Cultural reporting on Iran — music, film, literature and art, sport, diaspora life, and the censorship that shapes all of it — collected from independent English-language outlets.
Team Melli arrived home unbeaten after a campaign overshadowed by US travel restrictions Iran's national football team has returned home to a hero's welcome after being knocked out of the World Cup without losing a single match despite immense political pressure and logistical challenges fueled by U
How Zohran Mamdani is the Daredevil of a new generation Submitted by Hamid Dabashi on Wed, 07/01/2026 - 17:08 Amid a flurry of wins for the New York mayor and his progressive allies, the national conversation on Israel is shifting People hold signs as Zohran Mamdani, then a candidate for mayor, speaks during a news conference in New York City on 2 July 2025 (Michael M Santiago/Getty Images/AFP) On Unless you are an avid fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as I am, chances are you’re not familiar with Wilson Fisk, aka Kingpin - a deeply corrupt and monstrously ruthless supervillain, whose ambitious criminal enterprise finally lands him in the New York mayor’s office. Fisk’s ascendancy to mayor of New York, often compared to the rise of US President Donald Trump, was so normal and natural in the irredeemably corrupt sphere of American politics - even in the fictional version - that the only force capable of opposing him was a blind vigilante lawyer, Matt Murdock, aka Daredevil . Daredevil’s superhero qualities, attained after he lost his sight in a childhood accident, embodied the desperate aspirations of generations of Marvel fans to fight the power of Fisk’s corruption.
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New York [US], July 1 (ANI): Egypt captain Mohamed Salah returned to partial training as he continues his recovery from a hamstring strain, raising hopes that he could be fit for Friday's World Cup Round of 32 clash against Australia. Salah was forced off during Egypt's 1-1 draw with Iran in their final group-stage match, sparking doubts over his availability for the knockout fixture in Dallas, as per Reuters.
New York [US], July 1 (ANI): FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Iran for remaining unbeaten in a difficult World Cup group, saying the team demonstrated outstanding quality, teamwork, passion and determination throughout the tournament. Although they fell short of progressing, he thanked the players for competing with heart and giving their supporters plenty to be proud of.
Tehran [Iran], July 1 (ANI): Iran's team thanked the people of Tijuana on Tuesday for their warm hospitality during the World Cup, describing Mexico as 'our second home and our second team' after their group-stage exit. Political tensions between Tehran and Washington forced Iran to scrap plans to base itself in Tucson, Arizona, shortly before the tournament, prompting a move to Tijuana, Mexico.
Our reporter explains the magic of this moment, and two fans of the Iranian soccer team discuss its complexity.
Iran's World Cup campaign ended on Saturday after a 1–1 draw with Egypt and results elsewhere confirmed Team Melli's elimination from the tournament.
Iran leaves World Cup with dignity despite unprecedented political pressure and logistical hurdles Iran’s World Cup 2026 campaign is over, but the team’s farewell has sparked an outpouring of support that stretches far beyond the results on the pitch. Team Melli exited the tournament unbeaten after three draws, including a 1-1 result against Egypt in Seattle. But Iran’s goodbye came with a final moment of heartbreak: defender Shoja Khalilzadeh appeared to have scored a stoppage-time winner that could have transformed their qualification hopes, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Iran leaves World Cup with dignity despite unprecedented political pressure and logistical hurdles Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 19:12 The Islamic Republic's journey in the global tournament ended over the weekend after a cruel group-stage exit, but fans have rallied around the team Footballer Mehdi Taremi applauds after the 1-1 draw during the Fifa World Cup 2026 Group G match between Egypt and IR Iran at Seattle Stadium on 26 June 2026, in Seattle, Washington (Richard Heathcote/Getty Images/AFP) Off Iran’s World Cup 2026 campaign is over, but the team’s farewell has sparked an outpouring of support that stretches far beyond the results on the pitch. Team Melli exited the tournament unbeaten after three draws, including a 1-1 result against Egypt in Seattle. But Iran’s goodbye came with a final moment of heartbreak: defender Shoja Khalilzadeh appeared to have scored a stoppage-time winner that could have transformed their qualification hopes, only for VAR to rule it out for offside.
