Academia and science

• Behnaam Aazhang, J.S. Abercrombie Professor inElectrical and Computer Engineering atRice University
• Kamyar Abdi, archaeologist, former assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology,Dartmouth College
• Alexander Abian, mathematician,Iowa State University
• Mohammad Javad Abdolmohammadi, John E. Rhodes Professor of Accounting atBentley University since 1988.
• Mahyar Amouzegar, President ofNew Mexico Tech, author
• Ervand Abrahamian, historian of Middle Eastern (particularly Iranian) history atCity University of New York
• Janet Afary, author, feminist activist, and professor of Religious Studies at theUniversity of California, Santa Barbara.
• Gholam Reza Afkhami, senior scholar and director of Social Science Research and International Studies at theFoundation for Iranian Studies
• Shahriar Afshar, physicist and inventor who is the namesake of theAfshar experiment
• Ehsan Afshari, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at theUniversity of Michigan, co-founder of LassenPeak and AirVine.
• Newsha Ajami, hydrologist specializing in urban water policy and sustainable water management; professor and director of urban water policy program atStanford University
• Abass Alavi, professor of radiology, nuclear medicine and neurology at theUniversity of Pennsylvania^[1]
• Leonardo Alishan, professor of Persian and comparative literature at theUniversity of Utah (1978–1997)
• Abbas Alizadeh, archeologist of ancient Iran; former Senior Research Associate and director of the Iranian Prehistoric Project at theUniversity of Chicago
• Abbas Amanat, William Graham Sumner Professor of History & International Studies atYale University and director of Yale Program In Iranian Studies.
• Amir Amini, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Endowed Chair in Bioimaging atUniversity of Louisville.
• Hooshang Amirahmadi, academic and political analyst. Professor of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy atRutgers University
• Nahid Angha,Sufi scholar, Co-director and co-founder of theInternational Association of Sufism (IAS), founder of the International Sufi Women Organization, and executive editor of the journalSufism: An Inquiry
• Anousheh Ansari, first Iranian in space and the first femalespace tourist;
• Nima Arkani-Hamed,theoretical physicist and professor at theInstitute for Advanced Study inPrinceton, New Jersey
• Abbas Ardehali, surgical director ofUCLA's Heart and Lung Transplant program
• Saïd Amir Arjomand, professor ofsociology atStony Brook University, and director of the Stony Brook Institute of Global Studies. Founding editor of theJournal of Persianate Studies
• Yahya Armajani, professor of history and soccer coach atMacalester College
• Reza Aslan, scholar of religious studies, television host, and author ofNo God but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam andZealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth. Currently a professor ofcreative writing atUniversity of California, Riverside. Board member of theNational Iranian American Council (NIAC)
• Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, structural engineer and professor atUniversity of California, Berkeley; investigated the collapse of theWorld Trade Center towers due to theSeptember 11 attacks
• Fakhreddin Azimi, professor of history at theUniversity of Connecticut
• Elham Azizi, associate professor of biomedical engineering and cancer data research atColumbia University
• Babak Azizzadeh, facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon,Keck School of Medicine of USC
• Sussan Babaie, art historian and curator, specialist inPersian art andIslamic art of the early modern period.especially theSafavid dynasty
• Shaul Bakhash, historian, expert in Iranian studies,George Mason University, Clarence J. Robinson Professor of History
• Laleh Bakhtiar, author and translator of 25 books about Islam, many of which deal withSufism. She was best known for her 2007 translation of theQur'an, known asThe Sublime Quran,
• Mehrsa Baradaran, law professor specializing inbanking law atUniversity of Georgia
• Iraj Bashiri, professor ofhistory at theUniversity of Minnesota specialist in the fields ofCentral Asian studies andIranian studies
• Asef Bayat, professor of sociology and Middle Eastern studies at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
• Manuel Berberian, earth scientist, specializing inearthquake seismology,geophysics,archaeoseismology, andenvironmental geoscience
• Mina Bissell, scientist and biologist known for research onbreast cancer; former head of life science at theLawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
• George Bournoutian, historian, professor of History atIona College, and author of over 30 books on the history of Armenia, Iran, and the Caucasus
• Jennifer Tour Chayes, mathematical physicist & theoretical computer scientist, and world renowned leading expert on the modeling & analysis of dynamically growing graphs. Founder, Technical Fellow, & Managing Director ofMicrosoft Research New England & Microsoft Research New York
• Houchang Chehabi, historian, expert in Iranian studies at theFrederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies,Boston University, where he is professor ofinternational relations andhistory
• Aaron Cohen-Gadol, internationally renownedneurosurgeon specializing in surgical treatment ofbrain tumors andaneurysms
• Hamid Dabashi, professor ofIranian studies andcomparative literature atColumbia University in New York City^[2]
• Jaleh Daie, scientist, former professor ofbiology and department chairs at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison andRutgers University
• Richard Danielpour, professor of composition,Manhattan School of Music
• Touraj Daryaee, Iranologist and historian at theUniversity of California, Irvine
• Armen Der Kiureghian, professor of civil engineering atUniversity of California, Berkeley, member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering, current president of theAmerican University of Armenia
• Sibel Edmonds, former translator who worked as a contractor for theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); founder of theNational Security Whistleblowers Coalition (NSWBC)
• Azita Emami, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering atCaltech; Executive Officer of the Department of Electrical Engineering atCaltech
• Nader Engheta, H. Nedwill Ramsey Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering at theUniversity of Pennsylvania. He has made pioneering contributions to the fields ofmetamaterials,transformation andplasmonic optics,nano- andgraphene photonics,nano- and miniature antennas, and bio-inspired optical imaging, among many others
• Dara Entekhabi, Bacardi and Stockholm Water Foundations Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric & Planetary Sciences atMIT. His main expertise is in the field ofhydrology.
• Haleh Esfandiari, Middle East scholar and former director of the Middle East Program at theWoodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. She is an expert on contemporary Iranian intellectual currents and politics, as well as women's issues and democratic developments in theMiddle East. She was one of the fourIranian-Americans falsely convicted and detained by the Iranian government in May 2007.
• Kamran Eshraghian, electrical engineer, notable for his work onVLSI andCMOSVLSI design
• Fariba Fahroo, mathematician, program manager at theAir Force Office of Scientific Research. Along withI. M. Ross, she has published papers inpseudospectral optimal control theory. TheRoss–Fahroo lemma and theRoss–Fahroo pseudospectral method are named after her
• Fereydoon Family, physicist in the field of nanotechnology and solid-state physics. He is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Physics atEmory University
• Allah Verdi Mirza Farman Farmaian, professor and head of Biology department atRutgers University
• Sattareh Farmanfarmaian, founder and director of the Tehran School of Social Work. Co-founder of the Family Planning Association of Iran, and former vice-president of theInternational Planned Parenthood Federation
• Alimorad Farshchian, medical doctor, medical author, and founder and director of The Center of Regenerative Medicine inMiami, Florida
• Nariman Farvardin, president ofStevens Institute of Technology, and formerprovost ofUniversity of Maryland
• Bobak Ferdowsi, systems engineer at NASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory; served on theCassini–Huygens andMars Science LaboratoryCuriosity mission.
• Alexander L. George (born Alexander L. Givargis), behavioral scientist specialist in the psychological effects of nuclear crisis management, Graham H. Stuart Professor of Political Science Emeritus atStanford University
• Mohammadreza Ghadiri,chemist and professor ofchemistry atThe Scripps Research Institute. Awarded theFeynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 1998
• Roozbeh Ghaffari, inventor, bioelectronics entrepreneur, biomedical engineering research faculty atNorthwestern University^[3]
• Zoubin Ghahramani, Professor of Information Engineering at theUniversity of Cambridge
• Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, professor of religion atReed College, and author ofA History of Islam in America andCompeting Visions of Islam in the United States.
• M.R. Ghanoonparvar, professor emeritus of Persian and comparative literature at the faculty ofMiddle Eastern studies at theUniversity of Texas, Austin
• Morteza Gharib, Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bio-Inspired Engineering atCaltech.
• Jamshid Gharajedaghi, organizational theorist, management consultant, & adjunct professor of Systems thinking atVillanova University.
• John Ghazvinian, author, historian and former journalist. Associate Director of the Middle East Center at theUniversity of Pennsylvania.
• Doreen Granpeesheh, clinical psychologist, producer of the documentaryRecovered: Journeys Through the Autism Spectrum and Back.
• Vartan Gregorian, president of TheCarnegie Corporation of New York^[4] and formerpresident ofBrown University
• Mohammad Hajiaghayi, computer scientist known for his work inalgorithms,game theory,network design, andbig data. Jack and Rita G. Minker professor at theUniversity of Maryland Dept. of Computer Science.
• Ali Hajimiri, inventor, technologist, and Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering atCaltech. Fellow of theNational Academy of Inventors (NAI)
• Reza Hamzaee, economist and BOG-Distinguished Professor ofEconomics atMissouri Western State University. Specialist inbanking andmanagerial economics
• Babak Hassibi, electrical engineer, the inaugural Mose and Lillian S. Bohn Professor ofElectrical Engineering. Specialist in communications, signal processing and control.
• Payam Heydari, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science,University of California, Irvine^[5]
• Shireen Hunter, Research Professor at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding atGeorgetown University.
• Ali Jadbabaie, systems theorist, network scientist, and the JR East Professor of Engineering atMassachusetts Institute of Technology
• Ali Jafari, professor of Computer and Information Technology atPurdue University, director of the CyberLab atIndiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI)
• Hamid Jafarkhani, leading communication theorist and chancellor's professor of electrical engineering and computer science at theUniversity of California, Irvine^[6]
• Ramin Jahanbegloo, philosopher atUniversity of Toronto
• Eiman Jahangir, cardiologist atVanderbilt University; first Iranian male astronaut^[7]
• Farnam Jahanian, computer scientist and the 10th president ofCarnegie Mellon University
• Ali Javan, physicist, inventor ofgas laser; Professor Emeritus of Physics atMIT
• Hassan Jawahery, physicist, former spokesman of theBaBar Collaboration, and professor ofphysics at theUniversity of Maryland
• Majd Kamalmaz, psychotherapist who has been illegally detained in Syria since 2017
• Sepandar Kamvar, computer scientist,Stanford University
• Mehran Kardar, physicist and professor of physics atMIT,^[8] and co-faculty at theNew England Complex Systems Institute
• Morvarid Karimi, neurologist and medical researcher, specialist in neuroimaging of thepathophysiology of movement disorders. She was an assistant professor ofNeurology in theMovement Disorders Section atWashington University School of Medicine inSt. Louis, Missouri
• Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Iranist, scholar of modern Persian literature, and professor and founding director of the Roshan Center for Persian Studies at theUniversity of Maryland^[9]
• Elham Kazemi,mathematics educator andeducational psychologist; Geda and Phil Condit Professor in Math and Science Education in the College of Education of theUniversity of Washington
• Firuz Kazemzadeh, historian of Russian and Iranian history, and professor emeritus of history atYale University.
• Homayoon Kazerooni, roboticist & professor ofmechanical engineering at theUniversity of California, Berkeley;^[10] director of theBerkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory
• Fatemeh Keshavarz, scholar ofRumi andFarsi language & poetry, and poet in Persian and English; Director & Chair of Roshan Institute for Persian Studies at theUniversity of Maryland. Previously, was a professor ofPersian Language andComparative Literature atWashington University in St. Louis
• Ali Khademhosseini, Levi Knight Endowed Professor at theUniversity of California-Los Angeles. Holds a professorship in bioengineering, radiology, chemical, and biomolecular engineering.
• Laleh Khalili, professor of Middle Eastern Politics at theSchool of Oriental and African Studies at theUniversity of London. She also writes regularly forIranian.com
• Farid Khavari, economist, specialist in economics, environment, oil, healthcare, & the Middle East.
• Samira Kiani, Health Systems Engineer atArizona State University. Her work combinesCRISPR technology with synthetic biology. A 2019AAAS Leshner Fellow.
• Alexander Kostellow, teacher, industrial designer, who developed the industrial design academic programs ofCarnegie Institute of Technology andPratt Institute
• Farinaz Koushanfar, professor and Henry Booker Faculty Scholar of Electrical and Computer Engineering at theUniversity of California, San Diego
• Habib Levy, historian, specialist in thehistory of Jews in Iran; author ofComprehensive History of the Jews of Iran: The Outset of the Diaspora.
• Esfandiar Maasoumi,econometrician andeconomist. Distinguished Professor atEmory University and a fellow of theRoyal Statistical Society
• Mohammad Jafar Mahjoub, prominent Iranian scholar ofPersian literature, essayist, translator, and professor. Moved to the U.S. in 1991 and taught at theUniversity of California, Berkeley
