Part 2 of 2:
And then, after the war in Iran started and the regime imposed another internet blackout, Arta got a new offer to access the global internet through another service approved by the authorities.
Accepting would mean playing by the regime's rules.
But he had a business to run and a family to support.
Would he take the offer?
This is the second of 2 "Arta" videos, both performed by @ArianMoayed for our @thisamerlife Iran episode, "Blackout."
Full episode: /886/blackout
With @fatemehjamalpur
Producers: @chanajoffewalt@thisamericandiane and Nancy Updike
Artwork by @bykellymalka
Video by @Rkweavy
The blackout is now in its 77th day, according to @netblocks .
#Iran #IranBlackout #IranWar #IranCensorship #InternetFreedom
We are so proud that Champions of the Golden Valley is nominated for an Emmy! This remarkable film is now streaming globally for free, thanks to @olympics ⛷️
In the remote mountains of Afghanistan, Alishah Farhang and the brave skiers of Bamyan build their own skis and create a culture of possibility from the ground up. Watching these young athletes glide down a mountain reveals how joy can coexist with hardship, and how sport becomes language, connection and liberation.
🏆 Directed by Ben Sturgulewski, produced by Katie Stjernholm & Baktash Ahadi, executive producers @arianmoayed and @malala , @championsdoc has won more than 50 awards at film festivals worldwide, and is now nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Documentary!
🎬 If you are looking for a true story that inspires hope, humanity and courage, head to Olympics.com to watch the film!
I profiled Arian Moayed for @fthtsi . We talked about Iran, his first memories, his brother’s war memories, his father’s loss of memory. Also his flip phone, his nonprofit @waterwell_org , his daughters only occasionally thinking that he’s cool, and a film about a man who wants to die and strangers who won’t let him. He also showed me a bunch of the stuff in his office. This issue was guest edited by Celine Song. Link in stories.
Thank you @arianmoayed . Our conversation was very moving and I loved writing this.
From Succession to the Marvel Cinematic Universe @ArianMoayed has perfected modern villainy. But as the founder of #WaterwellTheatre (@waterwell_org ) the Iranian actor is also an activist for social justice, and a storyteller of sometimes other inconvenient truths. Read @lilahrap ’s profile of Moayed from the #CelineSong guest edit of @fthtsi at the link in bio.
📸: @jingyulin_
.
.
.
.
.
.
#ArianMoayed #Succession #Marvel #WaterWellTheatre
(Post 2) For the past few weeks, we worked with "This American Life" to collect voice memos from people across Iran during the war and regime-imposed internet blackout, which the UN human rights office has called “one of the longest and most severe shutdowns ever recorded globally.”
Through these voices, we hope to offer glimpses into daily life in Iran - the fears, hopes and humanity that persist behind the digital darkness.
The audio episode introduces a language teacher in love with a pro-regime colleague; a doctor who treated survivors of the January massacre, now helping a child suffering a wartime panic attack; and an engineer forced to compromise his values for state-approved internet just to keep his business alive.
We're deeply grateful to the many Iranians who shared their stories with us - despite the dangers and difficulties.
And a heartfelt thank you to the extraordinary team @thisamerlife for the time, care and commitment they brought to sharing these voices — and to the actors, including @taragrammy , @arianmoayed , and @babaktafti , whose performances were so moving that at times we forgot the voices had been re-created.
@chanajoffewalt@thisamericandiane@npr@bykellymalka@maasalan@sardar.pashaei@baharbeihaghi@avalalezarzadeh@abmakany@pejvahdat@navidnegahban@darius.homayoun@jerry.habibi@dontworryitssheila
Full episode: /886/blackout
#Iran #IranBlackout #IranWar #DigitalDarkness #InsideIran
Benyamin Naghdi, a 26-year-old kickboxing and martial arts champion from Shiraz, was arrested on January 3, 2026.
According to authorities’ claims, Mr. Naghdi allegedly discharged the contents of a fire extinguisher toward security forces while attempting to evade them. He is now facing the charge of “Moharebeh” (enmity against God) and is currently being held in solitary confinement.
A person identifying as Benyamin’s sister is appealing to the public for solidarity, urging everyone to raise their voices to prevent his execution.
فردی که خود را خواهر بنیامین معرفی کرده است، با استمداد از افکار عمومی و درخواست همصدایی، از مردم میخواهد مانع از اجرای حکم اعدام او شوند
بنیامین نقدی جوان ۲۶ساله و قهرمان کیک بوکسینگ و هنرهای رزمی اهل شیراز، در تاریخ ۱۳دی ۱۴۰۴ بازداشت شد.
آقای #بنیامین_نقدی که به ادعاى مقامات به هنگام فرار از دست نيروهاى امنیتی، محتواى یک كپسول آتش نشانى را به سمت آن ها خالى كرده است، حالا با اتهام «محاربه» روبرو است و هم اكنون در سلول انفرادى نگهدارى میشود.
خواهر آقای نقدی از مردم میخواهد با همصدایی مانع از کشته شدن برادرش شوند.
Sina Haghshenas, a 25-year-old florist and owner of a shop named « Shahdeh » in Gorgan, was shot and killed by security forces during the protests on January 7, 2026.
According to research by the Boroumand Center, Mr. Behnam Darvishi, a chef from Nahavand, born on December 7, 1993, was killed during the protests on January 9, 2026, in Tehran.
On Thursday, March 19, 2026, security forces arrested Afsaneh Roozbehani and Behnoosh Darvishi, the mother and sister of #Behnam_Darvishi, along with nine other citizens in Nahavand while they were visiting his grave. They were subsequently transferred to Nooshijan Prison in Malayer.
These actions are taking place while families seeking justice in Iran continue to face pressure and security confrontations, even during mourning ceremonies.
@Iranrights
Melika, 20, a final-semester economics student from the Yarsan minority, was killed on the night of January 8, 2026. Around 9 PM in Shahrak-e Moallem, Kermanshah, she was shot directly in the head during the protests. After her body was moved to Taleghani Hospital and the forensics office, she was finally returned to her family. She was buried the following day in Shava Cemetery, Kerend, next to her mother.
