List of Iranian Americans

This is a list of notable Iranian-Americans of all Iranian ethnic backgrounds, including both original immigrants who obtained American citizenship and their American descendants.
''To be included in this list, the person must have a Wikipedia article showing they are Iranian-American or must have references showing they are Iranian American.

List

Academia/science

Behnaam Aazhang, J.S. Abercrombie Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Rice 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 at Bentley University since 1988.
Ervand Abrahamian, historian of Middle Eastern history at City University of New York
Janet Afary, author, feminist activist, and professor of Religious Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Gholam Reza Afkhami, senior scholar and director of Social Science Research and International Studies at the Foundation for Iranian Studies
Shahriar Afshar, physicist and inventor who is the namesake of the Afshar experiment
Newsha Ajami, hydrologist specializing in urban water policy and sustainable water management; professor and Director of Urban Water Policy program at Stanford University
Abass Alavi, Professor of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania
Leonardo Alishan, professor of Persian and Comparative Literature at the University of Utah
Abbas Alizadeh, archeologist of ancient Iran; former Senior Research Associate and Director of the Iranian Prehistoric Project at the University of Chicago
Abbas Amanat, William Graham Sumner Professor of History & International Studies at Yale University and Director, Yale Program In Iranian Studies.
Hooshang Amirahmadi, academic and political analyst. Professor of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University
Nahid Angha, Sufi scholar, Co-director and co-founder of the International Association of Sufism, founder of the International Sufi Women Organization, and executive editor of the journal Sufism: An Inquiry
Anousheh Ansari, first Iranian in space and the first female space tourist;
Nima Arkani-Hamed, theoretical physicist and professor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, New Jersey
Abbas Ardehali, surgical director of UCLA's Heart and Lung Transplant program
Saïd Amir Arjomand, professor of sociology at Stony Brook University, and Director of the Stony Brook Institute of Global Studies. Founding Editor of the Journal of Persianate Studies
Yahya Armajani, professor of history and soccer coach at Macalester College
Reza Aslan, scholar of religious studies, television host, and author of ' and '. Currently a professor of creative writing at University of California, Riverside. Board member of the National Iranian American Council
Abolhassan Astaneh-Asl, structural engineer and professor at University of California, Berkeley; investigated the collapse of the World Trade Center towers due to the September 11 attacks
Fakhreddin Azimi, professor of history at the University of Connecticut
Babak Azizzadeh, facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Keck School of Medicine of USC
Sussan Babaie, art historian and curator, specialist in Persian art and Islamic art of the early modern period.especially the Safavid 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 with Sufism. She is best known for her 2007 translation of the Qur'an, known as The Sublime Quran,
Mehrsa Baradaran, law professor specializing in banking law at University of Georgia
Iraj Bashiri, professor of History at the University of Minnesota specialist in the fields of Central Asian studies and Iranian studies
Asef Bayat, professor of sociology and Middle Eastern studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
Manuel Berberian, earth scientist, specializing in earthquake seismology, geophysics, archaeoseismology, and environmental geoscience
Mina Bissell, scientist and biologist known for research on breast cancer; former head of life science at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
George Bournoutian, historian, professor of History at Iona 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 of Microsoft Research New England & Microsoft Research New York
Houchang Chehabi, historian, expert in Iranian studies at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, where he is professor of International Relations and History
Aaron Cohen-Gadol, internationally renowned neurosurgeon specializing in surgical treatment of brain tumors and aneurysms
Hamid Dabashi, Professor of Iranian Studies and Comparative Literature at Columbia University in New York City
Jaleh Daie, scientist, former professor of biology and department chairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Rutgers University
Richard Danielpour, Professor of Composition, Manhattan School of Music
Touraj Daryaee, Iranologist and historian at the University of California, Irvine
Armen Der Kiureghian, professor of civil engineering at University of California, Berkeley, member of U.S. National Academy of Engineering, current President of the American University of Armenia
Keivan Deravi, economist at Auburn University at Montgomery
Sibel Edmonds, former translator who worked as a contractor for the Federal Bureau of Investigation ; founder of the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition
Azita Emami, Andrew and Peggy Cherng Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering at Caltech; Executive Officer of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Caltech
Nader Engheta, H. Nedwill Ramsey Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. He has made pioneering contributions to the fields of metamaterials, transformation and plasmonic optics, nano- and graphene 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 at MIT. His main expertise is in the field of hydrology.
Haleh Esfandiari, Middle East scholar and former director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow 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 the Middle East. She was one of the four Iranian-Americans falsely convicted and detained by the Iranian government in May 2007.
Kamran Eshraghian, electrical engineer, notable for his work on VLSI and CMOS VLSI design
Fariba Fahroo, mathematician, program manager at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. Along with I. M. Ross, she has published papers in pseudospectral optimal control theory. The Ross–Fahroo lemma and the Ross–Fahroo pseudospectral method are named after her
Fereydoon Family, leading physicist in the field of nanotechnology and solid-state physics. He is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Physics at Emory University
Allah Verdi Mirza Farman Farmaian, professor and head of Biology department at Rutgers 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 the International Planned Parenthood Federation
Alimorad Farshchian, medical doctor, medical author, and founder and director of The Center of Regenerative Medicine in Miami, Florida
Nariman Farvardin, President of Stevens Institute of Technology, and former Provost of University of Maryland
Bobak Ferdowsi, systems engineer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory; served on the Cassini–Huygens and Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity mission.
Alexander L. George, behavioral scientist specialist in the psychological effects of nuclear crisis management, Graham H. Stuart Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Stanford University
Mohammadreza Ghadiri, chemist and professor of chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute. Awarded the Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology in 1998
Roozbeh Ghaffari, inventor, bioelectronics entrepreneur, biomedical engineering research faculty at Northwestern University
Zoubin Ghahramani, Professor of Information Engineering at the University of Cambridge
Kambiz GhaneaBassiri, professor of religion at Reed College, and author of A History of Islam in America and Competing Visions of Islam in the United States.
M.R. Ghanoonparvar, Professor Emeritus of Persian and Comparative Literature at the faculty of Middle Eastern studies at the University of Texas, Austin
Morteza Gharib, Hans W. Liepmann Professor of Aeronautics and Bio-Inspired Engineering at Caltech.
Jamshid Gharajedaghi, organizational theorist, management consultant, & adjunct professor of Systems thinking at Villanova University. B
John Ghazvinian, author, historian and former journalist. Associate Director of the Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
Doreen Granpeesheh, clinical psychologist, producer of the documentary .
Vartan Gregorian, President of The Carnegie Corporation of New York and former president of Brown University
Mohammad Hajiaghayi, computer scientist known for his work in algorithms, game theory, network design, and big data. Jack and Rita G. Minker professor at the University of Maryland Dept. of Computer Science.
Ali Hajimiri, inventor, technologist, and Thomas G. Myers Professor of Electrical Engineering at Caltech. Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
Reza Hamzaee, economist and BOG-Distinguished Professor of Economics at Missouri Western State University. Specialist in banking and managerial economics
Babak Hassibi, electrical engineer, the inaugural Mose and Lillian S. Bohn Professor of Electrical Engineering. Specialist in communications, signal processing and control.
Payam Heydari, Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of California, Irvine
Shireen Hunter, Research Professor at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University.
Ahmad Iravani, philosopher, scholar, and clergyman. Professor of theology at the University of California, Davis. Founder, President, and Executive Director of "Center for the Study of Islam and the Middle East"
Ali Jadbabaie, systems theorist, network scientist, and the JR East Professor of Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ali Jafari, professor of Computer and Information Technology at Purdue University, Director of the CyberLab at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
Hamid Jafarkhani, leading communication theorist and Chancellor's Professor of electrical engineering and computer science at the University of California, Irvine
Ramin Jahanbegloo, philosopher at University of Toronto
Farnam Jahanian, computer scientist and the 10th president of Carnegie Mellon University
Ali Javan, physicist, inventor of gas laser; Professor Emeritus of Physics at MIT
Hassan Jawahery, physicist, former spokesman of the BaBar Collaboration, and professor of Physics at the University 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 at MIT, and co-faculty at the New England Complex Systems Institute
Morvarid Karimi, neurologist and medical researcher, specialist in neuroimaging of the pathophysiology of movement disorders. She was an assistant professor of Neurology in the Movement Disorders Section at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO
Ahmad Karimi-Hakkak, Iranist, scholar of modern Persian literature, and Professor and Founding Director of the Roshan Center for Persian Studies at the University of Maryland
Elham Kazemi, mathematics educator and educational psychologist; Geda and Phil Condit Professor in Math and Science Education in the College of Education of the University of Washington
Firuz Kazemzadeh, historian of Russian and Iranian history, and Professor Emeritus of history at Yale University.
Homayoon Kazerooni, roboticist & professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley; director of the Berkeley Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory
Fatemeh Keshavarz, scholar of Rumi and Farsi language & poetry, and poet in Persian and English; Director & Chair of Roshan Institute for Persian Studies at the University of Maryland. Previously, was a professor of Persian Language and Comparative Literature at Washington University in Saint Louis
Ali Khademhosseini, Levi Knight Endowed Professor at the University of California-Los Angeles. Holds a professorship in bioengineering, radiology, chemical, and biomolecular engineering.
Laleh Khalili, professor of Middle Eastern Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. She also writes regularly for Iranian.com
Farid Khavari, economist, specialist in economics, environment, oil, healthcare, & the Middle East.