• Hoooman Majd, journalist, author, and commentator
• G. A. Mansoori, professor of chemical engineering atUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
• Alireza Mashaghi, biophysicist and medical scientist atLeiden University andHarvard University
• Bahram Mashhoon,general relativity physicist and professor ofphysics at theUniversity of Missouri. Through his research works, he has given important contributions togeneral relativity, particularly to thegravitomagnetic clock effect. He is also active in the field of non-localgravity
• Rashid Massumi,cardiologist and clinical professor, best known for his pioneering research in the field ofelectrophysiology. He was also known for bringing modern cardiology to Iran, and for being the cardiologist to the lastShah of Iran and, until 1980,Ayatollah Khomeini
• Noah McKay (born Nasser Talebzadeh Ordoubadi), physician and author ofWellness at Warp Speed
• Robert Mehrabian, material scientist, former president ofCarnegie Mellon University, and Chair, President, and CEO ofTeledyne Technologies
• Houra Merrikh, microbiologist and a full professor at Vanderbilt University
• Abbas Milani, director ofIranian Studies Program atStanford University; research fellow & co-director of the "Iran Democracy Project" at Stanford'sHoover Institution
• Farzaneh Milani, professor of Persian Literature and Women's Studies at theUniversity of Virginia, and the Chair of the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures.
• Mohsen Milani, foreign policy analyst, professor of politics at theUniversity of South Florida
• Abbas Mirakhor, economist; former executive director and dean of board of theInternational Monetary Fund (INF); distinguished scholar and chair in Islamic finance at Malaysia'sINCEIF (International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance)
• Maryam Mirzakhani, Stanford University Professor; first female winner of theFields Medal
• Afshin Molavi, author and expert on global geo-political risk and geo-economics, particularly the Middle East and Asia.
• Jasmin Moghbeli,NASA astronaut candidate of the class of 2017
• Mehryar Mohri, professor ofcomputer science at theCourant Institute of Mathematical Sciences atNew York University. Specialist inmachine learning,automata theory and algorithms,speech recognition andnatural language processing
• Parviz Moin,fluid dynamicist, professor ofmechanical engineering atStanford University. 2011 inductee to theUnited States National Academy of Sciences
• Mohsen Mostafavi, architect and educator,Dean and Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor at theHarvard Graduate School of Design^[11]
• Farzad Mostashari,internal medicine physician, former national coordinator for health information technology atU.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Hossein Khan Motamed, surgeon, founder of the Motamed Hospital inTehran, Iran, and personal physician ofMohammad Reza Shah.
• Negar Mottahedeh, cultural critic and film theorist
• Roy Mottahedeh, Gurney Professor of History, Emeritus atHarvard University, specialist in pre-modern social and intellectual history of the Islamic Middle East. Former director of Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies (1987–1990), and inaugural director of Harvard's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program (2005–2011)
• Hamid Mowlana, professor emeritus of international relations and founding director of the Division of International Communication at theSchool of International Service atAmerican University.^[12] In 2003, he was honored as an"Chehrehaye Mandegar" (Eternal One) by Iranian universities and academies.
• Eden Naby, Iranian-Assyrian culturalhistorian ofCentral Asia and theMiddle East, who is notable for her publications, research, and preservation work onAssyrian culture and history
• Firouz Naderi, formerNASA director ofMars project.^[13] Has also served in other various technical and executive positions at NASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory.
• Hamid Naficy, cholar of cultural studies ofdiaspora, exile, & postcolonial cinemas and media, and ofIranian &Middle Eastern cinemas. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in Communication atNorthwestern University .
• Paul M. Naghdi, professor ofmechanical engineering at theUniversity of California, Berkeley. Specialist incontinuum mechanics
• Majid M. Naini (مجید ناینی),Rumi scholar, computer scientist, former professor atUniversity of Pennsylvania, writer on poetry, science, technology, and mysticism^[14]
• Kayvan Najarian, associate professor of computer science,Virginia Commonwealth University
• Seyyed Hossein Nasr, professor of Islamic studies atGeorge Washington University; prominent Islamic philosopher
• Vali Reza Nasr, author and scholar on the Middle East andIslamic world; Served as Dean of theJohns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) inWashington D.C.
• Angella Nazarian (née Angella Maddahi), former professor of psychology atMount St. Mary's University,California State University, Long Beach & theLos Angeles Valley College. Co-founder of Looking Beyond
• Sharon Nazarian, founder of theYounes and Soraya Israel Studies Center at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles
• Camran Nezhat,laparoscopic surgeon and director of Stanford Endoscopy Center for Training & Technology,Stanford University
• Kathy Niakan, human developmental and stem cell biologist. In 2016, she became the first scientist in the world to gain regulatory approval to edit the genomes of human embryos for research.
• Reza Olfati-Saber,roboticist andassistant professor of engineering atDartmouth College
• Kaveh Pahlavan, professor of computer and electrical engineering, professor of computer science, and director of theCenter for Wireless Information Network Studies (CWINS) at theWorcester Polytechnic Institute
• Firouz Partovi, physicist; founder and former chairman of the Faculty of Physics at theSharif University of Technology. Has also taught atMIT andHarvard University.
• Massoud Pedram, computer engineer known for his research ingreen computing,power optimization (EDA),low power electronics and design, andelectronic design automation.
• Gholam A. Peyman,ophthalmologist, retina surgeon, and inventor ofLASIK eye surgery
• Nader Pourmand, professor of biomolecular engineering at theBaskin School of Engineering
• Ali R. Rabi, scholar at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management atUniversity of Maryland, College Park; founding chair of the Middle Eastern Citizens Assembly; Initiated the International University of Iran in 2001.
• Samuel Rahbar, biomedical scientist, discovered the linkage betweenHbA1C anddiabetes
• Hazhir Rahmandad, engineer and expert in dynamic modeling and system dynamics. Associate Professor in the System Dynamics group at theMIT Sloan School of Management.
• Yahya Rahmat-Samii, professor and the Northrop Grumman Chair in Electromagnetics at Electrical Engineering Department atUCLA
• Behzad Razavi, professor ofelectrical engineering and director of the Communications Circuit Laboratory at theUniversity of California, Los Angeles.y
• Manijeh Razeghi, Walter P. Murphy Professor & Director of the Center for Quantum Devices atNorthwestern University, pioneer insemiconductors andoptoelectronic devices.
• Zabihollah Rezaee, accountant, Thompson-Hill Chair of Excellence and professor of accounting at theUniversity of Memphis
• Sakineh (Simin) M. Redjali, psychologist and author; first female professor at theNational University of Iran
• Darius Rejali, professor ofpolitical science atReed College and scholar specialized in the study oftorture; has served on the board of theHuman Rights Review since 2000.
• Nouriel Roubini, economist; economics professor at theStern School of Business,New York University
• Pardis Sabeti, computational geneticist, Assistant Professor, Center for Systems Biology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology,Harvard University
• Ahmad Sadri, sociologist and professor ofsociology andanthropology atLake Forest College, and the James P. Gorter Professor ofIslamic World Studies since 2007. Active in thereform movement in Iran.
• Mahmoud Sadri, professor ofsociology at the Federation ofNorth Texas Area Universities. His major interests are in religious, cultural & theoretical sociology, reform Islam and interfaith dialogue.
• Omid Safi, professor of Asian and Middle Eastern studies atDuke University, director of theDuke Islamic Studies Center, and columnist forOn Being. Scholar of Islamic mysticism (Sufism)
• Mehran Sahami, professor and the Associate Chair for Education in the Computer Science department atStanford University. Robert and Ruth Halperin University Fellow in Undergraduate Education at Stanford.
• Muhammad Sahimi, Professor of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and current NIOC chair inpetroleum engineering atUSC
• Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, professor of Economics atVirginia Tech, and visiting fellow at theMiddle East Youth Initiative at the Wolfensohn Center for Development at theBrookings Institution. His expertise is on demographic & energy economics and the economics of Iran & the larger Middle East
• David B. Samadi, vice chairman of the Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at theIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai^[15]
• Eliz Sanasarian, professor ofpolitical science at theUniversity of Southern California. Specialist ethnic politics andfeminism, particularly regarding theMiddle East andIran
• Kamal Sarabandi, professor of Engineering at theUniversity of Michigan
• Homayoun Seraji, Senior Research Scientist atNASA'sJet Propulsion Laboratory andCaltech, former professor atSharif University of Technology. Works in the field ofrobotics and space exploration.^[16]
• Cyrus Shahabi, chair of the Computer Science Department,University of Southern California
• Mohammad Shahidehpour, Carl Bodine Distinguished Professor and chairman in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department atIllinois Institute of Technology
• Ghavam Shahidi, electrical engineer and IBM Fellow, Director of Silicon Technology at IBM's Watson's Laboratory
• Alireza Shapour Shahbazi, lecturer in Achaemenid archeology and Iranology atHarvard University, full professor of history inEastern Oregon University
• Manuchehr Shahrokhi, professor of Global Business-Finance atCalifornia State University;^[17] Founding Editor ofGlobal Finance Journal; Executive Director of Global Finance Association^[18]
• Fatemeh Shams, contemporary Persian poet, and assistant professor of Persian literature at theUniversity of Pennsylvania
• Shahrokh Shariat, urologist; professor & chairman of the Department of Urology of theMedical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; adjunct professor of urology & medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medical Center & at theUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
• Nasser Sharify, distinguished professor and dean emeritus of the School of Information and Library Science atPratt Institute
• M. Rahim Shayegan, Professor of Iranian atUCLA
• Siamack A. Shirazi, scientist, professor and graduate coordinator of theMechanical Engineering department at theUniversity of Tulsa.
• Hamid Shirvani, Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of architecture and Urban Design, Internationally renowned scholar, former president ofCalifornia State University, former chancellor ofNorth Dakota University System
• Rahmat Shoureshi, former president ofPortland State University; former president, Provost & professor atNew York Institute of Technology
• Sam Sofer, scientist who specializes in biological processes and bioreactor design
• Saba Soomekh, professor of religious studies, women's studies, and Middle Eastern history atUCLA andLoyola Marymount University. Author of books and articles on contemporary and historicalIranian Jewish culture
• Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh, university lecturer atSciences Po, researcher, andUnited Nations consultant inpeacekeeping,conflict resolution,counter-terrorism andradicalization. Best known for her work in "Human Security"
• Kian Tajbakhsh, social scientist, urban planner, and professor ofurban planning atColumbia University. One of the fourIranian-Americans falsely convicted and detained by theIranian government in May 2007
• Ray Takeyh, Middle East scholar and Senior Fellow at theCouncil on Foreign Relations
• Kamran Talattof, Persian literature and Iranian culture; director of Persian ProgramUniversity of Arizona
• Vahid Tarokh, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Bass Connections Professor, a professor of mathematics (secondary), and computer science (secondary) atDuke University
• Nader Tehrani, designer, Dean of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture atCooper Union, and former professor ofarchitecture and department chair at theMIT School of Architecture and Planning.
• Cumrun Vafa,string theorist and Donner Professor of Science atHarvard University. Recipient of the 2008Dirac Medal and the 2016Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
• Saba Valadkhan, biomedical scientist, assistant professor andRNA researcher atCase Western Reserve University, recipient of Young Scientist Award in 2005 for the mechanism ofspliceosomes
• Roxanne Varzi, associate professor ofanthropology andfilm andmedia studies at theUniversity of California, Irvine, documentary filmmaker, and writer
• Ehsan Yarshater, founder and editor in chief ofEncyclopaedia Iranica, first full-time professor at a U.S. university since World War II; Hagop Kevorkian Professor Emeritus of Iranian Studies; director of the Center for Iranian Studies,Columbia University;^[19][20]
• Hajar Yazdiha, assistant professor of sociology at theUniversity of Southern California
• Mohammad Yeganeh, economist, former Governor of theCentral Bank of Iran (1973–1975), a professor of economics atColumbia University (1980–1985)
• Houman Younessi, researcher and educator ininformatics,computer science, andmolecular biology. Former research professor at theUniversity of Connecticut
• Lotfi A. Zadeh, mathematician, computer scientist, and a professor emeritus of computer science at theUniversity of California, Berkeley; father offuzzy logic andfuzzy sets
• Norm Zada, former adjunct mathematics professor, and founder ofPerfect 10; son ofLotfi A. Zadeh
• Reza Zadeh, computer scientist atStanford University
• Iraj Zandi, emeritus professor of systems,University of Pennsylvania
• Mark Zandi, chief economist ofMoody's Analytics,
• Esmail Zanjani, department chair of Department of Animal Biotechnology atUniversity of Nevada, Reno. President of theInternational Society for Experimental Hematology

