in biology with honors in 2012.
Monib Khademi earned his B.S. from MIT in 1969 and founded the first computer science college in Tehran, Iran in 1973. He earned his MBA from Stanford in 1990 and is the parent of three Stanford graduates. Monib is the founder of Cypress Praxis and has been managing it since 1992.
Iranian Studies Minor Student Highlights
Six Stanford students graduated with minors in Iranian Studies during the 2023-2024 academic year. The students joined Global Studies from across campus including from East Asian studies, computer science, and human biology.
Matin Mirramezani
“I have learned more than I could have imagined thanks to the incredible faculty at the Iranian Studies Program and the immense opportunities that the program offers to learn beyond the classroom…Studying Iran from multiple perspectives has really pushed me to develop a holistic understanding, which is a unique aspect of the minor. We live in an ever more complex world and the tools I gained from minoring in Iranian Studies have prepared me well for encountering it.”
Matin Mirramezani graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in global studies, with a specialization in Iranian studies. While at Stanford, Matin co-authored the book, The Struggle for Development in Iran (SUP, 2022).
Anita Taft
“As the daughter of two immigrants, I owe so much to my heritage. From analyzing films to learning about the history of women’s movements, minoring in global studies has given me the invaluable opportunity to explore Iranian culture, language, and public health.”
Anita Taft graduated with a bachelor’s degree in human biology with honors, and a minor in reproductive medicine, justice, and ethics, and a minor in Iranian studies. She is heading to Tajikistan in the fall to complete a Fulbright fellowship and plans to attend medical school after.
Sasha Ronaghi
“I wanted to study Iran because my family is from Iran, and I wanted to learn more about my culture and history. I also was taking a lot of computer science classes and wanted to explore my creative and social analysis side. [The minor] has allowed me to be more grateful and cognizant of my own experiences because I know my culture and history better.”
Sasha Ronaghi (’24) graduated with a bachelor’s of science degree in computer science and a minor in global studies with a specialization in Iranian studies. Next year, she will complete a coterminal master’s degree in computer science.
Ria Reddy
“I chose my minor for several reasons. Everything about Iran drew me in—the people, the politics, the culture, the language. It lies at this fascinating crossroads of influences that truly create a fascinating place to study. And there was no better place to study it than at Stanford.”
Ria Reddy graduated with a bachelor of arts in international relations and a minor in global studies with a specialization in Iranian studies. Following graduation, Ria will work as an Iran analyst for the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C. and hopes to become professionally fluent in Farsi.
Ariana
Khalili
“Following the murder of Mahsa Jina Amini, I saw the Iranian community come together in a truly inspiring way. I spent a lot of time feeling sad at first, but as I spent more time with the community, I realized it was more productive to funnel my anger and sadness into academic motivation. I knew that if I was going to ever contribute to positive change, I needed to have a more developed academic understanding of the culture and politics of Iran, especially modern Iran.”
Ariana Khalili graduated this year with a bachelor’s degree in biomedical computation and a minor in global studies with a specialization in Iranian studies. Ariana will complete a coterminal master’s of science degree in biomedical data science next year and plans to attend medical school in the following year.
Celebrating Graduating Students
In June, Iranian Studies students, faculty, and staff celebrated the graduation of Iranian Studies students with a dinner, catered by chef Hanif Sadr, spotlighting Northern Iranian cuisine.
Student Highlights
Student News
Iran Archives Tour: Early in the academic year, Stanford students attended a workshop on archival research hosted by the Iranian Studies Program. Students examined samples of archival materials related to modern Iran housed at the Hoover Institution Library and Archives and Stanford’s Green Library, and learned how to access the collections digitally. The Iran archives at Hoover include diplomatic correspondences of Ardeshir Zahedi, revolutionary posters from the 1979 Revolution, Hussein Alai Collection, Hamid and Parviz Shawkat Collections, Mostafa Shu’aiyan Papers, and (recently) the collected records of Bagher Mortazavi related to the Revolutionary Organization of the Tudeh Party and the Ranjbaran Party.
At the Green Library, students examined their collections on modern Iran’s cultural, artistic, film, and literary history. Among the array of historical records pertaining to modern Iran, the Green Library is now home to the Houshang Golshiri Papers, Shahrokh Meskoob Papers, the Shah Research Collection, Ehsan and Latifeh Yarshater Papers, Fakhr al-Din Shadman Collection, Iranian Movie Posters Collection, Reza Allamehzadeh Collection, and the more recently acquired Ebrahim Golestan Papers.
Celebrating Norooz: The Stanford community attended a dinner reception and a small setar performance by graduate student Ashkan Nazari to celebrate Norooz, the Persian New Year, hosted by the Iranian Studies Program in March 2024.
