List of Iranian women

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of Iranian women, of all Iranian ethnic backgrounds, including both women born in Iran and women that are of the Iranian diaspora.

Nobel laureates

Shirin Ebadi (born 1947), 2003 Nobel Laureate (Nobel Peace Prize)
Narges Mohammadi (born 1972), 2023 Nobel Laureate (Nobel Peace Prize)

Iranian women Nobel laureates

Scientists and engineers

Azar Andami (1926–1984), physician and bacteriologist noted for her development of a cholera vaccine
Anousheh Ansari (born 1966), Iranian-American first female space tourist, telecommunication entrepreneur, and namesake of the X Prize
Elham Azizi (born 1986), Iranian-American biomedical scientist and professor at Columbia University
Niloufar Bayani (born 1986), wildlife conservation biology researcher and activist; jailed in Iran
Azita Emami (born 1963), Iranian-American engineer working on low-power mixed-mode circuits in scalable technologies; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology
Nikta Fakhri, Iranian-American physics professor at MIT
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017), mathematician and the first woman to win the Fields Medal, professor of mathematics at Princeton University and Stanford University; moved to California
Bita Moghaddam, Iranian-American neuroscientist, known for glutamate hyperactivity hypothesis of schizophrenia, professor at Oregon Health & Science University
Mahta Moghaddam (born 1965), Iranian-American inventor and electrical engineer, known for development of microwave sensing technologies, professor at the University of Southern California
Maryam Sadeghi (born 1980), Iranian-born Canadian computer scientist and businesswoman in the field of medical image analysis
Homa Shaibany (born 1913), Iran's first female surgeon
Alenush Terian (1921–2011), astronomer
Saba Valadkhan (born c. 1974), Iranian-American biomedical scientist and professor at Case Western Reserve University

Iranian women scientists and engineers

Academia

Janet Afary (born 1951), Iranian-American activist and researcher in history, religious studies and women studies; teaches at University of California, Santa Barbara
Lady Amin (1886–1983; also known as Banoo Amin), 20th century jurisprudent, theologian and Muslim mystic
Jaleh Amouzgar (born 1939), Iranologist, professor and chair at University of Tehran
Noushafarin Ansari (born 1939), professor within the Faculty of Library and Information Science at University of Tehran; Secretary General of Children's Book Council of Iran
Elham Azizi (born 1986), Iranian-American biomedical scientist and professor at Columbia University
Roksana Bahramitash (born 1956), Iranian-born Canadian sociologist, author, and professor at the University of Montreal
Mina Bissell, Iranian-American biochemist, Director of University of California, Berkeley Life Sciences Division^[1]
Shirin Ebadi (born 1947), lawyer, lecturer at Tehran University (2003 Nobel Laureate)
Azita Emami, Iranian-American engineer working on low-power mixed-mode circuits in scalable technologies; Professor of Electrical Engineering and Medical Engineering at California Institute of Technology
Farideh Heyat (born 1949), British-Iranian anthropologist and writer; retired lecturer of SOAS, University of London and American University of Central Asia