Arts and entertainment

• Colet Abedi, television producer and writer
• Omid Abtahi, actor
• Reza Abdoh, director and playwright known for large-scale, experimental theatrical productions
• Hessam Abrishami, artist whose works have been exhibited internationally
• Golnar Adili, multidisciplinary artist based inBrooklyn, New York. Much of her works are influenced by her childhood growing up in post-revolutionaryTehran and issues of displacement
• Desiree Akhavan, film director, producer, screenwriter and actress
• Ray Aghayan, fashion designer and costume designer for the American film industry
• Shohreh Aghdashloo, film and television actress;^[21] one of Iran's leading actresses prior to the 1979 revolution. known in the United States for her role inHouse of Sand and Fog (2003).
• Dan Ahdoot, stand-up comedian and actor^[22]
• Jonathan Ahdout, actor best known for his role inHouse of Sand and Fog (2003)^[23][24]
• Shiva Ahmadi, multidisciplinary artist whose works borrow from Persian artistic traditions to critically examine contemporary political tensions and social issues
• Mohammad Alavi, video-game developer, best known for his work on theCall of Duty series
• Khalik Allah, filmmaker, photographer, and author. (Iranian father.)
• Morehshin Allahyari, media artist, activist, and educator.^[25] Her work questions current political, socio-cultural, andgender norms while exploring the relationship between technology and art activism. Best known for her workMaterial Speculation: ISIS (2016), which is a series of 3D-printed sculptural reconstructions of ancient artifacts destroyed byISIS
• Mark Amin, film producer, distributor, writer, and businessman. Founder ofTrimark Pictures (formerlyVidmark Entertainment)
• Max Amini, standup comedian and actor
• Ana Lily Amirpour, film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor
• Mahyar Amouzegar, author
• Pegah Anvarian, fashion designer and creative director of Three Dots
• Ali Ardekani, also known asBaba Ali; game developer, film developer, and Islamic comedian^[26]
• Siah Armajani, architect and sculptor known for his public art
• Tala Ashe, actress
• Kami Asgar, supervising sound editor for films and television
• Aram Avakian, director, film editor
• Rasoul Azadani, animator, lighting designer, and layout artist. Best known for his work atWalt Disney Animation Studios.
• Shoja Azari, visual artist and filmmaker based in New York City. Best known for films such asWomen Without Men (2009),Windows (2006), andK (2002)
• Ashurbanipal Babilla, actor, theatre director, playwright and visual artist
• Ramin Bahrani, film director and screenwriter, most notable for his filmChop Shop. Professor of film directing atColumbia University's Graduate Film Program
• Mercedes Bass, socialite and arts philanthropist. On the executive boards of theCarnegie Hall Corporation, theMetropolitan Opera in New York City, theAspen School of Music andAspen Institute inAspen, Colorado, theFort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and theAmerican Academy in Rome
• Zal Batmanglij, film director and screenwriter. Creator and showrunner of theNetflix seriesThe OA
• Ali Banisadr, artist
• Reza Badiyi, film and television director
• Catherine Bell, actress
• Le Roy Benjamin, sculptor, andmarionettepuppeteer and voice impersonator for thevaudeville and television actLe Roy Brothers Marionettes (1939–1955), one of the most celebrated and requested vaudeville acts in America at the time. Father is Iranian.
• Issa Benyamin, Iranian-Assyriancalligrapher and educator
• Bahram Beyzai, filmmaker, playwright, theater director, screenwriter, andOstād (Grandmaster) of Persian letters, arts andIranian studies. Considered the pioneer of theIranian New Wave of cinema.
• Bijan, designer of menswear and fragrances. His exclusiveboutique onRodeo Drive inBeverly Hills has been described as "the most expensive store in the world"
• Nadia Bjorlin, TV and soap opera actress,^[27] singer, and model
• Nazanin Boniadi, television and film actress, and human right defender
• Buket, prominentLos Angelesgraffiti artist
• Henri Charr, Iranian-Assyrian filmmaker
• Shaghayegh Cyrous, artist and curator based inSan Francisco. Known for social practice art, video installations and street art.
• Dar Dash, actor, voice actor
• David Dastmalchian, film and theater actor, best known for his role as Kurt in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsAnt-Man (2015) andAnt-Man and the Wasp (2018)
• Sumbat Der Kiureghian, 20th century watercolor artist
• David Diaan, actor, screenwriter, producer, and entrepreneur
• Lucas and Marcus Dobre-Mofid, also known asThe Dobre Twins. Dancing duo andYouTube personalities who rose to prominence on the now-defunctVine video app
• Ala Ebtekar, contemporary visual artist
• Melody Ehsani, fashion designer
• Robert Ekhart, film actor, film director, and editor-in-chief of former Iran-basedSetare Cinema magazine
• Nabil Elderkin, also known by Nabil; film and music video director and photographer, who has directed music videos forKanye West,Frank Ocean,John Legend, andFoals
• Dayyan Eng, award-winning feature film writer, director, and producer.
• Eman Esfandi, actor
• Tanaz Eshaghian, documentary filmmaker
• Ali Farahnakian, actor, writer, andimprov comedian. Founder ofThe Peoples Improv Theater (The Pit) in New York City and co-starred theAdult Swim comedy seriesDelocated
• Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, artist and collector of traditional folk art. The Monir Museum in Tehran was opened in her honor in 2017.
• Parisa Fakhri, actress and voice actress, most notable for her role asArisa Uotani inFruits Basket
• Behnaz Farahi, architect best known for her designs of interactive wearables and installations
• Negin Farsad, comedian, actress, filmmaker, and writer
• Hossein Fatemi, photojournalist
• Mimi Fayazi, fashion designer
• Reza Fazeli, actor, film director, and opposition figure against the government of theIslamic Republic of Iran
• Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, artist, activist, and freelance illustrator. She is best known for her poster campaign "Stop Telling Women to Smile,"
• JoJo Fletcher, contestant on thetwentieth season ofABC'sThe Bachelor and as the lead on thetwelfth season ofThe Bachelorette. Iranian mother.
• Hamid Gabbay, architect. Prior to the 1979 revolution, he was a prolific architect throughout Iran. Since his immigration to the United States, has worked inBeverly Hills, California
• Troy Gentile (born Troy Francis Farshi), actor, best known for his role as Mark inHotel for Dogs and Barry Goldberg in the sitcomThe Goldbergs
• Siamak Ghahremani, founder ofNoor Iranian Film Festival, radio host
• Vida Ghahremani, actress, proprietor of Monde Cafe and Cuccini Dance Club in L.A. along with her husband, David Yeghiazarian.
• Tina Gharavi,BAFTA-nominated film/TV director and screenwriter
• Tehran Von Ghasri, best known by his stage nameTehran; standup comedian and actor
• Gabriel Guevrekian, architect of buildings, interiors and gardens. Taught architecture at theUniversity of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
• Nahid Hagigat, illustrator and painter
• Taraneh Hemami, visual artist and arts educator. Utilizes multidisciplinary projects to address complex cultural politics of the exile of theIranian diaspora.
• Kambiz Hosseini, actor,political satirist, and television/radio host. Host ofPoletik, a satirical news program that airs onRadio Farda. Created and hostedParazit onVoice of America - Persian (2009–2012).
• Sheree Hovsepian, photographer and collage artist.
• Albert and Allen Hughes (twins), film directors and producers. Most notable forMenace II Society andThe Book of Eli. Iranian mother
• Reza Beyk Imanverdi, actor and director popular during the 1960s and 1970s in Iran
• Pouran Jinchi, contemporary artist known for her abstract, calligraphy-based visual art
• Maz Jobrani, standup comedian and actor
• JonTron (Jonathan "Jon" Aryan Jafari), comedian,YouTuber, video game critic
• Joone, photographer, director, and producer of adult films
• Pirooz Kalayeh, film director, screenwriter, and writer
• Tara Kamangar, classicalpianist andcomposer
• Y.Z. Kami, artist, known for creating large-scaled oil-based paintings
• Martik Kanian, singer and songwriter
• Cyrus Kar, film director^[28]
• Bavand Karim, multi-media artist and filmmaker
• Reza Karimi, painter, whose oil-based paintings reflect the political turbulence of Iran, such as the trial ofMossadegh and the treatment of women inIran
• Saman Kesh, filmmaker andmusic video director and producer. He is best known for his music videos forCalvin Harris,Ed Sheeran,Deus,Basement Jaxx, and!!!, among many others
