Contemporary Iran

Newsha Tavakolian An Iranian woman walks through a haze of smoke caused by the burning of the herb esfand. According to popular belief, this ritual drives away the evil eye. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Yasaman Karimi, 23, a supporter of Dr Aref, gathers in Hejab stadium. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Salar Bil a fashion designer is surrounded by his models before a show. Bil is one of Tehran's upcoming young designers. recently the ministry of Guidance and culture allowed fashion shows and Bil, (...)

Newsha Tavakolian Iranian women listen to a religious speech in a mosque. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Young women celebrating a birthday at Kaboki restaurant. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian A young Iranian girl with her family visits an amusement park beside the new artificial lake dubbed Persian Gulf of Martyrs on Tehran’s west side. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Youths hanging out in the western part of Tehran, where mostly middle class families live. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Young people in Pol-e-Tabiat, or Nature Bridge, located in Iran's capital. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Sahar Khalkhalian a painter finishing an artwork days before she has a solo exhibition at Tehran's Shirin art gallery, that also has a branch in New York. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian English class in Tehran. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian A boy visits Tehran's southern Baharestan Square, where a missile is displayed as part of the "Sacred Defense Week," a period commemorating the Iran-Iraq War. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Arash Fazeli in the pool of the Royal Oxygen sports club. Fazeli is a body building champion and works out here most of the time. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian Meysam Amiri, lifting weights at a gym. Being healthy and fit, like elsewhere in the world, has become quite popular in Iran. Mr. Amiri is a trainer and has more clients he can handle. Tehran, Iran (...)

Newsha Tavakolian Iranian paramilitary Baseej forces reenact the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) in the south of Tehran. Tehran, Iran. 2015. © Newsha Tavakolian | Magnum Photos

Newsha Tavakolian A battalion of members of the Iranian paramilitary Baseej force pose for a picture with a high revolutionary Guards Corps General, after having participated in a reenactment of the Iran-Iraq (1980- (...)