Photo

Portraits of Everyday Life in Iran

Despite rising geopolitical tensions, the lives of most Iranians remain ordinary.
Image may contain Text Human Person and Banner
Simone Tramonte
  • Simone Tramonte
    01
    With the fortieth anniversary of the Iranian Revolution approaching, Italian photographer Simone Tramonte traveled through Iran last summer to capture images of ordinary life—from Tehran to the holy city of Qom, then across the Zagros Mountains to visit the nomadic Qashquai people.
  • Simone Tramonte
    02
    In the years after Ayatollah Khomeini took power in 1979 and declared an Islamic Republic, the country became the United States’ central nemesis in the Middle East.
  • Simone Tramonte
    03
    Recently, the country has been in the news again because of widespread street protests against the regime, raising the possibility of another revolution. Tramonte’s trip to Iran was his attempt to go behind the headlines.
  • Simone Tramonte
    04
    “I wanted to tell the daily life of contemporary Iran, led by the new moderate president, Hassan Rouhani,” Tramonte says. “I’ve always been interested in the ‘closed countries,’ and having the opportunity to be there with the locals allows you to see things in a very different way.”
  • Simone Tramonte
    05
    By traveling on a tourist visa, Tramonte was able to document the country without being monitored by regime officials. This freedom allowed him an extraordinary intimacy with the Iranian people.
  • Simone Tramonte
    06
    Dancing in public in Iran is illegal, but men in Kashan circumvent the rule by dancing by themselves in the desert.
  • Simone Tramonte
    07
    Tramonte noticed that many Iranians live a double life, bifurcated between “the official version of Iranian life promoted by the authorities and the reality of daily life for the Iranian youth who are struggling to find an identity in a rapidly changing and evolving world.”
  • Simone Tramonte
    08
    Images of an Iranian skateboarder, children in shopping carts, or a young couple taking a selfie show ordinary life proceeding in defiance of the geopolitical tensions that dominate CNN and Fox News.
  • Simone Tramonte
    09
    The aspiration to live a normal life, in a normal country, is what is fueling the protests we’re seeing today, Tramonte says. “In Iran there is a great desire of the people to be free. They want to express themselves, and are struggling to find an identity without losing their historical memory.”

Comments

Back to topTriangle
TopicsAMP StoriesPhotography
Read More
Tech Companies Are Complicit in Censoring Iran Protests
Opinion: Google, Twitter, and Signal should take steps to ensure their tools aren’t restricting Iranian’s free speech.
Provoking Iran Could Have Unseen Cyber Consequences
By decertifying the nuclear deal with Iran, President Trump could risk provoking hacks from a country that hasn't focused on US cyberattacks in years.
Iranian Hackers Infiltrated Critical Infrastructure Companies
A new Iran-linked hacking group called APT 34 has been spotted lurking in the networks of financial, energy, telecom, and chemical companies.
Feds Indict Iranian for HBO Hack—Good Luck Arresting Him
Months after tormenting HBO with the release of unaired episodes and Game of Thrones spoilers, the alleged hacker has been indicted.
Inside Bin Laden’s Files: GIFs, Memes, and Mr. Bean
A newly released trove of 470,000 files seized from Osama bin Laden's compound include some internet classics—and links to Iran.
Bill Atkinson, Macintosh Pioneer and Inventor of Hypercard, Dies at 74
Atkinson’s gleeful brilliance helped people draw on computer screens and access information via links.
24 Best Deals on Father's Day Gifts
Get Dad a WIRED-approved weather station, pair of headphones, or treadmill for less.
The Best Backpacking Tents for Getting Away From It All
The right shelter makes all the difference in the backcountry. Here are the best tents we’ve tested and love.
Tech Up Your Sourdough With These Upper-Crust Baking Gadgets
Sourdough bread is one of the most wonderful things you can make with your hands, but it can be fussy and hard to perfect. Now technology takes out most of the pesky guesswork.
Which Samsung Galaxy Phone Should You Buy?
From flagship and budget to flipping and folding, Samsung’s Galaxy range spans the breadth of the smartphone cosmos. WIRED’s here to help you make your choice.
The Best Weighted Blankets
If you’re looking for the sensation of a hug, these weighted blankets—plus weighted robes, eye masks, and more—will snuggle you back.
Everything You Need to Know About MicroSD Express
What is the latest MicroSD iteration, and why does your Nintendo Switch need it?