Simultaneous Chess Exhibition: In conjunction with her visit to Stanford University and lecture about her chess career and women’s rights advocacy work, Mitra Hejazipour offered to play a simultaneous chess exhibit against six Stanford students. Hosted by Iranian Studies, the event drew chess enthusiasts from the Stanford community and the general public.
An article by Marijane Leonard and Nilofar Saraj about the exhibition for the Stanford School of Humanities and Sciences explored the history of chess in Iran and the etymology of certain chess terms rooted in Persian.
Photos taken by LiPo Ching.
Above: Graduate student and Stanford Chess Club member Stella Su moves the knight while playing against Hejazipour. Scholars think the game of chess originated in India and then traveled to Persia (now Iran) in the 5th century.
Above: Woman Grandmaster Mitra Hejazipour plays six chess games at once in a chess exhibition at Stanford.
Below: Hejazipour considers her next move against first-year student Itai Reingold-Nutman. Hejazipour became a woman grandmaster in 2015. Woman grandmaster is the highest title given by the International Chess Federation in its women-only category. Once earned, titles are held for life.
Student Highlights
Student Internships
The Iranian Studies Program partners with Stanford Global Studies (SGS) to offer Stanford students an opportunity to extend classroom learning to immersive, cultural, and professional experiences through the Global Studies Internship Program. Applications open in fall 2024.
Dana Adibifar (’26)
International Relations major, Iranian Studies minor
“My experience at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace allowed me to engage with Iran and the greater Middle East through a channel I wouldn’t have otherwise been able to by engaging with experts on the region, attending relevant engagements, and receiving valuable guidance— all in the heart of the nation’s capital.”
Global Studies Internship Program
Stanford Global Studies offers Stanford students an opportunity to extend classroom learning to immersive, cultural, and professional experiences through the Global Studies Internship Program.
In-person and some virtual internship positions cover a wide range of fields, including business, nonprofit, media, education, medicine, arts, technology, engineering, science, law, human rights, and government. The program also supports students for self-arranged internships.
Currently enrolled freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and co-terms at Stanford in all majors are eligible to apply, including undeclared students. Some positions in Asia are open to graduate students.
Iranian Studies Courses: Iranian Cuisine
More than 70 students applied to enroll in the spring 2024 “Iranian Cuisine” (Global 104) course. Through weekly themes and the preparation of dishes, students learned about the history of Iranian cuisine, essential ingredients, and general cooking techniques. The spring course included sessions taught by prominent Iranian chefs, restaurant owners, and cookbook authors such as Najmieh Batmanglij, Nasim Alikhani, Hanif Sadr, Faz Poursohi, Hoss Zare, and Naz Deravian.
Publications
Lament for Siavash: On Death and Resurrection
Shahrokh Meskoob, translated by Mahasti Afshar, forward by Abbas Milani
Mage Publishers, 2024
A new English translation of Shahrokh Meskoob’s 1971 Lament for Siavash (or “Sūg-e Siavash ” in Persian) by Dr. Mahasti Afshar. The book is a scholarly analysis of the death of Siavash and his resurrection as Kay Khosrow in Ferdowsi’s Shahnameh , and its variant treatment across Iranian mythology, epic, religious, and mystical traditions.
Dr. Afshar presented her translation work at Stanford on April 25, 2024 and discussed the ways in which Lament for Siavash is considered Meskoob’s best work on the eleventh-century Iranian national epic, the Shahnameh of Ferdowsi.
Afra or The Day is Passing
Bahram Beyzaie
Translation and Critical Analysis by Saeed Talajooy
Bisheh Publishing, 2023
The play was first performed in 2008 and was “praised for its innovative form, creative use of motifs, timeless presentation of human victimization and marginalization, dialogue about salvation and its captivating feast of light and words.”
A new translation and critical analysis is now available by Professor Saeed Talajooy.
The One Thousand and First Night
Bahram Beyzaie
Translation and Critical Analysis by Saeed Talajooy
Bisheh Publishing, 2023
Bahram Beyzaie’s critically acclaimed The One Thousand and First Night consists of three one-act plays. Bahram Beyzaie recreates
Shahrzad’s archetype by portraying six women who espouse strong agency and decide their own destiny. A new translation and critical analysis is now available by Professor Saeed Talajooy.
Woman, Life, Freedom
Marjane Satrapi, Translated by Una Dimitrijevic Seven Stories Press, 2024
In her new collection of graphic novel style essays, Woman, Life, Freedom, Marjane Satrapi brought together three experts, political scientist Farid Vahid, acclaimed reporter Jean-Pierre Perrin, and historian Abbas Milani, and seventeen of the greatest cartoonists from Europe, the United States, and Iran to tell the story of the historic uprising of Iranian women following the death of Mahsa Amini.