Samira Kiani, Health Systems Engineer at Arizona State University. Her work combines CRISPR technology with synthetic biology. She is a 2019 AAAS Leshner Fellow.
Farinaz Koushanfar, professor and Henry Booker Faculty Scholar of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of California, San Diego
Habib Levy, historian, specialist in the history of Jews in Iran; author of Comprehensive History of the Jews of Iran: The Outset of the Diaspora.
Esfandiar Maasoumi, econometrician and economist. Distinguished Professor at Emory University and a fellow of the Royal Statistical Society
Mohammad Jafar Mahjoub, prominent Iranian scholar of Persian literature, essayist, translator, and professor. Moved to the U.S. in 1991 and taught at the University of California, Berkeley
Hoooman Majd, journalist, author, and commentator
G. A. Mansoori, professor of chemical engineering at University of Illinois at Chicago
Alireza Mashaghi, biophysicist and medical scientist at Leiden University and Harvard University
Bahram Mashhoon, general relativity physicist and professor of physics at the University of Missouri. Through his research works, he has given important contributions to general relativity, particularly to the gravitomagnetic clock effect. He is also active in the field of non-local gravity
Rashid Massumi, cardiologist and clinical professor, best known for his pioneering research in the field of electrophysiology. He was also known for bringing modern cardiology to Iran, and for being the cardiologist to the last Shah of Iran and, until 1980, Ayatollah Khomeini
Noah McKay, physician and author of Wellness at Warp Speed
Robert Mehrabian, material scientist, former president of Carnegie Mellon University, and Chair, President, and CEO of Teledyne Technologies
Houra Merrikh, microbiologist and a full professor at Vanderbilt University
Abbas Milani, Director of Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University; research fellow & co-director of the "Iran Democracy Project" at Stanford's Hoover Institution
Farzaneh Milani, professor of Persian Literature and Women's Studies at the University 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 the University of South Florida
Abbas Mirakhor, economist; former Executive Director and Dean of Board of the International Monetary Fund ; Distinguished Scholar and Chair in Islamic Finance at Malaysia's INCEIF
Maryam Mirzakhani, Stanford University Professor; first female winner of the Fields 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 of computer science at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at New York University. Specialist in machine learning, automata theory and algorithms, speech recognition and natural language processing
Parviz Moin, fluid dynamicist, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Stanford University. 2011 inductee to the United States National Academy of Sciences
Mohsen Mostafavi, architect and educator, Dean and Alexander and Victoria Wiley Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design
Farzad Mostashari, internal medicine physician, former national coordinator for health information technology at U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Hossein Khan Motamed, surgeon, founder of the Motamed Hospital in Tehran, Iran, and personal physician of Mohammad Reza Shah.
Negar Mottahedeh, cultural critic and film theorist
Roy Mottahedeh, Gurney Professor of History, Emeritus at Harvard University, specialist in pre-modern social and intellectual history of the Islamic Middle East. Former director of Harvard's Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and inaugural director of Harvard's Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Islamic Studies Program
Hamid Mowlana, Professor Emeritus of International Relations and founding director of the Division of International Communication at the School of International Service at American University. In 2003, he was honored as an "Chehrehaye Mandegar" by Iranian universities and academies.
Eden Naby, Iranian-Assyrian cultural historian of Central Asia and the Middle East, who is notable for her publications, research, and preservation work on Assyrian culture and history
Firouz Naderi, former NASA director of Mars project. Has also served in other various technical and executive positions at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
Hamid Naficy, cholar of cultural studies of diaspora, exile, & postcolonial cinemas and media, and of Iranian & Middle Eastern cinemas. Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in Communication at Northwestern University.
Paul M. Naghdi, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. Specialist in continuum mechanics
Majid M. Naini, Rumi scholar, computer scientist, former professor at University of Pennsylvania, writer on poetry, science, technology, and mysticism
Kayvan Najarian, Associate Professor of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University
Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Professor of Islamic Studies at George Washington University; prominent Islamic philosopher
Vali Nasr, author and scholar on the Middle East and Islamic world; Served as Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington D.C.
Angella Nazarian, former Professor of Psychology at Mount St. Mary's University, California State University, Long Beach & the Los Angeles Valley College. Co-founder of Looking Beyond
Sharon Nazarian, founder of the Younes and Soraya Israel Studies Center at the University 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 and Assistant Professor of Engineering at Dartmouth College
Kaveh Pahlavan, Professor of Computer and Electrical Engineering, Professor of Computer Science, and Director of the Center for Wireless Information Network Studies at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Firouz Partovi, physicist; founder and former chairman of the Faculty of Physics at the Sharif University of Technology. He has also taught at MIT and Harvard University.
Massoud Pedram, computer engineer known for his research in green computing, power optimization, low power electronics and design, and electronic design automation.
Gholam A. Peyman, ophthalmologist, retina surgeon, and inventor of LASIK eye surgery
Nader Pourmand, professor of biomolecular engineering at the Baskin School of Engineering
Ali R. Rabi, scholar at the Center for International Development and Conflict Management at University 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 between HbA1C and diabetes
Hazhir Rahmandad, engineer and expert in dynamic modeling and system dynamics. Associate Professor in the System Dynamics group at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Yahya Rahmat-Samii, professor and the Northrop Grumman Chair in Electromagnetics at Electrical Engineering Department at UCLA
Behzad Razavi, professor of electrical engineering and director of the Communications Circuit Laboratory at the University of California, Los Angeles. y
Manijeh Razeghi, Walter P. Murphy Professor & Director of the Center for Quantum Devices at Northwestern University, pioneer in semiconductors and optoelectronic devices.
Zabihollah Rezaee, accountant, Thompson-Hill Chair of Excellence and Professor of accounting at the University of Memphis
Sakineh M. Redjali, psychologist and author. She was the first female professor at the National University of Iran
Darius Rejali, professor of political science at Reed College and scholar specialized in the study of torture. He has served on the board of the Human Rights Review since 2000.
Nouriel Roubini, one of the leading economists of our age; professor of economics at the Stern School of Business, New York University; chairman of RGE Monitor
Pardis Sabeti, world-renowned computational geneticist, Assistant Professor, Center for Systems Biology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University
Ahmad Sadri, sociologist and professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Lake Forest College, and the James P. Gorter Professor of Islamic World Studies since 2007. Active in the reform movement in Iran.
Mahmoud Sadri, professor of Sociology at the Federation of North 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 at Duke University, Director of the Duke Islamic Studies Center, and columnist for On Being. Scholar of Islamic mysticism
Mehran Sahami, professor and the Associate Chair for Education in the Computer Science department at Stanford 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 in petroleum engineering at USC
Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, professor of Economics at Virginia Tech, and visiting fellow at the Middle East Youth Initiative at the Wolfensohn Center for Development at the Brookings 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 the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Eliz Sanasarian, professor of political science at the University of Southern California. Specialist ethnic politics and feminism, particularly regarding the Middle East and Iran
Kamal Sarabandi, professor of Engineering at the University of Michigan
Homayoun Seraji, Senior Research Scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and CalTech, former professor at Sharif University of Technology. Works in the field of robotics and space exploration.
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 at Illinois 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 at Harvard University, full professor of history in Eastern Oregon University
Manuchehr Shahrokhi, professor of Global Business-Finance at California State University; Founding Editor of Global Finance Journal; Executive Director of Global Finance Association
Fatemeh Shams, contemporary Persian poet, and Assistant Professor of Persian literature at the University of Pennsylvania
Shahrokh Shariat, urologist; professor & chairman of the Department of Urology of the Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; adjunct professor of urology & medical oncology at Weill Cornell Medical Center & at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
Nasser Sharify, Distinguished Professor and Dean Emeritus of the School of Information and Library Science at Pratt Institute
Siamack A. Shirazi, scientist, professor and graduate coordinator of the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Tulsa.
Hamid Shirvani, architecture scholar, former president of Briar Cliff University, former chancellor of North Dakota University System.
Rahmat Shoureshi, former President of Portland State University; former president, Provost & professor at New 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 at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University. Author of books and articles on contemporary and historical Iranian Jewish culture
Shahrbanou Tadjbakhsh, university lecturer at Sciences Po, researcher, and United Nations consultant in peacekeeping, conflict resolution, counter-terrorism and radicalization. Best known for her work in "Human Security"
Kian Tajbakhsh, social scientist, urban planner, and professor of Urban Planning at Columbia University. One of the four Iranian-Americans falsely convicted and detained by the Iranian government in May 2007
Ray Takeyh, Middle East scholar and Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Kamran Talattof, Persian literature and Iranian culture; Director of Persian Program University of Arizona
Vahid Tarokh, professor of electrical and computer engineering, Bass Connections Professor, a professor of mathematics, and computer science at Duke University
Nader Tehrani, designer, Dean of the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture at Cooper Union, and former professor of architecture and department chair at the MIT School of Architecture and Planning.
Cumrun Vafa, string theorist and Donner Professor of Science at Harvard University. Recipient of the 2008 Dirac Medal and the 2016 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics.
Saba Valadkhan, biomedical scientist, Assistant professor and RNA researcher at Case Western Reserve University, recipient of Young Scientist Award in 2005 for the mechanism of spliceosomes
Roxanne Varzi, associate professor of anthropology and film and media studies at the University of California, Irvine, documentary filmmaker, and writer
