Miniskirts, Headscarves Don't Mix at New Tehran Park
Bloomberg News, November 12, 2008
A woman clad in a red T-shirt plays and Iranian drum in a Tehran park as her teenager daughter dances nearby, her hair flowing in the air. Anywhere else in Iran they would riks being stopped by the police and possibly arrested. Here, in the first female-only park in the Islamic country's capital, a dozen woman in summer garb have gathered on the grass to watch and applaud.

Iran Art Auction Sparks Frenzy for Tanavoli, Moshiri
Bloomberg News, August 22, 2008
For 30 years, Parviz Tanavoli led a quiet life teaching sculpture and holding shows in his native Iran and abroad. That changed in April when his work sold for a record $2.84 million at an auction in Dubai.

Ahmadinejad's Rivals Seek to Keep 'Small Glow' of Reform Alive
Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
Pharmacist Simin Rahimzadeh can't vote for her favorite candidates in tomorrow's Iranian parliamentary elections. They were all disqualified for, among other offenses, a lack of allegiance to Islam.

Iran Inflation Surges on Ahmadinejad Subsidies, Price Controls
Bloomberg News, March 8, 2008
On a deserted Tehran street, an ex-geologist named Reza was Hawking black-market fuel from the back of a battered van -- for about four times the legal price. ``I'm a free-marketeer,'' said Reza.

Iran Sex Changes Gets Mullahs' Money
Bloomberg News, February 5, 2008
Nasser didn't think much of Iran's Islamic regime -- until it paid for him to become a woman. Growing up in the city of Mashhad, Nasser knew he was different from the other boys, sneaking around in his aunts skirts and experimenting with makeup. At age 14, he told his parents he wanted to have a sex change.

War? You Must be Joking
International Herald Tribune, April 4, 2007
An American friend recently forwarded me a chain e-mail. It contained a multimedia slide show of an Iran rarely seen by Western eyes - backed by the gentle sound of Cat Stevens' "Peace Train," photos showed a couple hugging on a park bench, cheerful snowboarders on a slope, a student observing a modern art installation...in short, pictures of mundane life in Tehran rather than bearded faces and burning American flags.

Iran: religion and Love
PBS, Frontline World, February 14, 2006
For Iran's young population, celebrating a solemn religious holiday while also gearing up for the excitement of Valentine's Day created an enthralling cultural dichotomy on the streets of Tehran last week.

Behind the Veil
The Telegraph, January 20, 2006
Mona carefully applies a layer of shockingly pink polish, the aptly named Girl About Town of Mac, to her best friend Tina's nails, while James Blunt's 'You're Beautiful' plays in the background on the Viva satellite music channel. She smiles, the diamond planted in
one of her side teeth sparkling briefly: 'We're ready to go!'

Religion Vs. Reality: Who is this Man?
Newsweek International, December 12, 2005
After Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected president of Iran, he played a Persian version of the American actor Jimmy Stewart in the 1939 movie "Mr. Smith Goes to Hollywood." Like that Hollywood hick, he presented himself as anything but a slick political insider .

Letter From Tehran: Fashionistas 1, Morals Police 0
Newsweek International, July 4, 2005
I've spent more than two thirds of my life in fashionable capitals: Paris, London, New York. For a time I worked on the Champs-Elysees, developing ad campaigns for an international clothes designer. As a 30-year-old Iranian, steeped in haute couture, I'm now back in my home-town of Tehran - looking oddly like a nerd.

Local Iranian Watch US-Iran Dialogue
New York Public Radio, March 10, 2005
Earlier this week, President Bush called on Iran to "stop using murder as a tool of policy and to end all support of terrorism". A spokesman for Iranian foreign ministry replied in the Iranian media that Bush should "stop labelling freedom-seeking nations as terrorists".

Preemptive Rapprochement
Columbia Daily Spectator, April 24, 2003
In his recently published book, The Right Man, former George W. Bush speechwriter David Frum sheds light on the adoption by this administration of a foreign affairs bias based on sheer diplomatic rethoric.

A Marathon a Day
SIPANews, January, 2004
"New York. My dream!" gasps Reza Baluchi, overwhelmed by emotion, to one of his numerous supporters on the cell phone. "I made it! I made it!" he says, his voice shaking as he starts sobbing.

Life After Combat in Iraq
Comuniqué, September 17, 2003
"A soldier is the most holy of all humans," writes John Steinbeck in East of Eden, "because he is the most tested - most tested of all."

Selected work in French

"Laissez moi me faire operer" : Etre transsexuel en Iran
Libération, 12 janvier 2006
Habillée d'une veste rose et perchée sur des bottes en daim qu'elle fait claquer sur le carrelage, Sharareh, 24 ans, entre dans la salle d'attente. Elle virevolte, souleve le foulard qui couvre sa chevelure et fait admirer à l'hotesse son balayage doré.

Iran: Defile Contre Israel et pour le Nucleaire
Libération, 29 octobre 2005
L'avenue Enghelab (l'avenue «révolution») qui longe l'université de Téhéran, où se tient la grande priere du vendredi, est bloquée. Quelques milliers de personnes y sont agglutinées.

Purge Islamique pour les Ecrans Iraniens
Libération, 21 octobre 2005
Kill Bill au cinema, Usual Suspects à la télé et Nora Jones dans les boutiques de disques? Cela existe bel et bien sous la République Islamique d'Iran. Mais plus pour longtemps.

Iran, en Attendant le Retour du Mehdi
Libération, 23 septembre 2005
Chaque année, des milliers de pèlerins viennent célébrer l'anniversaire du dernier imam Chiite à Jamkaran, persuadés qu'il reviendra livrer bataille contre les forces du mal.

Le Nucleaire, Arme de Ralliement en Iran
Libération, 20 septembre 2005
Le nucléaire est populaire en Iran, Et meme si la propagande gouvernementale est réelle, les Iraniens, toutes tendances confondues, ont chacun une idée sur la question.

Deux Francais dans le Temple de la Lutte Libre
Libération, 5 septembre 2005
La salle de lutte est à quelques rues du grand bazar, dans le sud de Téhéran. Chaleur d'enfer et brouhaha continu. Pas une présence féminine parmi les spéctateurs, encore moins sur la piste.

Iran: la Bataille Continue pour les Reformistes
La Presse, 5 juillet 2005
Huit ans après le mouvement de réforme lancé par le président Mohamad Khatami, le beau discours sur la démocratie iranienne semble avoir perdu de sa verve.

Iran: le Second Tour des Elections Demain
La Presse, 23 juin 2005
" Votez pour Akbar! " encouragent les messages qui circulent depuis quelques jours entre les téléphones portables, faisant allusion à Akbar Hachémi Rafsandjani, candidat du second tour de l'élection présidentielle prévu demain.

Porte a Porte: The Gates
Voir, 17 Février, 2005
Samedi 12 Février à Central Park, en plein coeur de New York. Le coup d'envoi est donné.

Combat Poids Plume: National Novel Writing Month
Voir, 16 Décembre, 2004
Un Jeune Californien et ses amis se mettent au défi: écrire un roman en 30 jours. Le "National Novel Writing Month" est né. 42 000 ecrivains s'y sont adonnés cette année.

Foules Sentimentales: "Talk to me"
Voir, 21 Octobre, 2004
A New York deux originaux combattent la solitude et l'anonymat des mégapoles avec une simplicité désarmante.

Noir et Blanc sur Les Iraniennes: Shirin Neshat
La Règle du Jeu, Septembre 2004
Léger bruit de pas derrière la grille. Shirin Neshat apparaît, démarche hâtive, sourire délicieux.