Marjan Jahangiri (born 1962), Iranian-British professor of cardiac surgery at St George's, University of London, first female professor of cardiac surgery in the United Kingdom and Europe
Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet (born 1967), American-Iranian Professor of History at the University of Pennsylvania; novelist^[2]^[3]
Fatemeh Keshavarz (born 1952), Iranian-American Chair of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literature Department, Professor of Persian and Comparative Literature, Washington University in St. Louis
Elaheh Koulaei (born 1956), Professor of political science, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Tehran University; politician
Amy Malek (born c. 1979/1980), Iranian-American scholar, and sociocultural anthropologist at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater^[4]
Farzaneh Milani (born 1947), Iranian-born American Director of Studies in Women and Gender; Professor of Persian and Women Studies at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States^[5]
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977–2017), mathematician, Fields Medal (2014), Professor at Princeton University and Stanford University; moved to California
Valentine Moghadam (born 1952), Iranian-American Professor of Sociology and International Affairs; Director of International Affairs Program and Director of Middle East Studies Program, Northeastern University^[6]
Bita Moghaddam, Iranian-American neuroscientist, Ruth Matarazzo Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at Oregon Health & Science University, former Professor at Yale University and the University of Pittsburgh
Mahta Moghaddam (born 1965), Iranian-American William M. Hogue Professor of Electrical Engineering in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Southern California
Azar Nafisi (born 1948), Iranian-American former lecturer at Tehran University and Johns Hopkins University
Afsaneh Najmabadi (born 1946), Iranian-born American Professor of History and of Studies of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Harvard University
Nasrin Rahimieh (born 1958), Iranian-born American writer of Iranian culture and Persian literature; professor of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Irvine^[7]
Zahra Rahnavard (born 1945), first female chancellor of a university, Alzahra University (1998–2006) after the Iranian Revolution, was under house arrest from 2011 to 2018
Pardis Sabeti (born 1975), Iranian-American geneticist at Harvard Medical School
Reihaneh Safavi-Naini, Iranian-Canadian cryptographer; professor of computer science; head of the Telecommunications and Information Technology Research Institute at the University of Wollongong
Fatemeh Shams (born 1983), teaching Persian literature at the University of Pennsylvania and at Oxford University, lives in the United States
Saba Soomekh (born 1976), Iranian-born American professor of religious studies at UCLA and Loyola Marymount University
Nayereh Tohidi (born 1951), Iranian-born American professor and Chair of the Women's Studies Department at California State University, Northridge; research associate at the Center for Near Eastern Studies at UCLA, US^[8]
Tali Farhadian Weinstein (born in 1975 or 1976), Iranian-born American attorney, professor at Columbia Law School and NYU Law School, and politician