• Maryam Keshavarz, filmmaker best known for her 2011 filmCircumstance
• Andre Khabbazi, television andsoap opera actor, semi-professional tennis player
• Mehran Khaghani,standup comedian, comedy director and comedy event producer based inBoston, Massachusetts
• Marco Khanlian, film and television actor, stunt performer
• Nahnatchka Khan, screenwriter and producer.^[29] Creator and showrunner ofABC'sFresh Off the Boat
• Kamran Khavarani, award-winning architect and painter. Pioneer of the "Abstract Romanticism" painting style;
• Kathreen Khavari, actress, writer, and producer
• Mohammad Khordadian, choreographer, dancer, and entertainer. Known for his dance instruction tapes ofPersian andArabic dance
• Kamshad Kooshan, screenwriter, film director, and film producer
• Sarah R. Lotfi, filmmaker, known for her World War II epicThe Last Bogatyr (2009)
• Rosie Malek-Yonan, actress, author, director, public figure and activist
• Tala Madani, painter, known for her use of cartoonish and exaggerated sexual imageries
• Terrence Malick, film director, screenwriter, and producer. Notable forBadlands (1973),Days of Heaven (1978),The Thin Red Line (1998), andThe Tree of Life (2011). He is of Iranian-Assyrian descent
• Arefeh Mansouri, inventor, designer
• Marshall Manesh, actor
• Mozhan Marnò, film and television actress, best known for her roles inThe Blacklist andHouse of Cards
• Jamie Masada, comedian and businessman. Founder of theLaugh Factory, a chain ofcomedy clubs in several states.
• Mercedes Mason, actress
• Sanaz Mazinani, multidisciplinary visual artist, curator and educator, known for herphotography andinstallation art
• Laleh Mehran, contemporary artist, and professor and graduate director of Emergent Digital Practices at theUniversity of Denver
• Peyman Moaadi, actor, screenwriter, director; best known for his role inA Separation (2011)
• Arian Moayed, actor, Emmy-nominated writer/director, art educator, and co-founder ofWaterwell
• Emud Mokhberi, film director and animator. In 2009, he was nominated for anAcademy Award for Best Animated Short Film forOktapodi
• Amir Mokri, cinematographer, known for his works onBad Boys II,Fast & Furious,Man of Steel, andThe Joy Luck Club
• Soudabeh Moradian, award-winning independent filmmaker
• Neda Moridpour, feminist artist, educator, and co-founder of the artist-activist collectivesLOUDER THAN WORDS and[P]Art Collective. Currently a professor of the Practice in the Media Arts department at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts atTufts University
• Amir Naderi, film director, screenwriter, photographer. One of the major figures in Iranian cinema before and after the1979 revolution. Best known forThe Runner andVegas: Based on a True Story. Immigrated to the U.S. in the 1990s.
• Arsi Nami actor, musician, singer-songwriter, music therapist, and philanthropist
• Amin Nazemzadeh, actor
• Navid Negahban, actor, appeared onHomeland andMistresses. Also noted for his role asThe Sultan in the live-action remake ofAladdin.
• Shirin Neshat, visual artist known for her work in film, video, and photography
• Ali Nejad, television personality and host
• Nicky Nodjoumi, fine-arts painter, whose works address Iranian politics, history, power, and corruption
• Zahra Noorbakhsh, comedian, writer, actor and co-host of the#GoodMuslimBadMuslim podcast
• Sareh Nouri, fashion designer known for couture wedding gowns and bridal sashes
• Naveed Nour, contemporary artist who uses photography as the basis of his work
• Cyrus Nowrasteh, screenwriter and director
• Younan Nowzaradan, surgeon specializing invascular surgery andbariatric surgery. Known for helpingmorbidly obese patientslose weight on theTLC-reality TV showMy 600-lb Life (2012–present)
• Bijan Olia, film composer and songwriter
• Bijan Pakzad, fashion and perfume designer
• Zhubin Parang, improv comedian and writer forThe Daily Show
• Eric Parnes, multidisciplinary contemporary artist based in New York City.
• Khosrow Parvizi, director
• Adrian Pasdar, actor and voice actor
• Artemis Pebdani, actress, best known for her roles on television
• Nasim Pedrad, actress, comedian, best known for her five seasons as a cast member onSaturday Night Live
• Vahik Pirhamzei, actor, producer, director, and writer. Best known for his filmMy Uncle Rafael
• Parsa Pirouzfar, actor, theater director, acting director, playwright, translator, and painter
• Tala Raassi, fashion designer, known for her swimsuit line,Dar Be Dar
• Babak Rafei,video game art director, character animator and concept artist. Co-founder andCEO of Big Red Button Entertainment
• Sara Rahbar, contemporary artist based in New York City
• Medalion Rahimi, actress
• Hamid Rahmanian, New York–based Iranian multi-disciplinary artist working in cinema, graphic art, and shadow theater
• Hesam Rahmanian is a visual artist based in the U.A.E as part of a collective known asRamin, Rokni, Hesam
• Dominic Rains (born Amin Nazemzadeh), actor, known for his portrayal inThe Taqwacores (2010),A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014), and his role as Kasius inAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
• Ethan Rains (born Iman Nazemzadeh),soap opera actor
• Shiva Rose, actress, activist, and blogger.
• Sabzi, artist known for hisabstract impressionist paintings.
• Mehdi Saeedi, artist and graphic designer, best known for histypography &calligraphyy
• Farhad Safinia, screenwriter, film/television producer, and director
• Reza Sixo Safai, director, actor, and producer
• Ely Sakhai, art engineer and civil engineer, owner ofart galleries in New York City andGreat Neck, New York
• Behnaz Sarafpour, fashion designer
• Louisa Shafia, chef and cookbook author
• Hadieh Shafie, visual artist, uses tightly coiled strips of brightly colored paper bearing calligraphy & arranged in patterns
• Philip Shahbaz, actor, known for his voice acting for the role ofAltaïr in theUbisoft video gameAssassin's Creed
• Sarah Shahi, television actress;^[30] Iranian father, Iranian/Spanish Mother
• Sayeed Shahidi,child actor andmodel. Younger brother ofYara
• Yara Shahidi, actress, best known for her role as Zoey Johnson in thesitcomBlack-ish (2014–present) and itsspin-off seriesGrown-ish (2018–present).
• Amir Shervan, film director, producer, actor and screenwriter. Best known for his career in cinema in Iran prior to his immigration to the U.S. in 1987
• Elina Shirazi,Fox News Channel National Reporter
• Shahram Shiva, performance poet
• Daryush Shokof, Artist-Filmmaker, philosopher
• Arash Sobhani, musician andtelevision host
• Sheida Soleimani, multimedia artist, photographer, and professor of studio art atBrandeis University. Known for her work on Iranian human-rights violation victims, and her outspoken comments on theIranian regime.
• Bahar Soomekh, actress^[31]
• Aramazd Stepanian, actor, producer, playwright. Owner, artistic director, and producer of the Luna Playhouse
• Tami Stronach, actress, dancer, choreographer
• Massy Tadjedin, screenwriter and director
• Elie Tahari, fashion designer
• Nader Talebzadeh, documentary filmmaker and researcher. Known for his TV seriesThe Messiah
• Taravat Talepasand, contemporary artist addressing cultural taboos, juxtapose cultural stereotypes and express female empowerment. Chair of the Painting Department at theSan Francisco Art Institute
• Shaun Toub, actor, best known internationally for playingHo Yinsen in theMarvel Cinematic Universe filmsIron Man (2008) andIron Man 3 (2013)
• Pej Vahdat, actor, best known for his role ofArastoo Vaziri inBones
• Sheila Vand, actress and performance artist
• Behrouz Vossoughi, actor and TV host.
• Elham Yaghoubian, writer, designer, political activist
• Bob Yari, film producer
• Manoucher Yektai,abstract expressionist artist who belongs to theNew York School
• Suzi Yoonessi, filmmaker, best known for her award-winning feature filmDear Lemon Lima
• Necar Zadegan, film and television actress, best known for her recurrent role as First Lady (and then president) Dalia Hassan on24, and Delia Banai onGirlfriends' Guide to Divorce
• Caveh Zahedi, film director and actor
• Firooz Zahedi, photographer, whose work has appeared in journalistic publications internationally, and as the movie posters for films such asPulp Fiction,Edward Scissorhands, andThe Addams Family
• Maryam Zahirimehr, screenwriter and film director
• Roxana Zal, actress
• Sara Zandieh, filmmaker andFulbright Scholar atColumbia University
• Habib Zargarpour, art director, also active invisual effects inHollywood
• Tony Zarrindast, film producer, film director, and actor
• Rayka Zehtabchi, filmmaker, 2018Academy Award-winning documentary shortPeriod. End of Sentence—first Iranian-American woman to win an Academy Award.

