Perspectives of the Iranian Diaspora

As the war between Israel and Iran continues, members of the Iranian diaspora in the Bay Area are closely watching as people in Iran are being asked to evacuate amidst travel bans, fuel shortages and internet blackouts. The United States is home to the largest Iranian diaspora outside of Iran, with over fifty percent of that population living in California. We talk with Iranian community members and leaders in the Bay Area about how these latest events fit in the larger context of the nation’s history, what it all means for the people in Iran, and how members of the diaspora are navigating the situation from afar.

Guests:

Persis Karim, poet, essayist and Director for the Center for Iranian Diaspora Studies, San Francisco State University

Hasti Jafari, playwright, educator

Nahid Siamdoust, journalist; professor of Middle Eastern Studies, University of Texas

Arman Mahmoudi, community organizer, BayArea4Iran

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