Iran’s Jewish minority feels at home in Iran
Jewish people have called Iran home for nearly 3,000 years. The Trump administration and U.S. ally Israel often depict the Iranian government as composed of anti-Semitic radical Islamists bent on destroying Israel. But within Iran, many of the estimated 15,000 Jews say they’re safe and happy living in the Islamic Republic. Reza Sayah takes a […]
How will rising tensions between U.S. and Iran affect Iraq?
In a 2016 offensive to take Mosul back from ISIS, the U.S. and Iran fought on the same side without ever publicly acknowledging it. The militant group defeated, both countries still have a stake in Iraq and tensions have been rising. Special correspondent Reza Sayah has the final installment of our series Iran Rising in […]
Iran-backed militia helped save Iraq from ISIS
In 2014, when most U.S. ground forces were gone and Iraqi forces were too weak, the threat of ISIS in Iraq spawned the PMF, a government-sanctioned militia that was armed, funded and trained by Iran, America’s long-time foe. In the second installment of our series “Iran Rising in Iraq,” special correspondent Reza Sayah reports in […]
Does Iran’s deep religious influence in Iraq translate to politics?
During the rule of Saddam Hussein, few Iranians dared to make the religious pilgrimage to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. But the toppling of Saddam has drawn millions of worshippers back, revealing Iran’s powerful influence there. In the first of three reports, special correspondent Reza Sayah explores the scope of and limits on […]
A Family Business Fighting to Survive in Iran
Iran’s economy is struggling to survive. Years of punishing sanctions, corruption, and protests following Mahsa Amini’s death in September 2022 have decimated local business. VICE News meets a family in Shiraz trying to make ends meet amid uncertain times.
Women Are Breaking Into This Sport After 2,000 Years
Ancient Iranian sports like Zoorkhaneh and Pahlevani are a mix of wrestling, martial arts and calisthenics. Dating back to the first century BC, the games were originally used to train warriors and represented ideals of masculinity. Today they’ve taken on more sacred meaning and remain reserved only for men as more women try to break […]
The Women Bikers of Iran
Last year, more women in Iran found themselves riding motorcycles even though biking could get them fined or have their vehicle confiscated. The law doesn’t expressly forbid women to ride but they cannot be issued motorcycle licenses.
Meet The Iranian Best Friends Breaking Into Auto Repair.
Best friends Niloufar Farahmand and Kiana Yarahmadi are trying to break into auto repair – an industry dominated by men in Iran. They first began learning how to fix cars in 2019, documenting their journey on Instagram where they went viral. Their dream is to become the first women in Iran to receive a car […]