Business and technology

• Sarkis Acopian, inventor, industrialist, environmentalist; founded the Acopian Technical Company in 1957, where he designed and manufactured the first solar radio.
• Vahe Aghabegians, entrepreneur, founding member and executive director of UniPrint, Inc. (a printing house), and was the former president of The Romney Group, Inc.
• Vahid Alaghband, founder and Chairman Balli Group PLC
• Siavash Alamouti, president and CEO of edge cloud software companymimic, former CTO Broad Band and INTEL fellow, inventor of Alamouti Code, code-communication engineer
• Mike Amiri, founder and Creative Director of AMIRI fashion line
• Amir Ansari, co-founder andCTO of Prodea Systems, co-founder and former CTO of Telecom Technologies, Inc. (TTI)
• Anousheh Ansari, the world's first femalespace tourist, first Iranian in space, co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, Inc., co-founder and former CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc. (TTI)
• Cyrus A. Ansary, businessman, President of Investment Services International Co., founder and current chairman of Fort Knox National Company, and chairman emeritus ofAmerican University
• Emik Avakian, inventor, owner of numerous patents including a breath-operated computer, mechanism that facilitates putting wheelchairs on automobiles, and a self-operating robotic wheel
• Farhad Azima, airline operator and entrepreneur; founder ofGlobal International Airways, and owner of theAviation Leasing Group andHeavyLift International
• Sardar Biglari, founder, CEO and chairman ofBiglari Holdings
• Nariman Behravesh, chief economist at the consulting firmIHS Markit, and formerly the chief economist and executive vice president ofGlobal Insight, Inc
• Michael Benjamin (born Michael Benjamin Bonheur), private investor focusing on internet companies,Republican candidate for theUnited States Senate in 2004
• Afsaneh Mashayekhi Beschloss, businesswoman, entrepreneur and economist. Founder and CEO of the hedge-fund Rock Creek Group, former treasurer and chief investment officer of theWorld Bank
• J. Darius Bikoff, CEO and founder ofEnergy Brands, which manufacturesVitaminWater
• Shahram Dabiri, video game producer, lead producer ofWorld of Warcraft
• Jaleh Daie, Senior Managing Partner at Aurora Equity; former professor ofbiology at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison andRutgers University. First woman to serve on the U.S.Space Foundation board of directors.
• Perry Daneshgari, entrepreneur, civil and mechanical engineer, and author. He is the founder of MCA and specializes inagile construction
• Nader Darehshori, co-founder, chairman, president, and CEO of Aptius Education, director of State Street Corporation, former director of Aviva USA Corporation
• Bita Daryabari,philanthropist,entrepreneur andcomputer scientist
• Farzad Dibachi, serial entrepreneur and business executive. Co-founder and CEO of Inception.
• Avid Larizadeh Duggan, entrepreneur and venture capitalist
• Behdad Eghbali, co-founder of the investment firmClearlake Capital.
• Kamran Elahian, founder and ChairmanGlobal Catalyst Partners
• Henry Elghanayan, NYC real estate developer, co-founder and chairman of Rockrose Development Corporation
• Hossein Eslambolchi, former president and CEO ofAT&T Labs and AT&T Global Network Operations
• Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder and CTO ofDropbox
• Nasir Gebelli, video game programmer for theApple II, thenFinal Fantasy I,Final Fantasy II,Secret of Mana, andRad Racer.
• Newsha Ghaeli, entrepreneur and architect. Co-founder and President ofBiobot Analytics.^[32]
• Mark Ghermezian (of theGhermezian family), co-founder, Executive Chairman, and former CEO ofBraze, Inc.
• Arthur T. Gregorian,oriental rug dealer based inGreater Boston, and author of books on oriental rugs.
• Victor Haghani, financier, one of the founding partners ofLong Term Capital Management. He has also founded Elm Partners, an active index investment fund, in 2011.
• Ali Hajimiri, inventor and entrepreneur in the field of electrical and biomedical engineering; Bren Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering atCaltech.
• Albert Hakim, businessman and a figure in theIran–Contra affair. Co-founder of theStanford Technology Trading Group International (STTGI)
• Kamran Hakim, New York City-based landlord, real estate developer and founder of the Hakim Organization.
• Babak Hodjat, technologist and computer scientist.
• Neil Kadisha, CEO of Omninet Capital, LLC.
• Samy Kamkar, entrepreneur, computer hacker, and privacy & security researcher onmobile phone tracking. Creator of theSkyJack hacking drone, theEvercookie, and theMySpace super-virus"Samy" worm.
• Darius Kazemi, computer programmer, social activist, and artist. Co-founder of the worker-owned technology collectiveFeel Train.
• Sam Kazemian, software programmer; co-founder and president ofEveripedia.
• Salar Kamangar, former CEO ofYouTube, senior executive atGoogle.
• Kayvan Khalatbari, serial entrepreneur based inDenver, Colorado . Founding partner of the Sexy Pizza restaurant chain, Birdy Magazine,Sexpot Comedy, Denver Relief Consulting, and Denver Relief, the longest continually operatedcannabis company in Denver.
• Nader Khalili, architect. Inventor of theSuperadobe andCeramic houses construction techniques. Founder of the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture (Cal-Earth).
• Shaygan Kheradpir, businessman and technology executive. Former CIO ofVerizon, former COO ofBarclays Bank, and former CEO ofJuniper Networks and Coriant.
• Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO ofUber; former CEO ofExpedia; on board of directors ofThe New York Times Company.
• Mike Kohan, founder & owner of theKohan Retail Investment Group based inGreat Neck, New York, which owns 27shopping malls as of late 2018.
• Omid Kordestani, executive chairman ofTwitter, formersenior vice president,chief business officer, and special advisor atGoogle.
• Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment; manufacturer ofBratz dolls.
• Hamid Moghadam, chairman and CEO ofPrologis, board member ofStanford Management Company.
• Mahbod Moghadam, internet entrepreneur; co-founder and former Chief Community Officer ofEveripedia, co-founder of Rap Genius (nowGenius).
• Moj Mahdara, CEO of Beautycon Media, is an entrepreneur in the entertainment, digital, and emerging technology spaces.
• Milton Malek-Yonan, Iranian-Assyrian entrepreneur and inventor ofMalekized Rice.
• Amir, Eskandar andFraydun Manocherian, NYC-based real estate investors, founders ofManocherian Brothers andPan Am Equities.
• David A. Marcus, former president ofPayPal, and current vice president of messaging products atFacebook, where he heads theFacebook Messenger unit. Sits on theCoinbase board of directors. Iranian mother.
• Fariborz Maseeh, pioneer ofmicro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS), founder of IntelliSense, founder of Orlander LLC, and founder of Orbitron LP.
• Manny Mashouf, founder and former chairman ofBebe Stores.
• Saul Maslavi, president and CEO ofJovani Fashion.
• Cyrus Massoumi, co-founder of the investment fund "humbition." Founder and former CEO ofZocdoc.
• Justin Mateen, co-founder and former CMO ofTinder.
• David Merage, co-founder ofChef America Inc., manufacturer ofHot Pockets microwavable meals. Brother ofPaul.
• Paul Merage, co-founder ofChef America Inc., manufacturer ofHot Pockets microwavable meals. Brother ofDavid.
• Bob Miner, co-founder ofOracle Corporation and the producer of itsrelational database management system.^[33]
• Mohsen Moazami, entrepreneur; founder of Stanford Business Systems, Columbus Nova Technology Partners, and Seif Capital. He is also a member ofCisco Systems executive staff.
• Afshin Mohebbi, former president and COO ofQwest Communications International, Inc.
• Joseph Moinian, New York City real estate developer, founder of The Moinian Group.
• Jeff Moorad, businessman. Former general partner and CEO ofMLB'sArizona Diamondbacks, and former vice-chairman and CEO of MLB'sSan Diego Padres.
• Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO of Najafi Companies, a private equity firm. Vice Chairman and co-owner of thePhoenix Suns NBA team.
• Ron Najafi, founder and CEO of Emery Pharma, and founder and former CEO ofNovaBay Pharmaceuticals.
• Mohammad Namazi, founder of theNamazi Hospital inShiraz, and was a resident in America for over 30 years.
• Ezri Namvar, founder of Namco Capital Group and former owner of theSecurity Pacific Bank.
• David Nazarian, businessman, investor, and philanthropist. Founder and CEO of Nimes Capital.
• Izak Parviz Nazarian, businessman, managing partner at Omninet Capital.
• Sam Nazarian, founder and CEO of theSBE Entertainment Group.
• Younes Nazarian, businessman. Early investor inQualcomm and Chairman of Nazarian Enterprises.
• Farzad Nazem, former CTO and executive vice president ofYahoo!
• Fred Ohebshalom, New York City real estate developer and founder of Empire Management.
• Pierre Omidyar, founder ofeBay.
• Joseph Parnes, investment advisor, founder and CEO of Technomart Investment Advisors.
• Ali Partovi, entrepreneur andangel investor. Best known as co-founder ofCode.org,iLike,LinkExchange, and an early advisor ofDropbox.
• Shervin Pishevar, entrepreneur, co-founder and former executive chairman ofHyperloop One, co-founder and managing director ofSherpa Capital.
• Kamran Pourzanjani, early angel investor based in Los Angeles, California
• Sean Rad, co-founder, chairman and former CEO ofTinder
• Hooman Radfar, co-founder and CEO ofCollective; co-founder and former CEO ofAddThis; Venture Partner at Expa
• Mazdack Rassi, real estate and creative entrepreneur; co-founder of Milk Studios,Milk Makeup, and Camp David in New York City
• Mostafa Ronaghi, CTO and senior vice president atIllumina. He is also amolecular biologist specializing in DNAsequencing technology
• Kathy Rose (née Katayoun Azarmi), jewelry designer, entrepreneur, and actress. Creator of the jewelry line Kaviar Jewelry, now called Kathy Rose for Roseark. She is also the owner of the retail storeRoseark, created in 2003.
• Ali Rowghani, COO ofTwitter, and managing partner atY Combinator
• Arman Sadeghi, entrepreneur and speaker
• Joel Simkhai, founder & former CEO ofGrindr dating app
• Shahin (Shawn) Shadfar, founder and president ofomNovia Technologies; co-founder and CEO of Xerzees Technologies, the company behind the mobile app Zurf
• John Shahidi, businessman, software developer, entertainment manager and podcast producer. CEO ofShots Podcast Network
• Sam Shahidi, businessman, software developer, entertainment manager and podcast producer. CCO and CPO ofShots Podcast Network
• Ben Shaoul, co-founder of Magnum Real Estate Group
• Henry D. Sahakian, founder and owner ofUni-Mart
• Rob Sobhani, chairman and CEO of Caspian Group, and founder and CEO of Faro Corporation; author and lecturer on energy issues, U.S. immigration policies, and U.S. policy towards theMiddle East
• Parisa Tabriz, director of engineering atGoogle andcomputer security expert, nicknamed Google's "Security Princess." Co-founder of the Our Security Advocates conference
• Sina Tamaddon, senior vice president ofApplications forApple Computer^[34]
• Roxanne Varza, computer executive
• Sohrab Vossoughi, product designer, and founder of Ziba Design, a design and innovation consultancy based inPortland, Oregon
• Roxanne Varza, director ofStation F inParis, France, and former head of start-up activities forMicrosoft inFrance. Co-founder of Girls in Tech Paris and Girls in Tech London, which organize computer code writing courses for women
• Rouzbeh Yassini, Inventor of thecable modem, executive director of theUniversity of New Hampshire Broadband Center Of Excellence and Founder of YAS Foundation.
• Joe Youssefi, aerospace engineer and philatelist
• Bobby Yazdani, founder and former CEO of Saba Software
• Shayan Zadeh, founder ofZoosk
• Eli Zelkha, entrepreneur, and professor. He was the inventor ofambient intelligence

Literature

• Colet Abedi, young adult novelist and television producer
• Salar Abdoh, novelist and essayist. Current director of the graduate program increative writing at theCity College of New York.
• Kaveh Akbar, poet, scholar and novelist
• Lailee Bakhtiar, poet and author
• Laleh Bakhtiar, writer and scholar
• Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, writer of books on health and wellness.
• Najmieh Batmanglij, acclaimed chef and cookbook author
• William D. S. Daniel, Iranian-Assyrian author, poet, and musician
• Parvin Darabi, writer and women's rights activist. Best known for bookRage Against the Veil
• Jasmin Darznik, memoirist, novelist
• Firoozeh Dumas, author ofFunny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
• Mohsen Emadi, poet, scholar and literary translator
• Sara Farizan, writer of young adult literature. Best known for novel,If You Could Be Mine (2013)
• FM-2030, author, teacher,transhumanist philosopher, futurist
• Ezzat Goushegir, fiction writer & playwright
• Roya Hakakian, writer, poet, and journalist
• Hakob Karapents, novelist and short story writer
• Laleh Khadivi, novelist and documentary filmmaker
• Porochista Khakpour, novelist, essayist, and writer
• Tahereh Mafi, young adult fiction writer
• Mahtob Mahmoody, Writer
• Faranak Margolese, writer,
• Marsha Mehran, novelist
• Shokooh Mirzadegi, novelist and poet
• Azadeh Moaveni, author ofLipstick Jihad and co-author ofIran Awakening withShirin Ebadi, and reporter forTime magazine on Iran and the Middle East
• Melody Moezzi, writer, attorney, and nonfiction writer
• Ottessa Moshfegh, novelist
• Farnoosh Moshiri, novelist, playwright, and librettist
• Dora Levy Mossanen, author of historical fiction
• Azar Nafisi, writer, best known forReading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
• Gina Nahai, novelist
• Steven Naifeh,Pulitzer Prize-winningbiographer ofJackson Pollock andVincent van Gogh, co-author of 18 other books withGregory White Smith, businessman, and artist
• Dina Nayeri, novelist, essayist, and short story writer.
• Abdi Nazemian, author and screenwriter.
• Ghazal Omid, nonfiction political writer, nonfiction children's book writer, speaker, NGO executive
• Shahrnoosh Parsipour, writer, best known for "Women Without Men"
• Susan Atefat Peckham, poet
• Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, memoirist, playwright, and fiction writer
• Dalia Sofer, writer, best known forThe Septembers of Shiraz
• Neda Soltani, writer
• Mahbod Seraji, novelist
• Mahmoud Seraji, a.k.a. "M.S. Shahed," poet
• Solmaz Sharif, poet,
• Niloufar Talebi, writer, literary translator, multidisciplinary creator, opera and classical music librettist, producer.
• Goli Taraghi, novelist
• Andrew David Urshan, evangelist and author.
• Sholeh Wolpe, poet, literary translator, playwright and librettist