Iranian women in academia

Activists

Mahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), Iranian-American politician and human rights and women's rights activist, served in the Cabinet of Iran (1976–78)
Nazanin Afshin-Jam (born 1979), Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author and public speaker, and former Miss World Canada
Neda Agha-Soltan (1983–2009), shot and killed during the 2009 Iranian election protests; her name quickly became a rallying cry for the opposition
Shiva Nazar Ahari (born 1984), human rights activist, journalist, co-founder of Committee of Human Rights Reporters, jailed several times in Evin Prison; moved to Slovenia
Bibi Khatoon Astarabadi (1858/59–1921), author and pioneer of the Persian women's movement in modern Iran
Forough Azarakhshi (1904–1963), established the first elementary and secondary schools for girls in Mashhad, Iran
Homa Darabi (1940–1994), Iranian-American political activist against forced hijab, affiliated with the secular Nation Party of Iran; professor of child psychiatry, physician; set herself on fire in Tehran's Tajrish Square to protest Iran's restrictions of women's rights
Parvin Darabi (born 1941), Iranian–American author and women's rights activist; speaks out against Iran's regime and Islam
Nitsana Darshan-Leitner (born 1973), Israeli attorney, human rights activist, and founder of Shurat HaDin–Israeli Law Center
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi (1882–1961), feminist activist, journalist, educator and one of the pioneering figures in the Persian women's movement
Shirin Ebadi (born 1947), human rights lawyer, activist, and judge, 2003 Nobel Laureate–Nobel Peace Prize, lives in London
Zahra Eshraghi (born 1964), feminist activist, granddaughter of Ayatollah Khomeini
Parvaneh Eskandari (1939–1998), political activist, writer, and Dariush Forouhar's wife; murdered during the chain murders of Iran in 1998.
Roya Hakakian (born 1966), Iranian-American Jewish human rights activist, poet, journalist, and writer.
Faezeh Hashemi (born 1963), journalist, women's rights activist, and former member of Iranian parliament (1996–2000), daughter of the late former president of Iran Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, is currently imprisoned in Evin Prison for her advocacy
Shamsi Hekmat (1917–1997), Iranian-American educator, philanthropist, pioneered reforms in women's status in Iran
Sheema Kalbasi (born 1972), Iranian-Danish-American human rights activist, author, poet, and filmmaker
Mehrangiz Kar (born 1944), human rights lawyer, author, and Iranian dissident, formerly incarcerated in Evin Prison, lives in the United States
Zahra Kazemi (1948–2003) Iranian-Canadian freelance photographer, arrested for taking photos of a protest and beaten and slain in custody in Evin Prison while a political prisoner.
Shahla Lahiji (1942 –2024), feminist and human rights activist, writer, publisher, and translator, formerly incarcerated in Evin Prison
Lily Mazahery (born 1972), Iranian-American human rights activist, disbarred attorney
Narges Mohammadi (born 1972), Nobel laureate–Nobel Peace Prize, human rights activist and Vice President of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, physicist and engineer; imprisoned primarily in Evin Prison and Zanjan Prison, has faced cumulative sentences totaling over 30 years, remains imprisoned in Evin Prison
Rayehe Mozafarian (born 1986), women and children rights activist, researcher; the founder of Stop FGM Iran, focused on eliminating female genital mutilation
Maryam Namazie (born 1966), British–Iranian secularist, communist and human rights activist, writer, commentator, and broadcaster; vocal critic of Islamism and sharia law; the leader of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain
Sharon Nazarian (born 1967), Iranian-born American social activist, academic, clinical psychologist, and philanthropist
Marina Nemat (born 1965), Canadian–Iranian human rights activist, past political prisoner and memoirist, imprisoned for over two years in Evin Prison
Asra Panahi (2007–2022), fifteen-year-old girl beaten and killed during the Mahsa Amini protests
Maryam Rajavi (born 1953), President of the National Council of Resistance of Iran; leader of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, lives in France
Shadi Sadr (born 1974), lawyer, human rights advocate, essayist and journalist, incarcerated in Evin Prison, lives in Germany
Azadeh Shahshahani (born 1979), Iranian–American human rights lawyer and former president of the National Lawyers Guild
Shahla Sherkat (born 1956), writer, publisher, editor; a pioneer of the women's movement in modern Iran
Nasrin Sotoudeh (born 1963), human rights lawyer for opposition activists, women protesting mandatory hijab laws, juveniles facing the death penalty, and politicians; imprisoned multiple times in Evin Prison and Qarchak Prison, served a 3-year term, was re-arrested to serve an accumulated 38-year sentence.
Iran Teymourtash (1914–1991), journalist and early activist; daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtash; moved to France
Elham Youssefian (born c. 1980/81), Iranian-American human rights lawyer and disability rights advocate