Ehsan Yarshater, founder and Editor in Chief of Encyclopaedia 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;
Mohammad Yeganeh, economist, former Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, a professor of economics at Columbia University
Houman Younessi, researcher and educator in informatics, computer science, and molecular biology. Former research professor at the University of Connecticut
Lotfi A. Zadeh, mathematician, computer scientist, and a professor emeritus of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley; father of fuzzy logic and fuzzy sets
Norm Zada, former adjunct mathematics professor, and founder of Perfect 10; son of Lotfi A. Zadeh
Reza Zadeh, computer scientist at Stanford University
Iraj Zandi, Emeritus Professor of Systems, University of Pennsylvania
Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics,
Esmail Zanjani, department chair of Department of Animal Biotechnology at University of Nevada, Reno. President of the International 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 in Brooklyn, New York. Much of her works are influenced by her childhood growing up in post-revolutionary Tehran 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; one of Iran's leading actresses prior to the 1979 revolution. known in the United States for her role in House of Sand and Fog.
Dan Ahdoot, stand-up comedian and actor
Jonathan Ahdout, actor best known for his role in House of Sand and Fog
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 the Call of Duty series
Khalik Allah, filmmaker, photographer, and author.
Morehshin Allahyari, media artist, activist, and educator. Her work questions current political, socio-cultural, and gender norms while exploring the relationship between technology and art activism. Best known for her work Material Speculation: ISIS, which is a series of 3D-printed sculptural reconstructions of ancient artifacts destroyed by ISIS
Mark Amin, film producer, distributor, writer, and businessman. Founder of Trimark Pictures
Max Amini, standup comedian and actor
Ana Lily Amirpour, film director, screenwriter, producer, and actor
Pegah Anvarian, fashion designer and creative director of Three Dots
Ali Ardekani, also known as Baba Ali;, game developer, film developer, and Islamic comedian
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 at Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Shoja Azari, visual artist and filmmaker based in New York City. Best known for films such as Women Without Men, Windows, and K
Anthony Azizi, television actor, known for playing Omar Idris on Lost
Ashurbanipal Babilla, actor, theatre director, playwright and visual artist
Ramin Bahrani, film director and screenwriter, most notable for his film Chop Shop. Professor of film directing at Columbia University's Graduate Film Program
Mercedes Bass, socialite and arts philanthropist. On the executive boards of the Carnegie Hall Corporation, the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, the Aspen School of Music and Aspen Institute in Aspen, Colorado, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, and the American Academy in Rome
Zal Batmanglij, film director and screenwriter. Creator and showrunner of the Netflix series The OA
Ali Banisadr, artist
Reza Badiyi, film and television director
Nima Behnoud, artist and creative director of the brand NIMANY in New York. He is the first fashion designer to implement Persian calligraphy on formed clothing
Catherine Bell, actress
Le Roy Benjamin, sculptor, and marionette puppeteer and voice impersonator for the vaudeville and television act Le Roy Brothers Marionettes, one of the most celebrated and requested vaudeville acts in America at the time. Father is Iranian.
Issa Benyamin, Iranian-Assyrian calligrapher and educator
Bahram Beyzai, filmmaker, playwright, theater director, screenwriter, and Ostād of Persian letters, arts and Iranian studies. Considered the pioneer of the Iranian New Wave of cinema.
Bijan, designer of menswear and fragrances. His exclusive boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills has been described as "the most expensive store in the world"
Nadia Bjorlin, TV and soap opera actress, singer, and model
Nazanin Boniadi, television and film actress, and human right defender
Buket, prominent Los Angeles graffiti artist
Henri Charr, Iranian-Assyrian filmmaker
Shaghayegh Cyrous, artist and curator based in San 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 the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp
Sumbat Der Kiureghian, 20th century watercolor artist
David Diaan, actor, screenwriter, producer, and entrepreneur
Lucas and Marcus Dobre-Mofid, also known as The Dobre Twins. Dancing duo and YouTube personalities who rose to prominence on the now-defunct Vine video app
Ala Ebtekar, contemporary visual artist
Robert Ekhart, film actor, film director, and editor-in-chief of former Iran-based Setare Cinema magazine
Nabil Elderkin, also known by Nabil; film and music video director and photographer, who has directed music videos for Kanye West, Frank Ocean, John Legend, and Foals
Tanaz Eshaghian, documentary filmmaker
Ali Farahnakian, actor, writer, and improv comedian. Founder of The Peoples Improv Theater in New York City and co-starred the Adult Swim comedy series Delocated
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 as Arisa Uotani in Fruits Basket
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 the Islamic 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 the twentieth season of ABC's The Bachelor and as the lead on the twelfth season of The 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 in Beverly Hills, California
Andrea Gabriel, actress, best known for her role as Nadia Jaseem in the ABC drama series Lost
Troy Gentile, actor, best known for his role as Mark in Hotel for Dogs and Barry Goldberg in the sitcom The Goldbergs
Siamak Ghahremani, founder of Noor 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 name Tehran; standup comedian and actor
Gabriel Guevrekian, architect of buildings, interiors and gardens. Taught architecture at the University 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 the Iranian diaspora.
Kambiz Hosseini, actor, political satirist, and television/radio host. Host of Poletik, a satirical news program that airs on Radio Farda. Created and hosted Parazit on Voice of America - Persian.
Albert and Allen Hughes, film directors and producers. Most notable for Menace II Society and The Book of Eli. Iranian mother
Reza Beyk Imanverdi, actor and director popular during the 1960s and 1970s in Iran
Mahlagha Jaberi, model
Pouran Jinchi, contemporary artist known for her abstract, calligraphy-based visual art
Maz Jobrani, standup comedian and actor
JonTron, comedian, YouTuber, video game critic
Joone, photographer, director, and producer of adult films
Pirooz Kalayeh, film director, screenwriter, and writer
Tara Kamangar, classical pianist and composer
Y.Z. Kami, artist, known for creating large-scaled oil-based paintings
Martik Kanian, singer and songwriter
Cyrus Kar, film director
Bavand Karim, multi-media artist and filmmaker
Reza Karimi, painter, whose oil-based paintings reflect the political turbulence of Iran, such as the trial of Mossadegh and the treatment of women in Iran
Saman Kesh, filmmaker and music video director and producer. He is best known for his music videos for Calvin Harris, Ed Sheeran, Deus, Basement Jaxx, and !!!, among many others
Maryam Keshavarz, filmmaker best known for her 2011 film Circumstance
Andre Khabbazi, television and soap opera actor, semi-professional tennis player
Mehran Khaghani, standup comedian, comedy director and comedy event producer based in Boston, Massachusetts
Marco Khanlian, film and television actor, stunt performer
Nahnatchka Khan, screenwriter and producer. Creator and showrunner of ABC's Fresh 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 of Persian and Arabic dance
Kamshad Kooshan, screenwriter, film director, and film producer
Sarah R. Lotfi, filmmaker, known for her World War II epic The Last Bogatyr
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 for Badlands, Days of Heaven, The Thin Red Line, and The Tree of Life. He is of Iranian-Assyrian descent
Arefeh Mansouri, inventor, designer
Marshall Manesh, actor
Mozhan Marnò, film and television actress, best known for her roles in The Blacklist and House of Cards
Jamie Masada, comedian and businessman. Founder of the Laugh Factory, a chain of comedy clubs in several states.
Mercedes Mason, actress
Sanaz Mazinani, multidisciplinary visual artist, curator and educator, known for her photography and installation art
Laleh Mehran, contemporary artist, and professor and graduate director of Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver
Peyman Moaadi, actor, screenwriter, director; best known for his role in A Separation
Arian Moayed, actor, Emmy-nominated writer/director, art educator, and co-founder of Waterwell
Emud Mokhberi, film director and animator. In 2009, he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for Oktapodi
Amir Mokri, cinematographer, known for his works on Bad Boys II, Fast & Furious, Man of Steel, and The Joy Luck Club
Soudabeh Moradian, award-winning independent filmmaker
Neda Moridpour, feminist artist, educator, and co-founder of the artist-activist collectives LOUDER THAN WORDS and Art Collective. Currently a professor of the Practice in the Media Arts department at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
Amir Naderi, film director, screenwriter, photographer. One of the major figures in Iranian cinema before and after the 1979 revolution. Best known for The Runner and Vegas: 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 on Homeland and Mistresses. Also noted for his role as The Sultan in the live-action remake of Aladdin.
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 in vascular surgery and bariatric surgery. Known for helping morbidly obese patients lose weight on the TLC-reality TV show My 600-lb Life
Bijan Pakzad, fashion and perfume designer
Zhubin Parang, improv comedian and writer for The 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 on Saturday Night Live
Vahik Pirhamzei, actor, producer, director, and writer. Best known for his film My 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 and CEO 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
Dominic Rains, actor, known for his portrayal in The Taqwacores, A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, and his role as Kasius in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Ethan Rains, soap opera actor
Freydoon Rassouli, abstract surrealist and visionary artist, author
Shiva Rose, actress, activist, and blogger; Iranian father
Sabzi, artist known for his abstract impressionist paintings.
Mehdi Saeedi, artist and graphic designer, best known for his typography & calligraphy y
Farhad Safinia, screenwriter, film/television producer, and director
Reza Sixo Safai, director, actor, and producer
Ely Sakhai, art engineer and civil engineer, owner of art galleries in New York City and Great Neck, New York
Behnaz Sarafpour, fashion designer
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 of Altaïr in the Ubisoft video game Assassin's Creed
Sarah Shahi, television actress; Iranian father, Iranian/Spanish Mother
Sayeed Shahidi, child actor and model. Younger brother of Yara
Yara Shahidi, actress, best known for her role as Zoey Johnson in the sitcom Black-ish and its spin-off series Grown-ish.
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
Arash Sobhani, musician and television host
Sheida Soleimani, multimedia artist, photographer, and professor of studio art at Brandeis University. Known for her work on Iranian human-rights violation victims, and her outspoken comments on the Iranian regime.
Bahar Soomekh, actress
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 series The Messiah
Taravat Talepasand, contemporary artist addressing cultural taboos, juxtapose cultural stereotypes and express female empowerment. Chair of the Painting Department at the San Francisco Art Institute
Shaun Toub, actor, best known internationally for playing Ho Yinsen in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Iron Man and Iron Man 3
Pej Vahdat, actor, best known for his role of Arastoo Vaziri in Bones
