What is The Iranist?

سلام/hello, I’m Holly Dagres, curator of The Iranist, on Substack—a popular newsletter on all things Iran read by the White House to Whitehall.

My journey into understanding and sharing insights about Iran began in 1999, when, just as I was turning thirteen, I moved from Los Angeles, California—aka Tehrangeles—to the Islamic Republic of Iran. The experience would be one of the most consequential years of my life and put me on the path to becoming a recognized authority on Iran.

Today, I’m a senior fellow with The Washington Institute, and my analysis is regularly featured by the Associated Press, CNN, Fox News, and the New York Times.

Why subscribe?

Through The Iranist, I offer more than just the usual security-related headlines about ballistic missiles, proxies, and the country’s controversial nuclear program. My newsletter dives deeper, capturing the pulse of ordinary Iranians and activists, highlighting everything from popular social media trends to critical human rights issues.

The newsletter is sent straight to your inbox every Friday. With 5-15 minutes of reading each week, readers are informed on all things Iran.

Subscribe to The Iranist for nuanced reporting on Iran beyond the stereotypes and usual headlines of a dynamic and vibrant country that is often misunderstood.

About our logo

My logo is by Iranian-American graffiti artist ABCNT. It was inspired by the 2022 Women, Life, Freedom uprising led by Iranian Gen Z.

Watch my TEDxTalk about why this generation of Iranian youth matters:

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