Media and journalism

• Sohrab Ahmari, journalist, current op-ed editor at theNew York Post and a contributing editor at theCatholic Herald. Former columnist and editor atThe Wall Street Journal
• Yashar Ali, journalist who has contributed toHuffPost,NBC News, andNew York magazine
• Masih Alinejad, journalist and author; presenter/producer forVoice of America - Persian, correspondent onRadio Farda, and frequent contributor toManoto television
• Christiane Amanpour, journalist and television host; Chief International Anchor forCNN. Host ofCNN International's nightly interview programAmanpour and ofAmanpour & Company onPBS
• Nina Ansary, historian, author and media correspondent known for her work on women's equity in Iran.
• Saman Arbabi, journalist, cartoonist, and host, creator and executive producer ofVoice of America - Persian's satirical television showsParazit andOnTen
• Davar Ardalan,NPR producer ofTell Me More, Laleh Bakhtiar's daughter, Lailee's cousin
• Rudi Bakhtiar, producer forReuters, best known for appearances onCNN; formerVoice of America - Persian employee, former director of public relations for the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA)
• John Batchelor, author and host of the nationally syndicatedThe John Batchelor Show onAM 770WABC radio
• Andy Baraghani, chef and writer; senior food editor ofBon Appétit from 2015 to 2021
• Shmuley Boteach, rabbi, radio and television host, author
• Ariana Bundy, chef, writer, and television personality. Best known for her cookery of Persian cuisine and travel seriesAriana's Persian Kitchen which airs onNat Geo People
• Lisa Daftari, journalist, TV commentator; founder ofThe Foreign Desk
• Borzou Daragahi, print and radio journalist; International Correspondent forThe Independent, and former Baghdad bureau chief for theLos Angeles Times
• Holly Dagres, analyst and commentator on theMiddle East with a focus onIran. Curator for the weekly newsletter,The Iranist, .
• Sibel Edmonds, founder and editor-in-chief of independent news website NewsBud, founder and publisher ofBoiling Frogs Post, and former contracttranslator for theFederal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• Azadeh Ensha, journalist,The New York Times
• Mahtab Farid, journalist forVoice of America - Persian,Radio Farda andFox News,public diplomacy strategist, andBoren Scholar.
• Farnaz Fassihi, journalist,Wall Street Journal
• Caroline Framke, regular author and culture commentator atVox, and has contributed toThe Atlantic,The A.V. Club,Vulture,Salon andNPR. Iranian mother.
• Ramin Ganeshram, chef, cookbook author, and food columnist forThe New York Times andNewsday
• Susie Gharib, award-winning business news journalist. Senior Special Correspondent forFortune magazine, and former anchor ofNightly Business Report produced byCNBC
• Iraj Gorgin, prominent radio and television broadcaster and journalist in Iran prior to the 1979 Revolution. Former director of Radio Iran, and host of a program on contemporary Persian poetry atNational Iranian Radio and Television
• Laci Green,YouTuber whose content focuses onsex education. Iranian father.
• Saba Hamedy, news editor atHuffington Post, and former breaking news reporter atCNN
• Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, former television host on theIslamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) until his exile to the U.S. in 2011. Advocate of theIslamic Republic of Iran through his political opposition group "Restart"
• Alireza Jafarzadeh, media commentator and US representative of thePeople's Mujahedin of Iran
• Pedram Javaheri,meteorologist forCNN International
• Kim Khazei, news anchor for 7News BostonWHDH-TV and its sister stationWLVI-TV
• Hooman Majd, journalist, author, and commentator who writes on Iranian affairs
• Arash Markazi,sports journalist, currently writing for theLos Angeles Times and formerly forSports Illustrated
• Leandra Medine, author, blogger, and humor writer best known forMan Repeller, an independent fashion and lifestyle website
• Shereen Marisol Meraji, co-host ofCode Switch onNPR, a critically acclaimed podcast covering race, culture, and diversity issues
• Azadeh Moaveni, journalist forTime magazine, and author ofLipstick Jihad andIran Awakening with Shirin Ebadi.
• Negar Mortazavi, journalist who covers Iran in both English and Farsi . Former host of an interactive current affairs show atVoice of America - Persian.
• Sina Najafi, founder and editor-in-chief of New York-basedCabinet Magazine.
• Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, journalist and reporter for theNational Public Radio (NPR), most notably forMorning Edition,All Things Considered, andWeekend Edition. Currently, director of theNPR bureau inBerlin.
• Samin Nosrat, chef, regular food columnist forThe New York Times Magazine, and showrunner of theNetflix docu-seriesSalt, Fat, Acid, Heat based on her cookbook of the same name.
• Dari Nowkhah, lead anchor of theSEC Network, an American sports television network.
• Azi Paybarah, New York-based journalist who focuses on local politics, and has worked as a reporter for many local journalistic outlets of New York City such as theNew York Press, theNew York Observer, andWNYC, among several others.
• Shabnam Rezaei, co-founder ofBig Bad Boo studios (originally named Norooz productions) andOznoz. Creator & producer of the animated TV series16 Hudson,1001 Nights (the first animated television adaptation of theOne Thousand and One Nights folks tales), andMixed Nutz (a TV spinoff of her filmBabak and Friends – A First Norooz).
• Jason Rezaian, journalist, served asTehran bureau chief forThe Washington Post. He was convicted of false espionage charges by the Iranian government in 2015, later released in 2016.
• Roosh V (Daryush Valizadeh), blogger,pickup artist and writer.
• Maer Roshan, editor-in-chief ofLos Angeles Magazine, serial entrepreneur of several prominent magazines and websites, and former editor ofNew York (magazine),Talk (magazine), andInterview (magazine).
• Atoosa Rubenstein (Atoosa Behnegar), formerSeventeen andCosmoGIRL! editor-in-chief.
• Roxana Saberi, photojournalist whose 2009 arrest in Iran became acause celebre.
• Jahan Salehi, President of Agence Global, Inc. syndicate.
• Homa Sarshar, journalist, author, feminist activist. Columnist for Zan-e-Ruz magazine Kayhan daily newspaper (1964–1973).
• Anand Lal Shimpi, founder and former CEO of the technology journalism website,AnandTech.
• Elina Shirazi, journalist andMiami-based correspondent for theFox News Channel.
• Ali Akbar Tabatabaei, former press attache to the Iranian Embassy in the United States during the reign ofShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi. After his exile to the U.S. after theIranian Revolution, he became president of the Iran Freedom Foundation inBethesda, Maryland.
• Farnoosh Torabi, journalist, author, television personality, and personal finance expert. Host ofCNBC Primetime seriesFollow The Leader and host of award-winning podcastSo Money.
• Vahid Online, apseudonym of an Iranianblogger andInternet activist, known for his coverage of the2009 Iranian presidential election protests through social media.
• Ebrahim Victory, creator and host of the Channel One TV science program "The Wonders of the Universe" which discussesastronomy andcosmology toFarsi-speaking audiences.
• Cyma Zarghami, former president ofNickelodeon andViacom Media Networks Kids & Family Group.
• Mohammad Kheirkhah Zoyari, photographer, has worked forUnited Press International andBBC and has covered events in theMiddle East (especially inIran during the2009 Iranian presidential election protests),Europe and theUnited States.

Music

• Evin Agassi, Iranian-Assyrian singer
• Elton Ahi, music producer and owner of Rusk Studios inLos Angeles, California, which has recorded artists such asDonna Summer,Elton John, andLaura Branigan, among many others.
• Azam Ali, singer andsantour player. Member of the "alternative world" bandVAS and the Iranian acoustic electronic groupNiyaz.
• Sahba Aminikia, contemporary music composer, performer, and educator
• Andy, popularIranian pop singer-songwriter and actor
• Aref Arefkia,Iranian pop singer and actor, known as "the king of Hearts" and "the legend of pop"
• Faramarz Aslani,Iranian pop and folk singer, guitarist
• Iraj Janatie Ataie, critically and popularly acclaimed Iranian poet, lyricist, playwright, and theater director. Known for his collaborations withEbi andDariush
• Axiom of Choice, world music group who perform a modernized fusion style rooted in Persian classical music.
• Morteza Barjesteh, best known by stage nameMorteza;Iranian pop singer-songwriter and composer who grew fame in Iran in 1980's.
• Tannoz Bahremand Foruzanfar, first Iranian woman to be ordained as a Jewishcantor in the United States in 2009
• Yak Ballz (stage name of Yashar Zadeh), independenthip hop artist and one of the original members ofThe Weathermen
• Rostam Batmanglij, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer. Former keyboard player ofindie rock bandVampire Weekend, and currently part of the electro-soul groupDiscovery
• Leila Bela, avant-garde musician, actress, playwright, photographer, and former member ofPigface
• Charlie Bisharat, violinist who was the member of the bandShadowfax.
• Cyrus Bolooki, drummer ofNew Found Glory
• George Chaharbakhshi, Iranian-Assyrian singer active in the United States.
• Richard Danielpour, composer, professor of composition,Manhattan School of Music
• Vigen Derderian, best known asVigen. prominentIranian pop music singer and actor; known as the "King of Iranian Pop" and the "Sultan of Jazz"
• Amir Derakh,guitarist andsynthesizer player forJulien-K, guitarist of the bandDead by Sunrise, formerguitar synthesizer player forOrgy, and former guitarist ofRough Cutt
• Deep Dish, electronic music group
• Ramin Djawadi, German-born composer of film and television scores, the score composer forGame of Thrones andWestworld
• Dubfire (Ali Shirazinia), house and techno DJ and producer; formerly a member ofDeep Dish
• Wafah Dufour, singer-songwriter, socialite, model
• Eden xo (stage name of Jessica Eden Malakouti), singer, songwriter, and actress
• Mahan Esfahani,harpsichordist
• Kristina Esfandiari, singer-songwriter who is best known as the lead vocalist of thedoom metal band "King Woman" (signed toSargent House) and her solo moniker "Miserable"
• Ardeshir Farah, musician and guitarist, makes up one half of duoStrunz & Farah
• Rana Farhan, musician and singer ofjazz andblues. Known to combine classicPersian poetry with modern jazz and blues.
• Cyrus Forough, concert violinist. He is a professor of violin and chamber music atCarnegie Mellon University
• Leila Forouhar,Iranian pop and classical singer, model, and actress
• Shahyar Ghanbari,Iranian pop singer and songwriter, poet, film director, and radio/TV producer.
• Aram Gharabekian, conductor, former Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of theNational Chamber Orchestra of Armenia. Founder, and until 1996, directed and conducted theBoston SinfoNova Orchestra
• Googoosh,Iranian pop singer, actress andsuperstar, female pop singer in thePersian speaking world
• Haale (stage name of Haale Gafori), singer, composer, and poet. Sings in both English and Farsi, and has recorded music albums with both her own poetry and those ofRumi,Attar, andForough Farrokhzad
• Pejman Hadadi, internationally acclaimedtonbak player andPersian classical musician. Member ofAxiom of Choice and theDastan Ensemble
• Hayedeh, singer ofPersian classical,folk, andpop music. Considered one of the most popular singers of 20th century Iran. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1982
• Mohammad Heydari, prominentsantur player and songwriter
• K-Salaam (stage name of Kayvon Sarfehjooy),DJ and music producer
• Kayhan Kalhor,kamancheh player, composer and master of classicalKurdish andPersian traditional music
• Tara Kamangar, pianist and composer
• Shahrum Kashani, better known asShahrum K orK;Iranian pop singer
• Leila Kasra, better known asHedieh; Iranian contemporary poet and lyricist. Best known for writing 30 songs forHayedeh.
• Mamak Khadem, worldtrance music singer; former lead singer ofAxiom of Choice
• Anousheh Khalili, singer-songwriter andelectronic musician, who has collaborated as a vocalist withDeep Dish andSharam
• Bahador Kharazmi, singer, songwriter, producer^[35][36]
• Locksmith (stage name of Davood Ali Asgari), rapper and one half of the former underground duoThe Frontline, which pioneered the "New Bay" resurgence movement in theBay Area in the 2000s.
• Mahasti, singer ofPersian classical,folk, andPersian pop. Younger sister ofHayedeh. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1981.
• Foad Manshadi, also known asFoad; musician who utilizes his style ofworld music-inspiredrap to bring light tosocial justice issues
• Mansour,Iranian pop singer and songwriter based inSouthern California
• Rana Mansour, pop and jazz singer
• Lotfi Mansouri, opera director and manager; former General Director of theSan Francisco Opera (1988–2001)
• Arsi Nami, music therapist, singer, songwriter, actor
• Soheil Nasseri, concert pianist
• Sadegh Nojouki, pop and classical composer, conductor, songwriter, arranger, and pianist. Introduced the combined music style of Persian traditional music with classical and pop music.
• Nostalghia, singer-songwriter,post-industrial musician, and poet. Iranian mother.
• Ahmad Pejman, classical composer, notable for both operatic and symphonic works
• Tony Petrossian,music video director^[37][38]
• Pouya Jalili Pour,Iranian pop singer famous for his"Safar" (Journey) song released in 2000. Currently resides inLos Angeles, California
• Armen Ra,thereminist, performer, artist, director and production designer
• Behzad Ranjbaran, composer
• Kaveh Rastegar,Grammy-nominatedbass guitarist andcomposer. Founder ofKneebody and Dakah. He has collaborated withCeeLo Green,Bruno Mars, andDe La Soul
• Gity Razaz, composer
• Susan Roshan, singer-songwriter
• Shahrdad Rouhani, composer, violinist/pianist, and conductor
• Sabzi,hip-hop producer and DJ
• Sacha Sacket,pop singer-songwriter. Iranian father
• Kamran Sadeghi, electronic musician, producer, and mix-engineer
• Manoochehr Sadeghi,Ostād (Grandmaster) of thesantur. Recipient of a 2003National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment of the Art
• Ilya Salmanzadeh, music producer
• Bijan Samandar, prominent contemporary poet, lyricist, andTar player. He has written lyrics for notable artists such asEbi,Vigen,Moein,Dariush, and many more
• Hassan Sattar, best known bySattar, singer ofIranian pop andclassical music popular during pre-revolutionary Iran. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1978.
• Shahrzad Sepanlou,Iranian pop singer. Her songs reflect subjects such as revolution, war, and repression.
• Shahram Shabpareh,Iranian pop singer and songwriter
• Kouros Shahmiri,Persian pop singer, best known for being part of the pop duoAndy & Kouros withAndy
• Saeed Shahram, composer of film and television scores. He has over 40 film soundtracks to his credit since 1983.
• Sharam (Sharam Tayebi),techno andhouse DJ and producer
• Jamshied Sharifi, film composer, musician, and producer
• Ziba Shirazi, singer and poet. Her music blends Persian melodies withworld music andjazz.
• Susan,Persian pop singer popular in Iran during the 1960s and 1970s. She immigrated to the U.S. after the1979 revolution
• Ali Tabatabaee, one of the lead singers ofOrange County, California-basedpop-punk bandZebrahead
• Loga Ramin Torkian, musician, composer, and co-founder of the bandsAxiom of Choice andNiyaz. Plays the Iraniantar, theTurkish saz, and theGuitarViol
• Shamiram Urshan, singer of Assyrian folk music and entertainer who gained popularity in the 1980s in Iran
• Reza Vali, musician and composer. Currently on faculty atCarnegie Mellon University
• Omid Walizadeh, also known as Omid or OD; hip hop producer
• The Yellow Dogs, indie rock and post-punk revival group; formed inTehran, now based inBrooklyn, New York
• Azita Youssefi, experimental musician, artist, and music teacher involved in the Chicagono wave scene in the 1990s, playing inScissor Girls, Miss High-Heel (withWeasel Walter andJim O'Rourke) and Bride of No No
• Kayvon Zand, New York City-based nightlife personality and musician who creates 80's inspiredelectronic dance music. H
• Kourosh Zolani, composer, soloist and inventor; designed and plays the world's only playableChromaticSantour