Sheila Vand, actress and performance artist
Behrouz Vossoughi, actor, TV host and model
Elham Yaghoubian, writer, designer, political activist
Bob Yari, film producer
Manoucher Yektai, abstract expressionist artist who belongs to the New York School
Suzi Yoonessi, filmmaker, best known for her award-winning feature film Dear Lemon Lima
Necar Zadegan, film and television actress, best known for her recurrent role as First Lady Dalia Hassan on 24, and Delia Banai on Girlfriends' 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 as Pulp Fiction, Edward Scissorhands, and The Addams Family
Maryam Zahirimehr, screenwriter and film director
Roxana Zal, actress
Sara Zandieh, filmmaker and Fulbright Scholar at Columbia University
Habib Zargarpour, art director, also active in visual effects in Hollywood
Tony Zarrindast, film producer, film director, and actor
Rayka Zehtabchi, filmmaker, 2018 Academy Award-winning documentary short Period. End of Sentence—first Iranian-American woman to win an Academy Award.
Business/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., and was the former president of The Romney Group, Inc.
Hamid Akhavan, CEO of Siemens Enterprise Communications
Vahid Alaghband, founder and Chairman Balli Group PLC
Siavash Alamouti, president and CEO of edge cloud software company mimic, 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 and CTO of Prodea Systems, co-founder and former CTO of Telecom Technologies, Inc.
Anousheh Ansari, the world's first female space tourist, co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, Inc., co-founder and former CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc.
Cyrus A. Ansary, businessman, President of Investment Services International Co., founder and current chairman of Fort Knox National Company, and chairman emeritus of American 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 of Global International Airways, and owner of the Aviation Leasing Group and HeavyLift International
Sardar Biglari, founder, CEO and chairman of Biglari Holdings
Nariman Behravesh, Chief Economist at the consulting firm IHS Markit, & formerly the Chief Economist and Executive Vice President of Global Insight, Inc
Michael Benjamin, private investor focusing on internet companies, Republican candidate for the United 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 the World Bank
J. Darius Bikoff, CEO and founder of Energy Brands, which manufactures VitaminWater
Shaahin Cheyene, entrepreneur, writer, and documentary filmmaker. Founder and CEO of Accelerated Intelligence Inc and Victory Films.
Shahram Dabiri, video game producer, lead producer of World of Warcraft
Jaleh Daie, Senior Managing Partner at Aurora Equity; former professor of biology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Rutgers 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 in agile construction
Kiana Danial, personal investing and wealth manager, CEO of Invest Diva
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 and computer scientist
Farzad Dibachi, serial entrepreneur and business executive. Co-founder and CEO of Inception.
Avid Larizadeh Duggan, entrepreneur and venture capitalist
Nazie Eftekhari, founder and principal architect of HealthEZ
Kamran Elahian, founder and Chairman Global Catalyst Partners
Henry Elghanayan, NYC real estate developer, co-founder and chairman of Rockrose Development Corporation
Hossein Eslambolchi, former president and CEO of AT&T Labs and AT&T Global Network Operations
Fardad Fateri, CEO of International Education Corporation
Arash Ferdowsi, co-founder and CTO of Dropbox
Nasir Gebelli, video game developer, founder of Sirius Software, programmer of Nintendo titles including Final Fantasy I, Final Fantasy II, Secret of Mana, and Rad Racer. His design of the first fast action games on the Apple II computer established him as a pioneer in computer gaming
Mark Ghermezian, co-founder, Executive Chairman, and former CEO of Braze, Inc
Arthur T. Gregorian, oriental rug dealer based in Greater Boston, and author of books on oriental rugs
Victor Haghani, financier, one of the founding partners of Long 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 at CalTech.
Albert Hakim, businessman and a figure in the Iran-Contra affair. Co-founder of the Stanford Technology Trading Group International
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 on mobile phone tracking. Creator of the SkyJack hacking drone, the Evercookie, and the MySpace super-virus "Samy" worm.
Darius Kazemi, computer programmer, social activist, and artist. Co-founder of the worker-owned technology collective Feel Train
Sam Kazemian, software programmer; Co-Founder and President of Everipedia
Salar Kamangar, former CEO of YouTube, senior executive at Google
Kayvan Khalatbari, serial entrepreneur based in Denver, Colorado. Founding partner of the Sexy Pizza restaurant chain, Birdy Magazine, Sexpot Comedy, Denver Relief Consulting, and Denver Relief, the longest continually operated cannabis company in Denver.
Nader Khalili, architect. Inventor of the Superadobe and Ceramic houses construction techniques. Founder of the California Institute of Earth Art and Architecture.
Shaygan Kheradpir, businessman and technology executive. Former CIO of Verizon, former COO of Barclays Bank, and former CEO of Juniper Networks and Coriant.
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber; on board of directors of The New York Times Company
Mike Kohan, founder & owner of the Kohan Retail Investment Group based in Great Neck, NY, which owns 27 shopping malls as of late 2018
Omid Kordestani, Executive Chairman of Twitter, former Senior Vice President, Chief Business Officer, and special advisor at Google
Isaac Larian, founder and CEO of MGA Entertainment; manufacturer of Bratz dolls
Hamid Moghadam, chairman and CEO of Prologis, board member of Stanford Management Company
Mahbod Moghadam, internet entrepreneur; co-founder and former Chief Community Officer of Everipedia, co-founder of Rap Genius
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 of Malekized Rice
Amir, Eskandar and Fraydun Manocherian, NYC-based real estate investors, founders of Manocherian Brothers and Pan Am Equities
David A. Marcus, former President of PayPal, and current Vice President of Messaging Products at Facebook, where he heads the Facebook Messenger unit. Sits on the Coinbase board of directors. Iranian mother.
Fariborz Maseeh, pioneer of micro-electro mechanical systems, founder of IntelliSense, founder of Orlander LLC, and founder of Orbitron LP;
Manny Mashouf, founder and former chairman of Bebe Stores
Saul Maslavi, president and CEO of Jovani Fashion
Cyrus Massoumi, co-founder of the investment fund "humbition." Founder and former CEO of Zocdoc
Justin Mateen, co-founder and former CMO of Tinder
David Merage, co-founder of Chef America Inc., manufacturer of Hot Pockets microwavable meals. Brother of Paul.
Paul Merage, co-founder of Chef America Inc., manufacturer of Hot Pockets microwavable meals. Brother of David.
Bob Miner, co-founder of Oracle Corporation and the producer of its relational database management system
Mohsen Moazami, entrepreneur; founder of Stanford Business Systems, Columbus Nova Technology Partners, and Seif Capital. He is also a member of Cisco Systems executive staff
Afshin Mohebbi, former president and COO of Qwest Communications International, Inc.
Joseph Moinian, New York City real estate developer, founder of The Moinian Group
Jeff Moorad, businessman. Former General Partner and CEO of MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks, and former Vice-Chairman and CEO of MLB's San Diego Padres.
Jahm Najafi, founder and CEO of Najafi Companies, a private equity firm. Vice Chairman and co-owner of the Phoenix Suns NBA team
Ron Najafi, founder and CEO of Emery Pharma, and founder and former CEO of NovaBay Pharmaceuticals
Mohammad Namazi, founder of the Namazi Hospital in Shiraz, and was a resident in America for over 30 years
Ezri Namvar, founder of Namco Capital Group and former owner of the Security 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 the SBE Entertainment Group
Younes Nazarian, businessma. Early investor in Qualcomm and Chairman of Nazarian Enterprises
Farzad Nazem, former CTO and executive vice president of Yahoo!
Mehrdad Nikoonahad, electrical engineer, r; founder & CEO of PARTOE, INC, co-founder and former CEO of Solar Notion, Inc. nts
Fred Ohebshalom, New York City real estate developer and founder of Empire Management
Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay
Joseph Parnes, investment advisor, founder and CEO of Technomart Investment Advisors
Ali Partovi, entrepreneur and angel investor. Best known as co-founder of Code.org, iLike, LinkExchange, and an early advisor of Dropbox
Prince Perci Piétro, real estate entrepreneur and founder of OWN Realty and OWN Financial. He is the son of Qajar Princess Shahnaz Shakoori
Shervin Pishevar, entrepreneur, Co-founder and former executive chairman of Hyperloop One, co-founder and managing director of Sherpa Capital
Roozbeh Pournader, co-founder and co-developer of Persian Wikipedia
Kamran Pourzanjani, early angel investor based in Los Angeles, California
Sean Rad, co-founder, chairman and former CEO of Tinder
Hooman Radfar, co-founder and former CEO of AddThis; current partner at Expa, a start-up studios based in San Francisco
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 at Illumina. He is also a molecular biologist specializing in DNA sequencing technology
Kathy Rose, 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 store Roseark, created in 2003.
Ali Rowghani, COO of Twitter, and managing partner at Y Combinator
Arman Sadeghi, entrepreneur and speaker
Joel Simkhai, founder & former CEO of Grindr dating app
Shahin Shadfar, founder and president of omNovia Technologies; co-founder and CEO of Xerzees Technologies, the company behind the mobile app Zurf
John Shahidi, businessman, software developer, music manager and music producer. CEO of Shots Studios
Sam Shahidi, businessman, software developer, music manager and music producer. CCO and CPO of Shots Studios
Ben Shaoul, co-founder of Magnum Real Estate Group
Darian Shirazi, founder of Radius. At age 19, he was the first intern hired by Facebook
Henry D. Sahakian, founder and owner of Uni-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 the Middle East
Parisa Tabriz, Director of Engineering at Google and computer security expert, nicknamed Google's "Security Princess." Co-founder of the Our Security Advocates conference
Sina Tamaddon, Senior Vice President of Applications for Apple Computer
Roxanne Varza, computer executive
Sohrab Vossoughi, product designer, and founder of Ziba Design, a design and innovation consultancy based in Portland, Oregon
Roxanne Varza, director of Station F in Paris, France, and former head of start-up activities for Microsoft in France. Co-founder of Girls in Tech Paris and Girls in Tech London, which organize computer code writing courses for women
Rouzbeh Yassini, Inventor of the cable modem, Executive Director of the University Of New Hampshire Broadband Center Of Excellence and Founder of YAS Foundation.
Bobby Yazdani, founder and former CEO of Saba Software
Shayan Zadeh, founder of Zoosk
Eli Zelkha, entrepreneur, and professor. He was the inventor of ambient intelligence
Literature
Colet Abedi, young adult novelist and television producer
Salar Abdoh, novelist and essayist. Current director of the graduate program in creative writing at the City College of New York.
Kaveh Akbar, poet and scholar
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 book Rage Against the Veil
Jasmin Darznik, author of The Good Daughter: A Memoir of My Mother's Hidden Life and Song of a Captive Bird
Firoozeh Dumas, author of Funny in Farsi: A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America
FM-2030, author, teacher, transhumanist philosopher, futurist; author of Are You a Transhuman?: Monitoring and Stimulating Your Personal Rate of Growth in a Rapidly Changing World
Sara Farizan, writer of young adult literature. Best known for novel, If You Could Be Mine
Ezzat Goushegir, fiction writer & playwright
Roya Hakakian, writer, poet, and journalist
Hakob Karapents, novelist and short story writer whose works were written in both Armenian and English. Settled in the U.S. in 1947.
