مسعود آذر

Soheil Beiraghi’s film “Bidad,” produced in 2022 amid the Woman, Life, Freedom protests, was made without official production permission and depicts a woman fighting for the right to sing publicly. Because its female actors appeared without compulsory hijab, the film was never expected to receive an Iranian theatrical release. It premiered at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic in 2025, where it won a Special Jury Prize, and was later released on YouTube outside Iran. Beiraghi and several cast and crew members faced convictions from Tehran’s Revolutionary Court, though he said the sentences were suspended. The film has provoked broad debate: supporters praise its courage and protest against censorship, while critics argue that its political significance overshadows its cinematic weaknesses, including explanatory dialogue, underdeveloped character transformation, an overly sloganistic ending and an incomplete or cautious portrayal of Iranian women’s experiences.

The article examines allegations that Mossad has operated inside Iran through covert networks, attacks and direct telephone contact with Iranian officials. Iranian officials and state-aligned media have described calls involving threats, warnings to abandon the government or leave Tehran, and attempts to create fear and division within the Iranian establishment. Javad Owji recounted an alleged call that coincided with explosions on major gas pipelines, while Ali Larijani described similar contacts as an Israeli intimidation effort. Reports vary sharply over the number of officials contacted, from more than 20 to over 2,000. The article also places these claims in the broader history of suspected Israeli operations in Iran, including the killing of nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, and notes how media coverage and fictional portrayals such as the series “Tehran” have reinforced Mossad’s image as an intelligence service capable of reaching sensitive Iranian institutions.

The article examines who appeared and who was absent from Ali Khamenei’s funeral ceremonies, highlighting the political significance of both presence and absence among senior Iranian officials, clerics, military commanders, and members of the Khamenei family. The piece notes months-long disappearances of key security figures following the 40‑day conflict, uncertainty surrounding the health and whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei, and limited visibility of other family members. It reviews the return of several senior IRGC commanders to public view, the absence of former presidents from official ceremonies, and clerical disputes over funeral prayer traditions. The analysis underscores how attendance patterns reflected internal political tensions, security concerns, and differing relationships with the late leader.

Ali Khamenei’s burial in Mashhad took place 132 days after his death during US‑Israeli airstrikes, prompting debate over the extended delay and its religious implications. Iranian authorities did not clarify how his body was preserved, though glass cases suggested temperature control, and officials insisted all procedures followed Islamic rules. Scholars explained that while rapid burial is recommended in Shia jurisprudence, it is not obligatory, especially when security, political conditions or modern investigative needs require delays. Comparisons were drawn with Hassan Nasrallah’s postponed funeral amid the Israel conflict. Experts emphasized that Islamic law sets no fixed limit on burial delays as long as respect for the deceased is maintained, and modern circumstances often necessitate extended intervals between death and burial.

Missile strikes by the United States and Israel on March 9, 2026 destroyed the residence and office complex of Iran’s Supreme Leader, killing Ali Khamenei and several senior figures while leaving many details unclear. Conflicting and delayed accounts from Iranian officials, military commanders, and witnesses describe widespread destruction, a prolonged search-and-rescue effort, and uncertainty over the number of casualties. Testimonies outline inconsistent narratives about the circumstances of Khamenei’s death and the condition of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, whose limited public presence and varying reports on his injuries have fueled ongoing questions. Official statements emphasize his survival and authority, yet no images or recordings have been released. Together, these accounts form the most complete picture currently available of one of the least transparent and most consequential events of the 40‑day war.

Iran’s state TV abruptly cut an interview with chief negotiator and parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, triggering controversy amid heightened internal divisions over recent US-Iran negotiations. Critics accused the broadcaster of censoring segments discussing frozen assets, oil-for-food arrangements and nuclear inspection disputes, while officials attributed the interruption to technical issues. The incident intensified debate among hardliners and moderates over concessions in the Islamabad agreement, fueled further by a leaked letter attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei indicating differing views. Supporters of negotiations, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, argued that the talks had full institutional approval. The focus on Ali Khamenei’s funeral temporarily shifted public attention, but deep political rifts over engagement with the US persist and are expected to re-emerge after the ceremonies.

The cutting of Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf’s prerecorded interview on state television sparked political controversy in Iran, intensifying debate over recent negotiations with the United States. Critics accused state TV of censoring sections related to Iran’s use of frozen assets and details of the Islamabad agreement. The incident coincided with heightened tensions between hardline opponents of negotiations and officials who argue that the talks were authorized through the country’s highest security bodies. A leaked letter attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei deepened disagreements over leadership approval for the deal. While Qalibaf and government allies defended the negotiations, hardline factions framed them as concessions to Washington. The dispute has been partly overshadowed by nationwide ceremonies for Ali Khamenei’s funeral, but divisions over engagement with the US remain unresolved and likely to intensify once the national mourning period ends.