The book was released simultaneously in Persian and French by L’Iconoclaste in September 2023. The English translation is now available from Seven Stories Press.
Homa Nategh’s
Archive Donated to Stanford
Prominent Iranian historian Homa Nategh’s archive was donated to Stanford’s Green Library this year. Homa Nategh was an Iranian scholar whose research work and writings focused on Iran’s social, political, and intellectual history from the 19th century through the 1979 revolution. She served as a professor of history at Tehran University from 1968 to 1981. She was forced into exile in Paris early in the 1980s, where she was appointed a professor of Iranian Studies at the Sorbonne. Her scholarship ranged from women’s rights issues, particularly the adverse effect of the 1979 revolution on women, to economic devastations caused by political upheavals, such as the 1909 famine in the city of Qom in Iran, and the persecutions of the ethnic-religious minorities in Iran including the migrations of Iranian Assyrians and the nationalist movement of Armenians in the late 19th century. Ms. Nategh also examined the socio-political impact of the Islamic clergy on Iran’s modern history and was an activist in the secular educational development of Iran. The Homa Nategh collection contains primary and secondary historical documents about the establishment of French schools in Iran and the advancement of the country’s educational institutions during the past two centuries.
Dr. Nategh was also a political activist before the1979 Revolution and participated in numerous social and political organizations. During her exile in France, her activism waned, and she expressed regret about her involvement in the Revolution.
This important donation was made possible by Dr. Nategh’s daughter, Rowchanak Pakdaman.
Program News
Zahedi Family Fellow Bita Mousavi
On December 7, 2023, the third Zahedi Family Fellow, Bita Mousavi, presented her talk “No Cadillac Country: Oil, Sovereignty, and Development in Pahlavi Iran” based on her research in the Zahedi Archive at the Hoover Institution Library and Archives as well other archival collections related to Iran at the Stanford Libraries.
A Ph.D. student in history and Middle Eastern and Islamic studies at New York University, Ms. Mousavi’s research examined the 1960s in Iran as the period of crisis with oil gluts, inflation, and depleting foreign reserves in conjunction with state centralization. Using the papers of former Foreign Minister and Iranian Ambassador to the U.K. and the U.S., Ardeshir Zahedi, Ms. Mousavi followed Iran’s negotiations with oil companies and their governments to show how Pahlavi officials seized on the disruptions of the decade to expand state power through development.
Mohammad Reza Shah Letters Acquired
Faculty Director Dr. Abbas Milani acquired 156 hand-written letters by Crown Prince Mohammad Reza to his father, Reza Shah, during the 1930s and early 1940s. The letters provide a new historical window into the character of Reza Shah and his relationship with his son. They also attest to the value Reza Shah placed on the prince to master the Persian language during his education. Scholars and students of modern Iran can utilize this primary source of records to further their understanding of the Pahlavi period. The letters will eventually be made available to researchers after they have been formally acquired and processed by the Stanford Libraries.
2024 – 2025 Preview
New Play by Bahram Beyzaie Premieres
Professor Bahram Beyzaie’s newest play, “Dash Akol
According to Marjan” premieres in 2024-2025. Part one premiered at the Berkeley Repertoire Theatre in September of 2024 with more than 2,000 guests in attendance. Part two will premiere in 2025.
“Dash Akol enters a house where the man of the house, on his deathbed, makes him its protector! Is the house under his protection—or is he under the protection of this house?
‘Dash Akol, According to Marjan’ is a journey into the short story by Sadegh Hedayat titled ‘Dash Akol’ (first published in 1311/1932), a search for retrieving what he left unsaid! This time, his story is seen from the prism of the girl of the house—Marjan—and from what she has seen or heard, from near or afar—what is simultaneously and mirror-like also the story of Marjan herself, and the story of this house where she was born, and the story of the central figure of this story and this house, her mother, Mahbanoo—whom Dash Akol belatedly realizes has the same main enemy as all three of them!”
Part of the Stanford Festival of Iranian Arts
New Fall Course
Early Modern Iran: Continuity and Change
Global 131L/History 281L
Dr. Kioumars Ghereghlou
This course is a new opportunity and invitation to explore themes and topics in politics and society in Iran from 1500 to 1900 CE. Students are invited to read, discuss, and reflect on trends and events that shaped early modern politics and society in Iran through the lens of primary and secondary sources, including narrative and archival sources in translation. Topics include the changing dynamics of state-building, religious transition, revivalist movements, women in politics and society, modernization paths in response to European global hegemony, and center-periphery relations concerning linguistic and religious minorities.