Laleh Khadivi, novelist and documentary filmmaker
Porochista Khakpour, novelist, essayist, and writer
Tahereh Mafi, novelist of young adult fiction
Mahtob Mahmoody, author of autobiographical memoir My Name is Mahtob and daughter of Betty Mahmoody, the author of Not Without My Daughter
Faranak Margolese, writer, best known as author of Off the Derech
Marsha Mehran, novelist, author of international bestsellers Pomegranate Soup and Rosewater and Soda Bread
Shokooh Mirzadegi, novelist and poet, who worked for Ferdowsi magazine and Kayhān daily in the late 1960s in Iran.
Azadeh Moaveni, author of Lipstick Jihad and co-author of Iran Awakening with Shirin Ebadi, and reporter for Time magazine on Iran and the Middle East
Melody Moezzi, writer, attorney, and author of Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life and War on Error: Real Stories of American Muslims.
Ottessa Moshfegh, writer, author of Eileen
Farnoosh Moshiri, novelist, playwright, and librettist. Professor of creative writing and literature at the University of Houston-Downtown
Dora Levy Mossanen, author of historical fiction
Azar Nafisi, writer, best known for
Gina Nahai, author of Cry of the Peacock, Moonlight on the Avenue of Faith, and Caspian Rain
Steven Naifeh, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of Jackson Pollack and Vincent Van Gogh, co-author of 18 other books with Gregory White Smith, businessman, and artist
Dina Nayeri, novelist, essayist, and short story writer. Author of A Teaspoon of Earth and Sea and Refuge
Abdi Nazemian, author and screenwriter. Best known for The Walk-In Closet
Ghazal Omid, nonfiction political writer, nonfiction children's book writer, speaker, NGO executive
Shahrnoosh Parsipour, writer
Susan Atefat Peckham, poet
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh, memoirist, playwright, and fiction writer
Dalia Sofer, writer, best known for The Septembers of Shiraz
Neda Soltani, writer of My Stolen Face and political exile
Mahbod Seraji, writer, best known for Rooftops of Tehran
Mahmoud Seraji, a.k.a. "M.S. Shahed," poet best known for his trilogy Mazamir Eshgh. Father of Mahbod Seraji
Solmaz Sharif, poet, known for her debut poetry collection, Look. Currently a Jones Lecturer at Stanford University
Niloufar Talebi, writer, literary translator, multidisciplinary creator, opera and classical music librettist, producer.
Andrew David Urshan, evangelist and author. Known as the "Persian Evangelist", ks
Sholeh Wolpe, poet, editor and literary translator
Media/Journalism
Elina Shirazi, Fox News Channel National Reporter
Sohrab Ahmari, journalist, current op-ed editor at the New York Post and a contributing editor at the Catholic Herald. Former columnist and editor at The Wall Street Journal
Yashar Ali, journalist who has contributed to HuffPost, NBC News, and New York magazine
Masih Alinejad, journalist and author; presenter/producer for Voice of America - Persian, correspondent on Radio Farda, and frequent contributor to Manoto television
Christiane Amanpour, journalist and television host; Chief International Anchor for CNN. Host of CNN International's nightly interview program Amanpour and of Amanpour & Company on PBS
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 of Voice of America - Persian's satirical television shows Parazit and OnTen
Davar Ardalan, NPR producer of Tell Me More
Zia Atabay, singer, television host, and human-rights activist. Founder of the Los Angeles-based National Iranian Television
Sara Azari, criminal defense attorney and media personality who provides legal commentary and analysis on television programs such as Good Morning America, Good Day LA, and ABC News, among others. She is also a recurring guest expert and panelist on CNN
Rudi Bakhtiar, producer for Reuters, best known for appearances on CNN; former Voice of America - Persian employee, former Director of Public Relations for the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans
John Batchelor, author and host of the nationally syndicated The John Batchelor Show on AM 770 WABC radio
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 series Ariana's Persian Kitchen which airs on Nat Geo People
Lisa Daftari, journalist, TV commentator; founder of The Foreign Desk
Borzou Daragahi, print and radio journalist; International Correspondent for The Independent, and former Baghdad bureau chief for the Los Angeles Times
Holly Dagres, analyst and commentator on the Middle East with a focus on Iran. Curator for the weekly newsletter, The Iranist,.
Sibel Edmonds, founder and editor-in-chief of independent news website NewsBud, founder and publisher of Boiling Frogs Post, and former contract translator for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Azadeh Ensha, journalist, The New York Times
Donald Fareed, Christian televangelist, President of non-profit Persian Ministries International
Mahtab Farid, journalist for Voice of America - Persian, Radio Farda and Fox News, public diplomacy strategist, and Boren Scholar.
Farnaz Fassihi, journalist, Wall Street Journal
Caroline Framke, regular author and culture commentator at Vox, and has contributed to The Atlantic, The A.V. Club, Vulture, Salon and NPR. Iranian mother.
Ramin Ganeshram, chef, cookbook author, and food columnist forg The New York Times and Newsday
Susie Gharib, award-winning business news journalist. Senior Special Correspondent for Fortune magazine, and former anchor of Nightly Business Report produced by CNBC
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 at National Iranian Radio and Television
Laci Green, YouTuber whose content focuses on sex education. Iranian father.
Saba Hamedy, news editor at Huffington Post, and former breaking news reporter at CNN
Seyed Mohammad Hosseini, former television host on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting until his exile to the U.S. in 2011. Advocate of the Islamic Republic of Iran through his political opposition group "Restart"
Alireza Jafarzadeh, media commentator and active dissident figure to the Iranian government. President of Strategic Policy Consulting, Inc. and FOX News Foreign Affairs Analyst
Pedram Javaheri, meteorologist for CNN International
Jahanshah Javid, journalist, and the founder and editor of the online publications iranian.com
Amir Korangy, newspaper and magazine publisher, and film producer. Founder of the business magazine The Real Deal,
Kim Khazei, news anchor for 7News Boston WHDH-TV and its sister station WLVI-TV
Hooman Majd, journalist, author, and commentator who writes on Iranian affairs
Arash Markazi, sports journalist, currently writing for the Los Angeles Times and formerly for Sports Illustrated
Leandra Medine, author, blogger, and humor writer best known for Man Repeller, an independent fashion and lifestyle website
Shereen Marisol Meraji, co-host of Code Switch on NPR, a critically acclaimed podcast covering race, culture, and diversity issues
Azadeh Moaveni, journalist for Time magazine, and author of Lipstick Jihad and Iran Awakening with Shirin Ebadi
Negar Mortazavi, journalist who covers Iran in both English and Farsi. Former host of an interactive current affairs show at Voice of America - Persian
Sina Najafi, founder and editor-in-chief of New York-based Cabinet Magazine
Asieh Namdar, former CNN anchor, reporter and producer; current anchor of CGTN AMERICA in Washington, DC
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson, journalist and reporter for the National Public Radio, most notably for Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. Currently, director of the NPR bureau in Berlin
Samin Nosrat, chef, regular food columnist for The New York Times Magazine, and showrunner of the Netflix docu-series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat based on her cookbook of the same name
Dari Nowkhah, lead anchor of the SEC 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 the New York Press, the New York Observer, and WNYC, among several others
Shabnam Rezaei, co-founder of Big Bad Boo studios and Oznoz. Creator & producer of the animated TV series 16 Hudson, 1001 Nights, and Mixed Nutz
Jason Rezaian, journalist, served as Tehran bureau chief for The Washington Post. He was convicted of false espionage charges by the Iranian government in 2015, later released in 2016
Roosh V, blogger, pickup artist and writer
Maer Roshan, Editor-in-Chief of Los Angeles Magazine, serial entrepreneur of several prominent magazines and websites, and former editor of New York , Talk , and Interview
Atoosa Rubenstein, former Seventeen and CosmoGIRL! editor-in-chief
Roxana Saberi, photojournalist whose 2009 arrest in Iran became a cause celebre
Jahan Salehi, President of Agence Global, Inc. syndicate
Homa Sarshar, journalist, author, feminist activist. Columnist for Zan-e-Ruz magazine Kayhan daily newspaper.
Anand Lal Shimpi, founder and former CEO of the technology journalism website, AnandTech
Elina Shirazi, journalist and Miami-based correspondent for the Fox News Channel
Ali Akbar Tabatabaei, former press attache to the Iranian Embassy in the United States during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. After his exile to the U.S. after the Iranian Revolution, he became president of the Iran Freedom Foundation in Bethesda, Maryland
Farnoosh Torabi, journalist, author, television personality, and personal finance expert. Host of CNBC Primetime series Follow The Leader and host of award-winning podcast So Money
Vahid Online, a pseudonym of an Iranian blogger and Internet activist, known for his coverage of the 2009 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 discusses astronomy and cosmology to Farsi-speaking audiences.
Cyma Zarghami, former president of Nickelodeon and Viacom Media Networks Kids & Family Group
Mohammad Kheirkhah Zoyari, photographer, has worked for United Press International and BBC and has covered events in the Middle East, Europe and the United States
Music
Pouyan Afkary, synthesizer musician, member of "Scary Kids Scaring Kids"
Lily Afshar, classical guitarist
Evin Agassi, Iranian-Assyrian singer
Elton Ahi, music producer and owner of Rusk Studios in Los Angeles, California, which has recorded artists such as Donna Summer, Elton John, and Laura Branigan, among many others.
Azam Ali, singer and santour player. Member of the "alternative world" band VAS and the Iranian acoustic electronic group Niyaz.
Sahba Aminikia, contemporary music composer, performer, and educator
Andy, popular Iranian 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 with Ebi and Dariush
Axiom of Choice, world music group who perform a modernized fusion style rooted in Persian classical music.
Morteza Barjesteh, best known by stage name Morteza; 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 Jewish cantor in the United States in 2009
Yak Ballz, independent hip hop artist and one of the original members of The Weathermen
Rostam Batmanglij, composer, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer. Former keyboard player of indie rock band Vampire Weekend, and currently part of the electro-soul group Discovery
Leila Bela, avant-garde musician, actress, playwright, photographer, and former member of Pigface
Charlie Bisharat, violinist who was the member of the band Shadowfax.
Cyrus Bolooki, drummer of New 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 as Vigen. prominent Iranian pop music singer and actor; known as the "King of Iranian Pop" and the "Sultan of Jazz"
Amir Derakh, guitarist and synthesizer player for Julien-K, guitarist of the band Dead by Sunrise, former guitar synthesizer player for Orgy, and former guitarist of Rough Cutt
Deep Dish, electronic music group
Ramin Djawadi, German-born composer of film and television scores, the score composer for Game of Thrones and Westworld
Dubfire, house and techno DJ and producer; formerly a member of Deep Dish
Wafah Dufour, singer-songwriter, socialite, model
Eden xo, singer, songwriter, and actress
Mahan Esfahani, harpsichordist
Kristina Esfandiari, singer-songwriter who is best known as the lead vocalist of the doom metal band "King Woman" and her solo moniker "Miserable"
Ardeshir Farah, musician and guitarist, makes up one half of duo Strunz & Farah
Rana Farhan, musician and singer of jazz and blues. Known to combine classic Persian poetry with modern jazz and blues.
