On International Women’s Day, we honor the courage of the mothers who turned grief into defiance and refuse to let their children be forgotten. Two months ago, the Islamic Republic took the lives of thousands of Iranians for daring to protest for a better future. Forty days later, their loved ones held memorials to honor their memories – in the most courageous ways. Grief turned into rebellion. Mothers danced and clapped on the graves of their fallen children with tears streaming down their face. They sang the very songs their children loved to reclaim their voices in a land where a woman’s song is forbidden. They hosted weddings their children never lived to see, celebrating love amidst loss. These mothers shattered the regime’s forced narratives of martyrdom and sorrow, replacing them with life and defiance. Now, a bomb has ended the life of the leader who ordered their children’s death. The death of a despot alone will not bring these mothers justice. They deserve their day in court. They need to know that their children did not die in vain. They need to see the changes that will put an end to killings and the regime’s impunity. They need you to stand with them for truth and justice. #internationalwomensday #WomensDay #IWD2026 #روز_جهانی_زن #۸مارس
«رسید مژده که ایام غم نخواهد ماند» “Glad tidings arrived — these days of sorrow shall not remain.” ~ Hafez. Your grace in hardship is my lesson in resilience. Happy Birthday, Baba. Here’s to many more. ❤️
Iran’s reality cannot be reduced to black and white. Even as the country faces foreign firepower, the regime continues its brutal crackdown on its own people. Last time I was on @theleadcnn, I spoke to Jake Tapper about the extraordinary scenes of civilians celebrating the downfall of some of their tormentors — and the fragile hope that the wider system of repression might finally crumble. Today my message was this: choose humanity over partisan politics. Because at the center of all of this are millions of people who simply want to live free—and at this point, a free Iran is the only humane outcome.
UPDATED 1/29/2026: The EU has designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. All focus is now on the remaining outlier—the UK. __________ We lay out 6 obligations Europe should act under international law, including designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization—not just for the sake of Iranians, but for their own. Joint op-ed for @politicoeurope with lawyer and Nobel Laureate @official_shirin_ebadi, journalist and managing editor Kayhan-London @nazeninansari, historian and human rights advocate @boroumandl, entrepreneur and former CEO Politico Europe @sheherazade2. #Iran
UPDATED 1/29/2026: The EU has designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. All focus is now on the remaining outlier—the UK. __________ We lay out 6 obligations Europe should act under international law, including designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization—not just for the sake of Iranians, but for their own. Joint op-ed for @politicoeurope with lawyer and Nobel Laureate @official_shirin_ebadi, journalist and managing editor Kayhan-London @nazeninansari, historian and human rights advocate @boroumandl, entrepreneur and former CEO Politico Europe @sheherazade2. #Iran
At Iceland’s Imagine Forum 2025, I delivered my keynote ‘Woman, Life, Freedom: Honoring Iceland’s Legacy, Standing with Iran’s Future’ before a remarkable audience of thinkers, diplomats, and activists—then was honored to share the stage with Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza and his extraordinary wife, Evgenia. In April 2022, Vladimir was sentenced to 25 years in prison for criticizing the Kremlin. He spent much of the time he was detained in solitary confinement and then a penal colony in Siberia. In 2023, Evgenia and I met when she accepted the Freedom House Award on his behalf, vowing to keep fighting for his release. She kept that promise. Vladimir was freed on August 1, 2024, in a prisoner exchange with the West. When Vladimir spoke of Putin’s Russia as Orwell’s 1984, I couldn’t help but think of Iran under the Islamic Republic. Authoritarians all play from the same rulebook. Our fight is one. The Kara-Murzas’ integrity, intellect, and humility are rare among leaders in today’s world. As Vladimir said, “We must learn to see the human being in one another.” Thanks to Anna Ludvíksdóttir, Director of Amnesty International Iceland, to the Imagine Forum, and to the people of Iceland for your steadfast solidarity with the Iranian people and all who resist tyranny. At a time when glimmers of peace are emerging in some of the world’s most divided regions, gatherings like this reaffirm that courage and conscience can indeed change the course of history. Konur, líf, frelsi. Zan, zendegī, āzādī. Woman, life, freedom. Photos: @arnitorfa
The Paradox of Survival in Iran. The Iranians risking their lives today to call attention to injustice are not asking the world to celebrate violence—but to help bring it to an end. They are asking for your empathy, not your judgement. I hope you’ll read my latest for @time — Link in bio.
The Paradox of Survival in Iran. The Iranians risking their lives today to call attention to injustice are not asking the world to celebrate violence—but to help bring it to an end. They are asking for your empathy, not your judgement. I hope you’ll read my latest for @time — Link in bio.
The Paradox of Survival in Iran. The Iranians risking their lives today to call attention to injustice are not asking the world to celebrate violence—but to help bring it to an end. They are asking for your empathy, not your judgement. I hope you’ll read my latest for @time — Link in bio.
I spoke to Morgunblaðið—Iceland’s leading national newspaper and news website—about the struggle for freedom in Iran, gender apartheid, and more. Here’s a translated excerpt from my three-part interview. The full conversation is available at mbl.is. “I’m here because I recognize that Iceland is a global leader in safeguarding gender equality,” says Boniadi. She referenced Iceland’s historic Women’s Day Off and said Icelanders understand better than most that when women stop, the country stops. Iranian women know that when they rise, they move the nation. “There’s a synergy there that I think explains why Iceland has been a leading voice in calling for justice for Iranian women.” Her hope, she added, is that this solidarity continues—and that Icelanders stand with the Iranian people as a whole, because the words life and freedom belong to all Iranians. “This slogan [Woman, Life, Freedom] has become a call for democracy, reminding us how inseparable women’s rights and democracy truly are. If you were to put an Icelandic and an Iranian woman together, they would have much to talk about—because they both understand that nations regress when women are excluded.”