Politics

• Parry Aftab, Internet privacy and security lawyer, considered one of the founders ofcyberlaw. Founder of the cybersafety organizations WiredSafety, StopCyberbullying and the consulting firm, WiredTrust
• Roozbeh Aliabadi, advisor and commentator on geopolitical risk and geoeconomics. Current partner at global affair practice at GGA in New York City, former Senior Advisor to the Department of Strategic Initiatives, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Iran
• Mahnaz Afkhami, women's rights activist who served in the Cabinet of Iran from 1976 to 1978; Executive Director of the Washington-basedFoundation for Iranian Studies, and the founder and president of the Women's Learning Partnership (WLP)
• Goli Ameri, former Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy for theInternational Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, former U.S.Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, former U.S. public delegate to theUnited Nations General Assembly, and former Republican candidate for theUnited States House of Representatives from the 1st district ofOregon.
• Cyrus Amir-Mokri, formerAssistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions at theU.S. Treasury Department
• Jamshid Amouzegar, economist and politician who served asPrime Minister of Iran (1977–1978). Immigrated to U.S. in 1978
• Yassamin Ansari,US Representative (2024- ),DemocratU.S. House from3rd District of Arizona
• Hushang Ansary, former IranianMinister of Economic Affairs and Finance, formerAmbassador of Iran to the United States (1967–1969) and chairman of National Finance Committee ofBush-Cheney 2004 campaign.
• Gholam Reza Azhari, military leader andPrime Minister ofIran (1978–1979). Immigrated to the U.S. in 1979
• Pantea Beigi, human rights advocate, known for her media appearances commenting on the human rights conditions in Iran in the wake of the2009 Iranian presidential election protests. She has served as anAmeriCorps member for thePeaceJam foundation, notably working with Dr.Shirin Ebadi in her efforts to address social and economic injustices of the youth in Iran
• Michael Benjamin, 1996Republican candidate for theU.S. House from the8th district of New York, and 2004United States Senate Republican Primary candidate fromNew York
• Stephanie Bice,US Representative (2020- ),RepublicanU.S. House from5th District of Oklahoma
• Makan Delrahim,United States Assistant Attorney General for theUnited States Department of Justice Antitrust Division under the Trump Administration
• Jimmy Delshad, former mayor ofBeverly Hills, California (2007–2008, 2010–2011), first Iranian-born mayor of an American city
• Eugene Dooman, counselor at theUnited StatesEmbassy inTokyo during the period of critical negotiations between theU.S. andJapan beforeWorld War II
• Abdullah Entezam, Iranian diplomat, Iranian ambassador to France (1927) and to West Germany, secretary of the Iranian embassy in the United States. Father ofHume Horan
• Anna Eshoo,U.S. Representative ofCalifornia's 18th congressional district
• Anna Eskamani, member of theFlorida House of Representatives.
• Abbas Farzanegan, former governor of the state of Esfahan, communications minister and diplomat duringMohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign. Key figure in facilitation of the1953 Iranian coup d'état. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1975
• Shireen Ghorbani, at-large member of theSalt Lake County Council, representing 1.1 million residents
• Rostam Giv, 3rd representative of Iranian Zoroastrians in Iranian parliament, senator of the Iranian Senate, and philanthropist to the Zoroastrian community in Iran, then United States, and the world. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1978.
• Ferial Govashiri, served as thePersonal Secretary toU.S. PresidentBarack Obama at theWhite House (2014–2017). Currently is the chief of staff to the chief content officer ofNetflix
• Hrach Gregorian, political consultant, educator, and writer. His work has taken him internationally as a consultant on internationalconflict management, and post-conflict peacebuilding
• Cyrus Habib, 16thLieutenant Governor of Washington, and president of theWashington State Senate. First and so far only Iranian-American elected to state office
• Kamal Habibollahi, lastcommander of theImperian Iranian Navy until theIranian Revolution and the last CNO commander of thePahlavi dynasty. Also held several minister positions under themilitary government ofGholam Reza Azhari in 1978. Immigrated to the U.S. after theIranian Revolution
• Shamsi Hekmat, women's rights activist who pioneered reforms in women's status in Iran. Founded the firstIranian Jewish women's organization (Sazman Banovan Yahud i Iran) in 1947. After immigrating to the U.S., she established the Iranian Jewish Women's Organization of Southern California.
• Shahram Homayoun, political dissident of the government of theIslamic Republic of Iran, and owner of "Channel One," aPersian satellite TV station based inLos Angeles that broadcasts into Iran daily
• Hume Horan, diplomat and former U.S. ambassador toCameroon,Equatorial Guinea,Sudan,Saudi Arabia, and theIvory Coast. Son ofAbdullah Entezam
• Fereydoon Hoveyda, former Iranian ambassador to theUnited Nations (1971–1979). Since his exile to the U.S., senior fellow and member of the executive committee of theNational Committee on American Foreign Policy (NCAFP)
• Shaban Jafari, Iranian political figure, practitioner ofPahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals. Key figure in the facilitation of the1953 Iranian coup d'état. Exiled to the United States soon after the 1979 revolution
• Cyrus Javadi, Oregon state representative^[39]
• Anna Kaplan (née Anna Monahemi), first Iranian-American elected to New York State Senate
• Zahra Karinshak (née Zahra Sheikholeslam), attorney, politician, and military veteran. Graduate from U.S. Air Force Academy (10th class of women), legal counsel to the Governor of Georgia, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia (U.S. Department of Justice), named a Best Lawyer in America and Super Lawyer (top 100), first Iranian-American elected to the Georgia Legislature.
• Mehdi Khalaji, political analyst, writer, and scholar of Shia Islamic studies. Senior research fellow at theWashington Institute for Near East Policy, aD.C.-basedforeign policy think tank. He has frequently contributed to journalistic outlets such asBBC,The Guardian,The Washington Post, andThe New York Times
• Alan Khazei, social entrepreneur; founder and CEO of "Be The Change, Inc", dedicated to building coalitions amongnon-profit organizations and citizen . Co-founder and former CEO ofCity Year, anAmeriCorps national service program
• Bijan Kian, businessman, member of the board of directors of theExport–Import Bank of the United States, Partner ofMichael Flynn in theFlynn Intel Group, and worked with thefirst Trump administration transition team in regards to theOffice of the Director of National Intelligence
• Paul Larudee, political activist and a major figure in the pro-Palestinian movement. He is involved in theInternational Solidarity Movement and the founder of theFree Gaza Movement and the Free Palestine Movement
• Ahmad Madani, formercommander of theImperial Iranian Navy (1979), governor of theKhuzestan province, and candidate of thefirst Iranian presidential election. After his exile to the United States in 1980, he was the chairman of theNational Front outside of Iran.
• Cyrus Mehri, attorney and partner at Mehri & Skalet. Best known for helping establish theNational Football League's (NFL)Rooney Rule
• Mariam Memarsadeghi, democracy and human rights advocate
• Ross Mirkarimi, former member ofSan Francisco City Council and formerSan FranciscoSheriff. Co-founder of theGreen Party of California
• Mohammad Hassan Mirza II, last Crown Prince ofIran from the rule of theQajar dynasty &heir apparent to theQajarSun Throne. Currently lives inDallas, Texas.
• Shayan Modarres, civil right activist known for his representation of the family ofTrayvon Martin, and a 2014Democratic primary candidate for theU.S. House from the10th district of Florida
• Valentine Moghadam, feminist scholar, sociologist, activist, and author
• Esha Momeni, women's rights activist and a member of theOne Million Signatures campaign
• David Nahai, environmental attorney, political activist, former head of theLos Angeles Department of Water and Power
• Adrin Nazarian, Member of the California State Assembly from the 46th district. FirstIranian-American elected to theCalifornia State Legislature
• John J. Nimrod, minority rights activist andIllinois state senator of District 4 (1973–1983) of Iranian-Assyrian descent; notable for his promotion ofAssyrian causes and for the rights of other under-represented minority groups throughout the world, such asUyghurs andTibetans
• Alex Nowrasteh,immigration policy analyst currently at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at theCato Institute, and previously at theCompetitive Enterprise Institute. He is a national expert on immigration policy
• Vali Nasr, Shia scholar and political scientist. Senior Fellow inforeign policy at theBrookings Institution
• Prince Abdul Reza Pahlavi, son ofReza Shah and half-brother ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi. Immigrated to the U.S. with other relatives immediately prior to theIslamic revolution of 1979
• Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi, younger son ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi andFarah Pahlavi. He was second in theorder of succession to the Iranian throne prior to theIranian revolution.
• Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, twin sister ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi. Considered to be the "power behind her brother" and instrumental in the1953 coup d'état which led him taking the throne. Served her brother as a Palace advisor and a strong advocate forwomen's rights.
• Farah Pahlavi, widow ofMohammad Reza Shah and formershahbanu (empress) of Iran
• Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi, eldest daughter ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi andFarah Pahlavi. Currently resides in New York City
• Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, lastheir apparent of theImperial State of Iran and current head of the exiledHouse of Pahlavi. Oldest son ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi andFarah Pahlavi. Founder and former leader of theNational Council of Iran. Currently resides inBethesda, Maryland.
• Shams Pahlavi, elder sister ofMohammad Reza Pahlavi. Former president of theRed Lion and Sun Society. Exiled to theUnited States after the1979 revolution
• Yasmine Pahlavi, lawyer and wife ofReza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran. Co-founder and former director of the Foundation for the Children of Iran. Currently resides inBethesda, Maryland
• Mehrdad Pahlbod, Iranian royal and first culture minister of Iran (1964–1968). He was the second husband of PrincessShams Pahlavi. Immigrated to the U.S. and resided inLos Angeles after the1979 revolution
• Trita Parsi, founder and current president of theNational Iranian American Council. He regularly writes articles and appears on TV to comment on foreign policy
• Noraladin Pirmoazzen, Iranian politician who served as a member of the6th and7thIslamic Consultative Assembly from the electorate ofArdabil,Nir,Namin andSareyn. Immigrated to the U.S. in 2008.
• Azita Raji, formerUnited States Ambassador to Sweden appointed byBarack Obama
• Farajollah Rasaei,Commander of the Imperial Iranian Navy (1961–1972), the most Senior Naval Commander of theIranian Navy. Exiled to the U.S. after the1979 revolution
• Parviz Sabeti, formerSAVAK deputy under the regime ofMohammad Reza Shah. One of the most powerful men in the last two decades of thePahlavi regime. Exiled to the U.S. in 1979.
• Ahsha Safaí, elected member of theSan Francisco Board of Supervisors representing Supervisorial District 11
• David Safavian, disgraced former chief of staff of the United StatesGeneral Services Administration
• Karim Sanjabi, Iranian politician of theNational Front of Iran. Settled in the U.S. after the1979 revolution
• Hajj Sayyah, famous world traveler and political activist. He is the first Iranian to obtain an American citizenship. Played a major role in thePersian Constitutional Revolution of 1906.
• Mohsen Sazegara, pro-democracy political activist and journalist. He held several offices in the government ofMir-Hossein Mousavi. His reformist policies clashed with theSupreme Leader Ali Khamenei, eventually resulting in his arrest and later exile. He currently resides in the U.S.
• Farhad Sepahbody, former ambassador of Iran to Morocco (1976–1979). Exiled to the U.S. after theIranian Revolution
• Soraya Serajeddini, Iranian-Kurdish human rights activist. Former executive vice president of theKurdish National Congress of North America.
• Mehdi Shahbazi, political activist and businessman. He was known for protest against majoroil companies at the grounds of hisShell Oil gas station franchises
• Azadeh N. Shahshahani, human rights attorney
• Ali Shakeri, activist and businessman. Serves on the Community Advisory Board of the Center for Citizen Peacebuilding at theUniversity of California, Irvine, and is the founder and active member ofEttehade Jomhourikhahan-e Iran (EJI), which advocates for ademocratic andsecular republic in Iran. He was one of the four Iranian-Americans detained by theIranian government in May 2007.
• Jafar Sharif-Emami, formerprime minister of Iran (1960–1961, 1978–1979), former president of theIranian Senate (1964–1978), and formerMinister of Foreign Affairs of Iran (1960). Exiled to the U.S. in the wake of theIranian Revolution
• Faryar Shirzad, former Deputy National Security Advisor andWhite House Deputy Assistant for International Economic Affairs to PresidentGeorge W. Bush
• Yasmine Taeb, human rights attorney andDemocratic National Committee official. She is a senior policy counsel at theCenter for Victims of Torture
• Ramin Toloui, current professor of practice atStanford University. Former Assistant Secretary for International Finance,United States Department of the Treasury
• Roozbeh Farahanipour , Iranian Americans Activist, business owners, West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce CEO, Politicians
• Bob Yousefian, former mayor ofGlendale, California
• Raumesh Akbari, member of theTennessee Senate