Cyrus Forough, concert violinist y. He is a professor of violin and chamber music at Carnegie 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 the National Chamber Orchestra of Armenia. Founder, and until 1996, directed and conducted the Boston SinfoNova Orchestra
Googoosh, Iranian pop singer, actress and superstar, female pop singer in the Persian speaking world
Haale, singer, composer, and poet. Sings in both English and Farsi, and has recorded music albums with both her own poetry and those of Rumi, Attar, and Forough Farrokhzad
Pejman Hadadi, internationally acclaimed tonbak player and Persian classical musician. Member of Axiom of Choice and the Dastan Ensemble
Hayedeh, singer of Persian classical, folk, and pop music. Considered one of the most popular singers of 20th century Iran. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1982
Mohammad Heydari, prominent santur player and songwriter
K-Salaam, DJ and music producer
Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Persian traditional music
Tara Kamangar, pianist and composer
Shahrum Kashani, better known as Shahrum K or K; Iranian pop singer
Leila Kasra, better known as Hedieh; Iranian contemporary poet and lyricist. Best known for writing 30 songs for Hayedeh.
Erwin Khachikian, musician, singer, and producer. Member of Serj Tankian's solo band The F.C.C.; creator of Karmandan, which focuses on the Iranian music scene
Mamak Khadem, world trance music singer; former lead singer of Axiom of Choice
Anousheh Khalili, singer-songwriter and electronic musician, who has collaborated as a vocalist with Deep Dish and Sharam
Bahador Kharazmi, singer, songwriter, producer
Locksmith, rapper and one half of the former underground duo The Frontline, which pioneered the "New Bay" resurgence movement in the Bay Area in the 2000s.
Mahasti, singer of Persian classical, folk, and Persian pop. Younger sister of Hayedeh. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1981.
Foad Manshadi, also known as Foad; musician who utilizes his style of world music-inspired rap to bring light to social justice issues
Mansour, Iranian pop singer and songwriter based in Southern California
Rana Mansour, pop and jazz singer
Lotfi Mansouri, opera director and manager; former General Director of the San Francisco Opera
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
Pouya Jalili Pour, Iranian pop singer famous for his "Safar" song released in 2000. Currently resides in Los Angeles, California
Armen Ra, thereminist, performer, artist, director and production designer
Behzad Ranjbaran, composer
Kaveh Rastegar, Grammy-nominated bass guitarist and composer. Founder of Kneebody and Dakah. He has collaborated with CeeLo Green, Bruno Mars, and De 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 of the santur. Recipient of a 2003 National Heritage Fellowship of the National Endowment of the Art
Ilya Salmanzadeh, music producer
Bijan Samandar, prominent contemporary poet, lyricist, and Tar player. He has written lyrics for notable artists such as Ebi, Vigen, Moein, Dariush, and many more
Hassan Sattar, best known by Sattar, singer of Iranian pop and classical 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 duo Andy & Kouros with Andy
Saeed Shahram, composer of film and television scores. He has over 40 film soundtracks to his credit since 1983.
Sharam, techno and house DJ and producer
Jamshied Sharifi, film composer, musician, and producer
Ziba Shirazi, singer and poet. Her music blends Persian melodies with world music and jazz.
Susan, Persian pop singer popular in Iran during the 1960s and 1970s. She immigrated to the U.S. after the 1979 revolution
Ali Tabatabaee, one of the lead singers of Orange County, California-based pop-punk band Zebrahead
Loga Ramin Torkian, musician, composer, and co-founder of the bands Axiom of Choice and Niyaz. Plays the Iranian tar, the Turkish saz, and the GuitarViol
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 at Carnegie Mellon University
Omid Walizadeh, also known as Omid or OD; hip hop producer
The Yellow Dogs, indie rock and post-punk revival group; formed in Tehran, now based in Brooklyn, New York
Azita Youssefi, experimental musician, artist, and music teacher involved in the Chicago no wave scene in the 1990s, playing in Scissor Girls, Miss High-Heel and Bride of No No
Kayvon Zand, New York City-based nightlife personality and musician who creates 80's inspired electronic dance music. H
Kourosh Zolani, composer, soloist and inventor; designed and plays the world's only playable Chromatic Santour
Politics
Parry Aftab, Internet privacy and security lawyer, considered one of the founders of cyberlaw. 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-based Foundation for Iranian Studies, and the founder and president of the Women's Learning Partnership
Goli Ameri, former Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy for the International 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 the United Nations General Assembly, and former Republican candidate for the United States House of Representatives from the 1st district of Oregon.
Cyrus Amir-Mokri, former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Institutions at the U.S. Treasury Department
Jamshid Amouzegar, economist and politician who served as Prime Minister of Iran. Immigrated to U.S. in 1978
Hushang Ansary, former Iranian Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance, former Ambassador of Iran to the United States and Chairman of National Finance Committee of Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign.
Gholam Reza Azhari, military leader and Prime Minister of Iran. 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 the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests. She has served as an AmeriCorps member for the PeaceJam foundation, notably working with Dr. Shirin Ebadi in her efforts to address social and economic injustices of the youth in Iran
Michael Benjamin, 1996 Republican candidate for the U.S. House from the 8th district of New York, and 2004 United States Senate Republican Primary candidate from New York
Makan Delrahim, United States Assistant Attorney General for the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division under the Trump Administration
Jimmy Delshad, former Mayor of Beverly Hills, California, first Iranian-born mayor of an American city
Eugene Dooman, counselor at the United States Embassy in Tokyo during the period of critical negotiations between the U.S. and Japan before World War II
Abdullah Entezam, Iranian diplomat, Iranian ambassador to France and to West Germany, secretary of the Iranian embassy in the United States. Father of Hume Horan
Anna Eshoo, U.S. Representative of California's 18th congressional district
Anna Eskamani, member of the Florida House of Representatives.
Abbas Farzanegan, former governor of the state of Esfahan, communications minister and diplomat during Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's reign. Key figure in facilitation of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1975
Shireen Ghorbani, at-large member of the Salt 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 the Personal Secretary to U.S. President Barack Obama at the White House. Currently is the Chief of Staff to the Chief Content Officer of Netflix
Hrach Gregorian, political consultant, educator, and writer. His work has taken him internationally as a consultant on international conflict management, and post-conflict peacebuilding
Cyrus Habib, 16th Lieutenant Governor of Washington, and President of the Washington State Senate. First and so far only Iranian-American elected to state office
Kamal Habibollahi, last Commander of the Imperian Iranian Navy until the Iranian Revolution and the last CNO commander of the Pahlavi dynasty. Also held several minister positions under the military government of Gholam Reza Azhari in 1978. Immigrated to the U.S. after the Iranian Revolution
Shamsi Hekmat, women's rights activist who pioneered reforms in women's status in Iran. Founded the first Iranian Jewish women's organization in 1947. After her migration to the U.S., she established the Iranian Jewish Women's Organization of Southern California s.
Shahram Homayoun, political dissident of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and owner of "Channel One," a Persian satellite TV station based in Los Angeles that broadcasts into Iran daily
Hume Horan, diplomat and former U.S. ambassador to Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and the Ivory Coast. Son of Abdullah Entezam
Fereydoon Hoveyda, former Iranian ambassador to the United Nations. Since his exile to the U.S., senior fellow and member of the Executive Committee of the National Committee on American Foreign Policy
Shaban Jafari, Iranian political figure, practitioner of Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals. Key figure in the facilitation of the 1953 Iranian coup d'état. Exiled to the United States soon after the 1979 revolution
Anna Kaplan, first Iranian-American elected to New York State Senate
Zahra Karinshak, attorney and politician.
Mehdi Khalaji, political analyst, writer, and scholar of Shia Islamic studies. Senior research fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, a D.C.-based foreign policy think tank. He has frequently contributed to journalistic outlets such as BBC, The Guardian, The Washington Post, and The New York Times
Alan Khazei, social entrepreneur; founder and CEO of "Be The Change, Inc", dedicated to building coalitions among non-profit organizations and citizen. Co-founder and former CEO of City Year, an AmeriCorps national service program
Bijan Kian, businessman, member of the board of directors of the Export–Import Bank of the United States,Partner of Michael Flynn in the Flynn Intel Group, and worked with the Trump administration transition team in regards to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Paul Larudee, political activist and a major figure in the pro-Palestinian movement. He is involved in the International Solidarity Movement and the founder of the Free Gaza Movement and the Free Palestine Movement
Ahmad Madani, former Commander of the Imperial Iranian Navy, governor of the Khuzestan province, and candidate of the first Iranian presidential election. After his exile to the United States in 1980, he was the chairman of the National Front outside of Iran.
Cyrus Mehri, attorney and partner at Mehri & Skalet. Best known for helping establish the National Football League's Rooney Rule
Mariam Memarsadeghi, democracy and human rights advocate
Ross Mirkarimi, former member of San Francisco City Council and former San Francisco Sheriff. Co-founder of the Green Party of California
Mohammad Hassan Mirza II, last Crown Prince of Iran from the rule of the Qajar dynasty & heir apparent to the Qajar Sun Throne. Currently lives in Dallas, Texas.
Shayan Modarres, civil right activist known for his representation of the family of Trayvon Martin, and a 2014 Democratic primary candidate for the U.S. House from the 10th district of Florida
Esha Momeni, women's rights activist and a member of the One Million Signatures campaign
David Nahai, environmental attorney, political activist, former head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Adrin Nazarian, Member of the California State Assembly from the 46th district. First Iranian-American elected to the California State Legislature
John J. Nimrod, minority rights activist and Illinois state senator of District 4 of Iranian-Assyrian descent; notable for his promotion of Assyrian causes and for the rights of other under-represented minority groups throughout the world, such as Uyghurs and Tibetans
Alex Nowrasteh, immigration policy analyst currently at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity at the Cato Institute, and previously at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He is a national expert on immigration policy
Vali Nasr, Shia scholar and poetical scientist. Senior Fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Institution
Prince Abdul Reza Pahlavi, son of Reza Shah and half-brother of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Immigrated to the U.S. with other relatives immediately prior to the Islamic revolution of 1979
Prince Ali-Reza Pahlavi, younger son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah Pahlavi. He was second in the order of succession to the Iranian throne prior to the Iranian revolution.
Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, twin sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Considered to be the "power behind her brother" and instrumental in the 1953 coup d'état which led him taking the throne. Served her brother as a Palace advisor and a strong advocate for women's rights.
Farah Pahlavi, widow of Mohammad Reza Shah and former shahbanu of Iran
Princess Farahnaz Pahlavi, eldest daughter of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah Pahlavi. Currently resides in New York City
Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran, last heir apparent of the Imperial State of Iran and current head of the exiled House of Pahlavi. Oldest son of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah Pahlavi. Founder and former leader of the National Council of Iran. Currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland.
Shams Pahlavi, elder sister of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Former president of the Red Lion and Sun Society. Exiled to the United States after the 1979 revolution
Yasmine Pahlavi, lawyer and wife of Reza Pahlavi, Crown Prince of Iran. Co-founder and former director of the Foundation for the Children of Iran. Currently resides in Bethesda, Maryland
Mehrdad Pahlbod, Iranian royal and first culture minister of Iran. He was the second husband of Princess Shams Pahlavi. Immigrated to the U.S. and resided in Los Angeles after the 1979 revolution
Trita Parsi, founder and current president of the National 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 the 6th and 7th Islamic Consultative Assembly from the electorate of Ardabil, Nir, Namin and Sareyn. Immigrated to the U.S. in 2008.
Azita Raji, former United States Ambassador to Sweden appointed by Barack Obama
Farajollah Rasaei, Commander of the Imperial Iranian Navy, the most Senior Naval Commander of the Iranian Navy. Exiled to the U.S. after the 1979 revolution
Parviz Sabeti, former SAVAK deputy under the regime of Mohammad Reza Shah. One of the most powerful men in the last two decades of the Pahlavi regime. Exiled to the U.S. in 1979.
Ahsha Safaí, elected member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing Supervisorial District 11
David Safavian, disgraced former Chief of Staff of the United States General Services Administration
Karim Sanjabi, Iranian politician of the National Front of Iran. Settled in the U.S. after the 1979 revolution
Hajj Sayyah, famous world traveler and political activist. He is the first Iranian to obtain an American citizenship. Played a major role in the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 in Persia.
Mohsen Sazegara, pro-democracy political activist and journalist. He held several offices in the government of Mir-Hossein Mousavi. His reformist policies clashed with the Supreme 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. Exiled to the U.S. after the Iranian Revolution
Soraya Serajeddini, Iranian-Kurdish human rights activist. Former Executive Vice President of the Kurdish National Congress of North America.
Mehdi Shahbazi, political activist and businessman. He was known for protest against major oil companies at the grounds of his Shell 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 the University of California, Irvine, and is the founder and active member of Ettehade Jomhourikhahan-e Iran, which advocates for a democratic and secular republic in Iran. He was one of the four Iranian-Americans detained by the Iranian government in May 2007.
Jafar Sharif-Emami, former prime minister of Iran, former president of the Iranian Senate, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. Exiled to the U.S. in the wake of the Iranian Revolution
Faryar Shirzad, former Deputy National Security Advisor and White House Deputy Assistant for International Economic Affairs to President George W. Bush
Yasmine Taeb, human rights attorney and Democratic National Committee official. She is a senior policy counsel at the Center for Victims of Torture
Ramin Toloui, current Professor of Practice at Stanford University. Former Assistant Secretary for International Finance, United States Department of the Treasury
Bob Yousefian, former mayor of Glendale, California
Sports
Ali Abdo, boxer and founder of Persepolis Athletic and Cultural Club
Salman Agah, professional skateboarder
Alex Agase, American football guard and linebacker who played with the Cleveland Browns before becoming head football coach at Northwestern University and Purdue University
Andre Agassi, professional tennis player
Emmanuel Agassi, former boxer and the father and former coach of Andre Agassi
Daniel Alaei, professional poker player
Kambiz Atabay, former president of the Asian Football Confederation, former president of the Football Federation of Iran.
Esfandiar Baharmast, World Cup soccer referee, FIFA Instructor, known as Esse 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, father is Iranian
Jim Bakhtiar, fullback and placekicker for the Virginia Cavaliers football team. After attaining his medical degree in 1963, he moved to Iran and established the country's first psychiatric unit
Eric Bakhtiari, linebacker in the NFL, most recently for the San Francisco 49ers. father is Iranian
Steven Beitashour, Iranian-American soccer player, plays for Los Angeles FC and previously for the Iranian national football team
Farzad Bonyadi, world poker champion; he has won 3 World Series of Poker bracelets
Hassan Chitsaz, world's oldest active and licensed professional boxer mixed martial artist.
Ariya Daivari, professional wrestler signed to WWE
Shawn Daivari, professional wrestler and manager, better known by his stage names of Sheik Abdul Bashir or simply Daivari
Beneil Dariush, professional mixed martial artist competing in the Lightweight division of the UFC.
Yu Darvish, Japanese-Iranian-American MLB player
Hamid Dastmalchi, world champion of poker, who has won 3 World Series of Poker bracelets
Dorsa Derakhshani, chess player, Woman Grandmaster and International Master. Currently playing for the Saint Louis University Chess Team
Antonio Esfandiari, champion poker player, and former professional magician
Mori Eskandani, champion poker player and producer of American poker television programs Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker, and the National Heads-Up Poker Championship
Alecko Eskandarian, American soccer player. Played as defender for the F.C. Ararat Tehran, Taj SC and the New York Cosmos of the North 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 against Polaris. Member of the U.S. poker team in the inaugural International Federation of Poker's Poker Nation's Cup
Ali Farokhmanesh, former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Colorado State Rams men's basketball team.
Matt Ghaffari, Olympic silver medal-winning wrestler, and MMA fighter
Afshin Ghotbi, soccer coach, former assistant coach of Korea Republic national football team, Los Angeles Galaxy and Iran national team
Hamed Haddadi, professional basketball player
Andre Heidari, American football placekicker, played college football for the USC Trojans
Ali Haji-Sheikh, American football placekicker who played for the Atlanta Falcons, Washington Redskins, and the New York Giants
Cyrus Hobbi, American football offensive lineman for the USC Trojans
T. J. Houshmandzadeh, former NFL wide receiver who played for the Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, and the Seattle Seahawks
The Iron Sheik, 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 the Austin Sockadillos and owned the Minnesota Thunder. 2006 inductee to the United Soccer Leagues Hall of Fame
King Kamali, IFBB professional bodybuilder
Danny Karbassiyoon, professional soccer player, played for Arsenal, Ipswich Town and Burnley
Ali Kazemaini, soccer forward and former men's head coach at Cleveland State University.
Arsalan Kazemi, former basketball player for the Washington Wizards and the first Iranian to ever be drafted into the NBA. Currently plays for Petrochimi Bandar Imam of the Iranian Basketball Super League
Kamy Keshmiri, retired discus thrower, winner of the gold metal in the men's discus throw event at the 1989 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 football linebacker and long snapper. He has played for the Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, and the Amsterdam 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 the Vanderbilt Commodores of the Southeastern Conference
Garnik Mehrabian, soccer player and coach
Vahid Mirzadeh, tennis player
Omid Namazi, renowned soccer coach & retired professional soccer defender. Currently the assistant manager of United States U20
Cha Cha Namdar, soccer player who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League, North American Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League.
Petros Nazarbegian, boxer, competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics as a member of the Iran senior national Boxing team. Head coach of Iranian national boxing team. Immigrated to the U.S. after the 1979 revolution
Amin Abraham Paul Nikfar, shot put for the Iranian National Team and finished 1st in the Asian Indoor Championships in Iran in 2004
Arash Noamouz, soccer left midfielder, who played for the Los Angeles Galaxy, the Iran national football team, Poora, Pas, and Bahman
Shar Pourdanesh, American football offensive lineman who had played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Oakland Raiders from 1996 to 2001. He is distinguished as the first Iranian to play in the National Football League
Farrukh Quraishi, soccer player, who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League playing for the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Calgary Boomers. President and General Manager of the Tampa Bay Rowdies
Jahon Rad, professional soccer player who plays for the Swope Park Rangers in the USL Championship. Twin brother of Kaveh
Kaveh Rad, professional soccer player who plays for the Swope Park Rangers in the USL Championship. Twin brother of Jahon
Rhett Rakhshani, ice hockey forward
Mike Rostampour, professional basketball player, plays for the Iranian national basketball team
Amir Sadollah, professional mixed martial artist and winner of
Ramak Safi, soccer player
Nima Saghafi, soccer referee in Major League Soccer
Behdad Sami, first professional Iranian basketball player in American history
Steve Sarkisian, American football coach and former player; current offensive coordinator for the Alabama Crimson Tide, and former offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League
Michael Shabaz, tennis player, 2005 Wimbledon boys' doubles championship
Kamal Shalorus, mixed martial artist, formerly competing in the UFC and the WEC. Currently competing in ONE FC
Kamran Shirazi, International Master of chess
Yasmin Siraj, figure skater and the 2010 U.S. junior silver medalist
Amir Vahedi, professional poker player
Leila Vaziri, competitive swimmer, gold medalist at the 2007 World Aquatics Championships, and former world record holder of the 50m women's backstroke
Hooman Tavakolian, sport diplomat and lobbyist, Hall of Fame, wrestler
Kia Zolgharnain, retired soccer forward, led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during 1986–1987 season
Religion
David Shofet, founder and Chief Rabbi of the Nessah Synagogue in Beverly Hills, California. Son of former Chief Rabbi of Iran Yedidia Shofet and current recognized spiritual leader of Persian Jewry
Yedidia Shofet, former Chief Rabbi of Iran and spiritual leader of worldwide Persian Jewry
Shua'u'llah Behai, known in the Baha'i tradition as "Mirza Shua'u’llah". Eldest grandson of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder-prophet of the Baha'i faith, and son of Mírzá Muhammad `Alí. Only known descendant of the Baha'i prophet to have become an American citizen
Ahmad Sohrab, Bahá'í, author who served as Abdu'l-Bahá's secretary and interpreter. Co-founder of the New History Society and Caravan of East and West in New York, which aimed to spread the teachings of the Bahá'í Faith through international correspondence and education. Ex-communicated from the Bahá'í Faith by Shoghi Effendi in 1939
Other
Gelareh Bagherzadeh, an Iranian residing in Houston, Texas, killed in 2012 in an honor killing perpetrated by Ali Irsan