I spoke to Morgunblaðið—Iceland’s leading national newspaper and news website—about the struggle for freedom in Iran, gender apartheid, and more. Here’s a translated excerpt from my three-part interview. The full conversation is available at mbl.is. “I’m here because I recognize that Iceland is a global leader in safeguarding gender equality,” says Boniadi. She referenced Iceland’s historic Women’s Day Off and said Icelanders understand better than most that when women stop, the country stops. Iranian women know that when they rise, they move the nation. “There’s a synergy there that I think explains why Iceland has been a leading voice in calling for justice for Iranian women.” Her hope, she added, is that this solidarity continues—and that Icelanders stand with the Iranian people as a whole, because the words life and freedom belong to all Iranians. “This slogan [Woman, Life, Freedom] has become a call for democracy, reminding us how inseparable women’s rights and democracy truly are. If you were to put an Icelandic and an Iranian woman together, they would have much to talk about—because they both understand that nations regress when women are excluded.”
In my keynote at Iceland’s Imagine Forum, I shared the voices of three extraordinary survivors — Shahin Abdolghaderi, Yalda Dehghani, and Hasti Hossein Panahi — whose testimonies, gathered by Iran House, bear witness to the Islamic Republic’s unspeakable brutality and the unbreakable courage of its victims. This is a portion of my speech. For the full keynote and discussion, visit my YouTube page @NazaninBoniadi.
For decades, the Islamic Republic has claimed to speak for Iran. Millions are now risking their lives to prove that it does not. The latest credible report of protestors murdered by the regime is at least 12,000 in less than 3 weeks. The international community must act now! My latest for @newstatesman
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
“This is what it means to be human…” We found this message, which we received from a woman in #Tehran this morning, to be powerful. Please read if you have a moment: “We, the people of Iran: We can feel relief at the death of a dictator, and at the same time mourn for the children of Minab, for innocent people, and for the grieving families. We can take hope in the collapse of oppression and in the idea of freedom, and at the same time be terrified of missiles falling over our heads. This is not a contradiction – this is what it means to be human. We can long for freedom, fear war, hope for change, and at the same time grieve for the people who always pay the first and the heaviest price.” «…این تناقض نیست، اسمش انسان بودنه» این پیام را که امروز صبح از زنی در #تهران دریافت کردیم، بسیار تأثیرگذار یافتیم. اگر فرصتی دارید، لطفاً آن را بخوانید: «ما مردم ایران: می تونیم از مردن دیکتاتور خوشحال باشبم و همزمان برای بچه های میناب و مردم بیگناه و خانواده ها عزادار باشیم. می تونیم از فروریختن ظلم و پیروزی و فکر آزادی لذت ببریم و همزمان از فرود امدن موشک رو سرمون بترسیم. این تناقض نیست اسمش انسان بودنه… می تونیم آزادی بخواییم از جنگ بترسیم به تغییر امید داشته باشیم و همزمان سوگوارمردمی باشیم که همیشه اول و بیشترین تاوان و میدن…» #تهران#جنگ_ایران_آمریکا_اسرائیل#ایران #IranUSIsraelWar #iran (Note: I have reposted her messages as she sent them to me – in both Persian and English.)
Iran’s future hangs in the balance. I joined @officialfreedomhouse and my esteemed friends to discuss the risks, prospects, and paths toward freedom for our homeland at this critical moment. Link to the insightful panel—after my opening remarks—in my stories.
Nazanin Boniadi is joining us at the One Young World Summit, Munich 2025 🇩🇪 From acclaimed actor to fearless human rights advocate, returning One Young World Counsellor @nazaninboniadi’s journey is one of courage, conviction, and compassion. Born in Iran and raised in London, Nazanin is using her global platform to amplify the voices of those silenced by injustice. Her powerful advocacy for women’s rights and freedom in Iran has inspired millions around the world, earning her recognition as one of the leading voices for change in her generation. Beyond her celebrated acting career, with roles in Homeland, Hotel Mumbai, and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Nazanin’s work as a human rights defender with @amnesty has emerged as a key global voice for Iran’s “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement. At the Summit, Nazanin will share her insights on resilience, activism, and the power of storytelling to transform society. We are honoured to welcome her to Munich as a One Young World Counsellor. 💙 #OYW25 #Iran #HumanRights #Advocacy
To raise awareness of the history of Iran’s violent suppression of protesters, the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center for Human Rights in Iran has created an interactive map that visualizes protesters’ arbitrary and extrajudicial killings, executions, failed assassination attempts, and death threats used to intimidate and silence them since 1979. Narration by @nazaninboniadi To explore this map, visit the Abdorrahman Boroumand Center’s website at iranights.org. Link in bio. #Iran #iranprotests #womanlifefreedom
In honor of #InternationalWomensDay, I’m sharing the speech I delivered on February 13 at the @frauen.100 dinner during this year’s @munsecconf. It is dedicated to the brave women of Iran, whose courage and resilience remain a driving force in the fight for democracy.
In a conversation recorded just before the recent conflict, we spoke with Nazanin Boniadi, an Iranian-born actress, activist, and granddaughter in mourning, about the timeless wisdom of mothers. Reflecting on her own mother, her late grandmother, and the courageous mothers of Iran, she speaks about the love and resilience that endure even in the darkest times. On International Women’s Day, we honour the strength of women everywhere, especially those whose courage sustains hope in moments of profound loss. 💖 #lessonsfromourmothers #internationalwomensday