Sports

• Ali Abdo, boxer and founder ofPersepolis Athletic and Cultural Club
• Salman Agah, professional skateboarder
• Alex Agase, American footballguard andlinebacker who played with theCleveland Browns before becoming head football coach atNorthwestern University andPurdue University
• Andre Agassi, professional tennis player
• Emmanuel Agassi, formerboxer and the father and former coach ofAndre Agassi
• Daniel Alaei, professional poker player
• Kambiz Atabay, former president of theAsian Football Confederation (1976–1978), former president of theFootball Federation of Iran (1972–1979).
• Esfandiar Baharmast, World Cup soccer referee, FIFA Instructor, known asEsse Baharmast, officiated in 1998 World Cup Soccer, 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, recipient of MLS Golden Whistle Award, NASO Golden Whistle Award and US Soccer 2020 Award
• David Bakhtiari, football offensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), father is Iranian
• Jim Bakhtiar,fullback andplacekicker for theVirginia Cavaliers football team (1955–1957). After attaining his medical degree in 1963, he moved to Iran and established the country's first psychiatric unit
• Eric Bakhtiari, linebacker in theNFL, most recently for theSan Francisco 49ers. father is Iranian
• Steven Beitashour, Iranian-American soccer player, plays forLos Angeles FC and previously for theIranian national football team
• Farzad Bonyadi, world poker champion; he has won 3World Series of Poker bracelets
• Hassan Chitsaz, world's oldest active and licensed professionalboxermixed martial artist.
• Ariya Daivari, professional wrestler signed toAEW
• Shawn Daivari, professional wrestler and manager, better known by his stage names ofSheik Abdul Bashir,Khosrow Daivari, or simplyDaivari^[40]
• Beneil Dariush, professionalmixed martial artist competing in theLightweight division of theUFC.
• Hamid Dastmalchi, world champion of poker, who has won 3World Series of Poker bracelets
• Dorsa Derakhshani, chess player,Woman Grandmaster andInternational Master. Currently playing for theSaint Louis University Chess Team
• Antonio Esfandiari, champion poker player, and former professional magician
• Mori Eskandani, champion poker player and producer of American poker television programsPoker After Dark,High Stakes Poker, and theNational Heads-Up Poker Championship
• Alecko Eskandarian, American soccer player. Played as defender for theF.C. Ararat Tehran,Taj SC and theNew York Cosmos of theNorth American Soccer League
• Andranik Eskandarian, former soccer player
• Ali Eslami, high-stakes poker player. One of the first two people to win the Man-Machine Poker Competition againstPolaris. Member of the U.S. poker team in the inauguralInternational Federation of Poker's Poker Nation's Cup
• Ali Farokhmanesh, former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for theColorado State Rams men's basketball team.
• Matt Ghaffari, Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler,^[41] and MMA fighter
• Afshin Ghotbi, soccer coach, former assistant coach ofKorea Republic national football team,Los Angeles Galaxy andIran national team
• Hamed Haddadi, professional basketball player
• Andre Heidari, American footballplacekicker, played college football for theUSC Trojans
• Ali Haji-Sheikh, American footballplacekicker who played for theAtlanta Falcons,Washington Redskins, and theNew York Giants
• Cyrus Hobbi, American footballoffensive lineman for theUSC Trojans
• T. J. Houshmandzadeh, formerNFL wide receiver who played for theOakland Raiders,Baltimore Ravens, and theSeattle Seahawks
• The Iron Sheik (Khosrow Vaziri), retired professional wrestler
• Saeed Kadkhodaian, retired professional soccer player and current president of Azad, Inc. Soccer USA and Doostan, Inc. Soccer USA. Previously owned, coached and played for theAustin Sockadillos and owned theMinnesota Thunder (2005–2007). 2006 inductee to theUnited Soccer Leagues Hall of Fame
• King Kamali (Shahriar Kamali),IFBB professional bodybuilder
• Danny Karbassiyoon, professional soccer player, played forArsenal,Ipswich Town andBurnley
• Ali Kazemaini, soccerforward and former men's head coach atCleveland State University.
• Arsalan Kazemi, former basketball player for theWashington Wizards and the first Iranian to ever be drafted into theNBA. Currently plays forPetrochimi Bandar Imam of theIranian Basketball Super League
• Kamy Keshmiri, retireddiscus thrower, winner of the gold metal in the men's discus throw event at the1989 Summer Universiade
• Ameen Khosravian, professional basketball player, and founder & CEO of the international clothing/apparel brand Pirouzi Athletics
• Armin Mahbanoozadeh, figure skater
• Ben Mahdavi,American footballlinebacker andlong snapper. He has played for theAtlanta Falcons,Indianapolis Colts, and theAmsterdam Admirals
• George Malek-Yonan, Iran's "Champion of Champions" in track & field and pentathlon
• Sanaz Marand, tennis player
• Adam Mazarei, basketball coach, currently the assistant coach for theVanderbilt Commodores of theSoutheastern Conference
• Fred McNair, former professional tennis player, Lailee's brother, Laleh Bakhtiar's nephew
• Garnik Mehrabian, soccer player and coach
• Vahid Mirzadeh, tennis player
• Omid Namazi, renowned soccer coach & retired professional soccerdefender. Currently the assistant manager ofUnited States U20
• Cha Cha Namdar, soccer player who played in theMajor Indoor Soccer League,North American Soccer League andContinental Indoor Soccer League.
• Petros Nazarbegian, boxer, competed in the1952 Summer Olympics as a member of theIran senior nationalBoxing team. Head coach of Iranian national boxing team (1954–1963). Immigrated to the U.S. after the1979 revolution
• Amin Abraham Paul Nikfar,shot put for the Iranian National Team and finished 1st in theAsian Indoor Championships in Iran in 2004^[42]
• Arash Noamouz, soccerleft midfielder, who played for theLos Angeles Galaxy, theIran national football team,Poora,Pas, andBahman
• Shar Pourdanesh,American footballoffensive lineman who had played in theNational Football League for theWashington Redskins,Pittsburgh Steelers, andOakland Raiders from 1996 to 2001. He is distinguished as the firstIranian to play in theNational Football League
• Farrukh Quraishi, soccer player, who spent six seasons in theNorth American Soccer League playing for theTampa Bay Rowdies andCalgary Boomers. President and general manager of theTampa Bay Rowdies (2014–2015)
• Jahon Rad, professional soccer player who plays for theSwope Park Rangers in theUSL Championship. Twin brother ofKaveh
• Kaveh Rad, professional soccer player who plays for theSwope Park Rangers in theUSL Championship. Twin brother ofJahon
• Rhett Rakhshani, ice hockey forward
• Mike Rostampour, professional basketball player, plays for theIranian national basketball team
• Amir Sadollah, professionalmixed martial artist and winner ofThe Ultimate Fighter 7
• Nima Saghafi, soccerreferee inMajor League Soccer
• Behdad Sami, first professional Iranian basketball player in American history
• Steve Sarkisian,American football coach and former player; current offensive coordinator for theAlabama Crimson Tide, and former offensive coordinator for theAtlanta Falcons of theNational Football League
• Michael Shabaz, tennis player, 2005Wimbledon boys' doubles championship
• Kamal Shalorus, mixed martial artist, formerly competing in theUFC and theWEC. Currently competing inONE FC
• Kamran Shirazi,International Master ofchess
• Yasmin Siraj,figure skater and the 2010U.S. junior silver medalist
• Amir Vahedi, professional poker player
• Leila Vaziri, competitive swimmer, gold medalist at the2007 World Aquatics Championships, and former world record holder of the 50m women'sbackstroke
• Hooman Tavakolian, sport diplomat and lobbyist, Hall of Fame, wrestler
• Kia Zolgharnain, retired soccer forward, led theAmerican Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during 1986–1987 season
• Hunter Nourzad,American footballCenter played forCornell andPenn State.^[43]

Religion

See also

References