Popular movies

The Hunger Games (film) - 2012 American dystopian action thriller science fiction-adventure film directed by Gary Ross and based on Suzanne Collins’s 2008 novel of the same name. It is the first insta...
untitled Captain Marvel sequel - part of Marvel Cinematic Universe....
Killers of the Flower Moon (film project) - Killers of the Flower Moon - film project in United States of America. It was presented as drama, detective fiction, thriller. The film project starred Leonardo Dicaprio, Robert De Niro. Director of...
Five Nights at Freddy's (film) - Five Nights at Freddy's - film published in 2017 in United States of America. Scenarist of the film - Scott Cawthon....

Popular books

Book of Revelation - The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament, and consequently is also the final book of the Christian Bible. Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: apok...
Book of Genesis - account of the creation of the world, the early history of humanity, Israel's ancestors and the origins...
Gospel of Matthew - The Gospel According to Matthew is the first book of the New Testament and one of the three synoptic gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, rejected and executed in Israel, pronounces judgement on ...
Michelin Guide - Michelin Guides are a series of guide books published by the French tyre company Michelin for more than a century. The term normally refers to the annually published Michelin Red Guide , the oldest...
Psalms - The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms , the Psalter or "the Psalms", is the first book of the Ketuvim , the third section of the Hebrew Bible, and thus a book of th...
Ecclesiastes - Ecclesiastes is one of 24 books of the Tanakh , where it is classified as one of the Ketuvim . Originally written c. 450–200 BCE, it is also among the canonical Wisdom literature of the Old Tes...
The 48 Laws of Power - non-fiction book by American author Robert Greene. The book...

Popular television series

The Crown (TV series) - historical drama web television series about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, created and principally written by Peter Morgan, and produced by Left Bank Pictures and Sony Pictures Tel...
Friends - American sitcom television series, created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. With an ensemble cast sta...
Young Sheldon - spin-off prequel to The Big Bang Theory and begins with the character Sheldon...
Modern Family - American television mockumentary family sitcom created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan for the American Broadcasting Company. It ran for eleven seasons, from September 23...
Loki (TV series) - upcoming American web television miniseries created for Disney+ by Michael Waldron, based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. It is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shar...
Game of Thrones - American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It...
Shameless (American TV series) - American comedy-drama television series developed by John Wells which debuted on Showtime on January 9, 2011. It...

List of Iranian Americans

List

Academia/science

Arts and entertainment

Business/technology

Literature

Media/Journalism

Music

Politics

Sports

Religion

Other