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Alireza Talakoubnejad

@websterkaroon13,731 subscribers

Iranian-American Muslim interested in contemporary Iranian society, sports, art, and culture. Join my newsletter: https://t.co/2aYqJaob0S

Shorts

Serious damage to a synagogue in Central Tehran after an Israeli or American strike

Serious damage to a synagogue in Central Tehran after an Israeli or American strike

479,715 views

A man posts a Tehran streets showing on one side a gathering of religious Shias mourning for Imam Hussain & next to it a cafe with lots of young women hanging out dressed with sleeveless tops and bare headed. He's captioned it, "Iran is good like this ♥️" Do you agree?

A man posts a Tehran streets showing on one side a gathering of religious Shias mourning for Imam Hussain & next to it a cafe with lots of young women hanging out dressed with sleeveless tops and bare headed. He's captioned it, "Iran is good like this ♥️" Do you agree?

97,372 views

Surreal scene - A child plays on a swing on the beach on the coast of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, while the city burns in the background as a result of American strikes

Surreal scene - A child plays on a swing on the beach on the coast of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan Province, while the city burns in the background as a result of American strikes

129,212 views

Does anyone know what's actually going on here? I would guess this is some Sufi group in Turkey. They're doing a Dervish like dance with pictures of Imam Ali, Ataturk, and Rumi on the wall (and what I think are the 12 Imams above)

Does anyone know what's actually going on here? I would guess this is some Sufi group in Turkey. They're doing a Dervish like dance with pictures of Imam Ali, Ataturk, and Rumi on the wall (and what I think are the 12 Imams above)

251,175 views

Least problematic region on earth

Least problematic region on earth

160,037 views

The current state of the Islamic Republic is quite strange. From a social restrictions perspective, it is utterly incomparable to when I was young or even 5 years ago. This goes far beyond people choosing to mass defy hijab laws - the restrictions against things like mixed dancing, concerts, music festivals, rave like atmospheres, drinking, recreational drugs, and all sorts of out of marriage sexual relationships are dissolved to a unrecognizable very low bar compared to the past. No it's not Turkey or Dubai (yet) and yes people still do get in trouble frequently (particularly businesses who host things - which is why you'll go to high end restaurants where everything is happening and they don't care but they'll immediately stop you if you take a picture out of fear it will go viral). But the cat is out of the bag. In every corner of the country the rules are flagrantly defied. Not just in cute underground parties at some well connected kid's house or some hippies doing drugs in a desert 3 hours from the city - no very much in the open, often advertised on social media, and not hidden at all (both videos are from the last month - the second video is in Shiraz). This was unthinkable just a few years ago. On the other hand the political atmosphere is currently closed at a level I don't remember other than the first few months after the 2009 election. It resembles the Islamic Republic of the late 80s more than what we've seen for most of my life. And from an international relations perspective all caution & restraint are gone and you see the most extremist elements (who ironically were kept in check by the older Khamenei who mistrusted them just as much as he mistrusted liberals) increasingly running the show, eagerly acting in a way that I struggle to describe in anyway other than delusional insanity. The economy is shattered to a level in which even the upper middle class are struggling to make ends meet, let alone the poor who are living through unthinkable conditions. This is a very different Islamic Republic from the "normal" baseline my generation is used to. Quality of life continues to nosedive at a horrendous level. Uncertainty is everywhere. External attacks are no longer a fear but a near daily reality. It is increasingly unclear who (if anyone) is in charge and what direction they are trying to steer the country in. The current situation might last for a bit as a transition state, but it is very difficult to imagine something this unstable, with so many contradictions, and this reckless, being durable. At some point very soon something will have to give. It can't last forever like this.