Ben Shapiro-backed 'propaganda' film portrays pro-Palestine 'terrorists' on campus Submitted by Hannah. Smith on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 14:54 Starring Jonathan Majors, the film has been dubbed 'AI slop' and slammed as Islamophobic Poster for Run, Fight, Hide: Infidels (2026), a film from the Daily Wire, a media company co-founded by right-wing media host Ben Shapiro (X/@benshapiro) Off Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels , a new film produced by the Daily Wire, the media company co-founded by American right-wing comentator Ben Shapiro, has drawn backlash online after the trailer was released alongside details of its plot singling out Muslims and pro- Palestine university students. In the official trailer shared in a post on X on Thursday, an opening montage includes clips that appears to be from Fox News presenters warning of “terror plots”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking about "radical Islam" in the US , Islamic State (IS) group executions, pro-Palestine encampments, the 9/11 attacks, and the IS flag, before zooming out onto a university campus based in Virginia, where the militant group's flag flies over the building.
Ben Shapiro-backed 'propaganda' film portrays pro-Palestine 'terrorists' on campus Submitted by Hannah. Smith on Mon, 06/29/2026 - 14:54 Starring Jonathan Majors, the film has been dubbed 'AI slop' and slammed as Islamophobic Poster for Run, Fight, Hide: Infidels (2026), a film from the Daily Wire, a media company co-founded by right-wing media host Ben Shapiro (X/@benshapiro) Off Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels , a new film produced by the Daily Wire, the media company co-founded by American right-wing comentator Ben Shapiro, has drawn backlash online after the trailer was released alongside details of its plot singling out Muslims and pro- Palestine university students. In the official trailer shared in a post on X on Thursday, an opening montage includes clips that appear to be from Fox News presenters warning of “terror plots”, Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaking about "radical Islam", Islamic State (IS) group executions, pro-Palestine encampments, the 9/11 attacks, and the IS flag, before zooming out onto a university campus based in Virginia, where the militant group's flag flies over the building.
Tariq Panja, a Times reporter, explains the magic of this moment, and two fans of Iran’s soccer team discuss its complexity with Times producer Anna Foley.
Tehran [Iran], June 29 (ANI): Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei praised the Iranian national football team following their FIFA World Cup exit, commending their unity, resilience, and determination despite facing what he described as 'pressure, discrimination, and restrictions.
Iran praises resilience after World Cup exit under US threats and pressure Iran’s Foreign Ministry has praised the national football team after its hopes of reaching the World Cup knockout stage ended, saying the players had endured “inhumane and unprecedented pressures”. “Neither did restrictions become an excuse, nor did pressures lead to submission,” ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on X. His comments came after Austria’s match against Algeria confirmed Iran’s elimination, ending the team’s bid to reach the knockout phase for the first time.
Texas [US], June 28 (ANI): The 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage ended with a series of historic milestones, led by Lionel Messi becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches during Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan.
New Delhi [India], June 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed India's dominant performance at the inaugural World Yogasana Championships on Sunday, saying the country's 114-medal haul reflected the growing global recognition of yoga and congratulating the athletes for topping the medal standings.
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The University of Palangka Raya has appointed Iranian researcher Hamed Kioumarsi as Editor-in-Chief of its Journal of Biotropical Research and Nature Technology, in a move officials say reflects deepening academic cooperation between Iranian and Indonesian institutions.
(Photo credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images) After 72 games were played to eliminate just 12 of the 48 teams at the largest-ever World Cup, the knockout phase is finally set to begin. All of the pre-tournament favorites (France, Spain, England, Argentina) made it through, and a few surprise sides are through, too.
Kansas City (Missouri) [US], June 28 (ANI): Algeria and Austria produced one of the most dramatic matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage, battling to a pulsating 3-3 draw in their final Group J fixture that secured qualification for both teams while ending Iran's hopes of reaching the Round of 32. With both sides aware that a draw would be enough to progress, the contest began cautiously in Kansas City.
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