The current state of the Islamic Republic is quite strange. From a social restrictions perspective, it is utterly incomparable to when I was young or even 5 years ago. This goes far beyond people choosing to mass defy hijab laws - the restrictions against things like mixed dancing, concerts, music festivals, rave like atmospheres, drinking, recreational drugs, and all sorts of out of marriage sexual relationships are dissolved to a unrecognizable very low bar compared to the past. No it's not Turkey or Dubai (yet) and yes people still do get in trouble frequently (particularly businesses who host things - which is why you'll go to high end restaurants where everything is happening and they don't care but they'll immediately stop you if you take a picture out of fear it will go viral). But the cat is out of the bag. In every corner of the country the rules are flagrantly defied. Not just in cute underground parties at some well connected kid's house or some hippies doing drugs in a desert 3 hours from the city - no very much in the open, often advertised on social media, and not hidden at all (both videos are from the last month - the second video is in Shiraz). This was unthinkable just a few years ago. On the other hand the political atmosphere is currently closed at a level I don't remember other than the first few months after the 2009 election. It resembles the Islamic Republic of the late 80s more than what we've seen for most of my life. And from an international relations perspective all caution & restraint are gone and you see the most extremist elements (who ironically were kept in check by the older Khamenei who mistrusted them just as much as he mistrusted liberals) increasingly running the show, eagerly acting in a way that I struggle to describe in anyway other than delusional insanity. The economy is shattered to a level in which even the upper middle class are struggling to make ends meet, let alone the poor who are living through unthinkable conditions. This is a very different Islamic Republic from the "normal" baseline my generation is used to. Quality of life continues to nosedive at a horrendous level. Uncertainty is everywhere. External attacks are no longer a fear but a near daily reality. It is increasingly unclear who (if anyone) is in charge and what direction they are trying to steer the country in. The current situation might last for a bit as a transition state, but it is very difficult to imagine something this unstable, with so many contradictions, and this reckless, being durable. At some point very soon something will have to give. It can't last forever like this.

38,643 views

Team Melli fans in Ahvaz, in southwest Iran, the moment Taremi's shot went in. Notice the sounds of happiness and celebration. Contrary to what a few loud and repulsive voices say online - Team Melli is the people's team with widespread support all over Iran.

Team Melli fans in Ahvaz, in southwest Iran, the moment Taremi's shot went in. Notice the sounds of happiness and celebration. Contrary to what a few loud and repulsive voices say online - Team Melli is the people's team with widespread support all over Iran.

50,795 views

The burned down ruins of a library that was in Elm o Sanat University in Tehran, which was bombed by Israel over the weekend

The burned down ruins of a library that was in Elm o Sanat University in Tehran, which was bombed by Israel over the weekend

67,351 views

Rezaeian stayed on the pitch longer than the other players to give an interview. He got a roaring applause from the fans as he went into the locker room

Rezaeian stayed on the pitch longer than the other players to give an interview. He got a roaring applause from the fans as he went into the locker room

31,755 views

Throwback to a better time when the world was simpler

Throwback to a better time when the world was simpler

64,350 views

No I don't understand why we now have biker gangs in Iran. As I've tried to explain many times, when it comes to Iranians nothing is supposed to make sense. You just go with it.

No I don't understand why we now have biker gangs in Iran. As I've tried to explain many times, when it comes to Iranians nothing is supposed to make sense. You just go with it.

242,518 views

The entire region breathing a sigh of relief

The entire region breathing a sigh of relief

32,548 views

Team Melli fans in Los Angeles cheering the Iranian National Team after the 0-0 tie with Belgium

Team Melli fans in Los Angeles cheering the Iranian National Team after the 0-0 tie with Belgium

17,397 views

Hello world

Hello world

47,972 views

Iran fans gathered for an outdoor watch party of the Iran-Belgium game in the northwestern city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan province

Iran fans gathered for an outdoor watch party of the Iran-Belgium game in the northwestern city of Sanandaj, Kurdistan province

16,410 views

Beautiful Isfahan in the snow 😍

Beautiful Isfahan in the snow 😍

38,962 views

Exclusive footage of Team Melli practicing in Los Angeles for tomorrow's Iran - New Zealand match

Exclusive footage of Team Melli practicing in Los Angeles for tomorrow's Iran - New Zealand match

14,001 views

Narmak neighborhood in Eastern Tehran

Narmak neighborhood in Eastern Tehran

49,625 views

Iran will always remain Iran

Iran will always remain Iran

22,033 views

WNBA star Betnijah Laney has become a local celebrity in the northern city of Gorgan. Her husband, Jordan Hamilton, currently plays for Shardari Gorgan.

WNBA star Betnijah Laney has become a local celebrity in the northern city of Gorgan. Her husband, Jordan Hamilton, currently plays for Shardari Gorgan.

26,983 views

Videos

websterkaroon's profile picture

Adel Ferdowsipour's initial reaction to Iran's elimination: Clouds and wind and moon and sun and fate and the post and offsides all came together so that we were eliminated from the competition. But was our presence in a 48 team World Cup an accomplishment? We've previously said this - no. We have the history of being present in World Cups that Asia had just half a slot. And we went there and were present. Is that we were not able to be one of the 32 qualifying teams and get out of our group considered a defeat? A failure, a defeat, whatever we want to call it? Yes. It would be considered. That we did not establish a clear vision for the continuation of our country's football, that we do not have a young team, in six months the Asian Cup will be held, in four years the World Cup will be held, and we have not established any clear vision ... we've talked about this multiple times ... but there was no one listening. Our team came to these matches as one of the oldest teams and ultimately was eliminated from the competition. Did we have the necessary boldness to advance from our group? In my view - no. Could we have played better? Certainly yes. That we did not with the 4 points that they had repeatedly promised and said we will get at least 4 points and definitely advance and this will happen and that will happen ... is this considered a failure? Yes. But - Let's look at the other side of the issue too. Did we not have bad luck? We had a lot of bad luck! The events that happened, like the Austria - Algeria game was the pinnacle ... meaning the events of the games and things that happened lined up in a way that we ultimately do not advance. That in the last few games every single thing that shouldn't have happened did so one after another so we get eliminated ... did we have any luck in this angle? No. But couldn't we have had our fate in our own hands? Could we have played bolder? That we have drawn with Belgium, in a situation where many small teams have stopped big teams and gotten good results ... should it be considered an accomplishment? I don't know.

Alireza Talakoubnejad

48,538 views • 2 months ago

websterkaroon's profile picture

The current state of the Islamic Republic is quite strange. From a social restrictions perspective, it is utterly incomparable to when I was young or even 5 years ago. This goes far beyond people choosing to mass defy hijab laws - the restrictions against things like mixed dancing, concerts, music festivals, rave like atmospheres, drinking, recreational drugs, and all sorts of out of marriage sexual relationships are dissolved to a unrecognizable very low bar compared to the past. No it's not Turkey or Dubai (yet) and yes people still do get in trouble frequently (particularly businesses who host things - which is why you'll go to high end restaurants where everything is happening and they don't care but they'll immediately stop you if you take a picture out of fear it will go viral). But the cat is out of the bag. In every corner of the country the rules are flagrantly defied. Not just in cute underground parties at some well connected kid's house or some hippies doing drugs in a desert 3 hours from the city - no very much in the open, often advertised on social media, and not hidden at all (both videos are from the last month - the second video is in Shiraz). This was unthinkable just a few years ago. On the other hand the political atmosphere is currently closed at a level I don't remember other than the first few months after the 2009 election. It resembles the Islamic Republic of the late 80s more than what we've seen for most of my life. And from an international relations perspective all caution & restraint are gone and you see the most extremist elements (who ironically were kept in check by the older Khamenei who mistrusted them just as much as he mistrusted liberals) increasingly running the show, eagerly acting in a way that I struggle to describe in anyway other than delusional insanity. The economy is shattered to a level in which even the upper middle class are struggling to make ends meet, let alone the poor who are living through unthinkable conditions. This is a very different Islamic Republic from the "normal" baseline my generation is used to. Quality of life continues to nosedive at a horrendous level. Uncertainty is everywhere. External attacks are no longer a fear but a near daily reality. It is increasingly unclear who (if anyone) is in charge and what direction they are trying to steer the country in. The current situation might last for a bit as a transition state, but it is very difficult to imagine something this unstable, with so many contradictions, and this reckless, being durable. At some point very soon something will have to give. It can't last forever like this.

Alireza Talakoubnejad

38,643 views • 1 month ago