Iranian women activists

Prisoners and detainees

Fariba Adelkhah (born 1959), French-Iranian anthropologist, imprisoned for over 3 years in Evin Prison for allegedly conspiring against national security and engaging in propaganda.
Parastoo Ahmadi (born 1997), singer, sang while not wearing a hijab, arrested and convicted of offending "public decency through the production and publication of obscene and immoral content," sentenced by a criminal court to 74 lashes.
Mahsa Amini (1999–2022), was arrested by the Guidance Patrol for allegedly not wearing the hijab in accordance with government standards, and died in police custody in Vozara Detention Center amid assertions of police brutality
Marziyeh Amirizadeh (born 1979), Iranian-American author imprisoned in Evin Prison and sentenced to execution by hanging for converting to Christianity; later tortured, and released after 259 days.
Zahra Bahrami (1965–2011), dual Dutch and Iranian citizen arrested during a political protest, imprisoned in Evin Prison, and later convicted for drug trafficking and executed by hanging
Marjan Davari (born 1966), researcher, translator and writer studying, teaching, translating and researching new age material, philosophical and metaphysical texts, held in Evin Prison and Qarchak Prison and sentenced to death for "spreading corruption on earth" by promoting new age cults and movements from eastern cultures such as Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, and Eckankar; imprisoned since 2015
Zahra Amir Ebrahimi (born 1981), Iranian-French photographer, television actress, subject of a 2006 sex tape scandal in Iran, sentenced to 6 months in prison and 90 lashes
Haleh Esfandiari (born 1940), Iranian-American scholar, former Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, detained in Evin Prison for over 3 months^[9]
Nazanin Fatehi (born 1987), controversially sentenced to death by hanging for murder
Zeynab Jalaliyan (born 1982), Kurdish prisoner, initially sentenced to death for "enmity against God" (moharebeh) due to alleged political alignment with Kurdish groups, held in Yazd Central Prison since 2008
Zahra Kazemi-Ahmadabadi (1948–2003), Iranian-Canadian freelance photojournalist arrested, raped, tortured, and killed while in custody in Evin Prison
Sharifeh Mohammadi (born 1979), social activist and political prisoner sentenced to death, held in Lakan Prison
Verisheh Moradi (born c. 1985/86), political prisoner and women's rights activist sentenced to death and imprisoned in Sanandaj Prison and Evin Prison since 2023
Taraneh Mousavi (1981–2009), arrested for protesting the 2009 election results, died after being sexually abused while in custody
Roxana Saberi (born 1977), American journalist for CBS News, held prisoner in Evin Prison and sentenced to an 8-year prison term under accusations of espionage, released after 101 days
Zahra Tabari (born c. 1958), electrical engineer and activist sentenced to death by hanging on charges of "armed rebellion" after she was found to possess a cloth printed with the "Woman, Life, Freedom" slogan, held in Lakan Prison since 2025
Zahra Bani Yaghoub (1980–2007), medical doctor, arrested by the Guidance Patrol for breaching modesty laws by sitting in a park with her fiance, died in prison in Hamedan
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (born 1978), British-Iranian imprisoned for 5 years after being found guilty of "plotting to topple the Iranian government"

Iranian women prisoners and detainees

Actresses

Mahnaz Afshar (born 1978), Iranian-born German actress
Shohreh Aghdashloo (born 1952), Iranian-American actress, Oscar nominee 2003 for House of Sand and Fog
Jewell Farshad (born 1996), Iranian-born American actress, (TV)Euphoria, a series that has received multiple Primetime Emmy Award nominations, alongside Zendaya and Rosalía.
Pegah Ahangarani (born 1984), actress and winner of Best Actress award at the 23rd Cairo International Film Festival; moved to the United Kingdom
Desiree Akhavan (born 1984), American actress, in the television show Girls, and director, winner, Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize, 2018
Taraneh Alidoosti (born 1984), Best Actress award winner, Locarno International Film Festival, 2002
Mary Apick (born 1954), actress, Best Actress award winner (1977) at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival; moved to the United States
Behnoosh Bakhtiari (born 1975), actress
Catherine Bell (born 1968), British-American actress, JAG, half Iranian
Nadia Bjorlin (born 1980), American of Swedish-Iranian ethnicity, actress, singer, and model
Shiva Boloorian (born 1979), playwright, actress, television presenter, and both a film and theatre director
Nazanin Boniadi (born 1980), Iranian-born British, London-based actress
Liraz Charhi (born 1978), Iranian-Israeli actress, singer, and dancer
Zahra Amir Ebrahimi (born 1981), Iranian-French actress and social photographer
Irán Eory (1937–2002), actress; moved to Mexico
Golshifteh Farahani (born 1983), Iranian-French actress
Tina Gharavi (born 1972), Iranian-born British screenwriter and director
Googoosh (born 1950), actress, singer, songwriter; moved to Canada
Gordafarid (born 1977), a Naqqal (storyteller) considered to be the first female Naqqal of Iran
Azita Hajian (born 1958), actress, Crystal Simorgh winner for Best Actress, 17th Fajr International Film Festival
Mitra Hajjar (born 1977), actress
Leila Hatami (born 1972), actress, was in the Academy Award-winning film A Separation
Rita Jahanforuz, known as "Rita" (born 1962), Iranian-born Israeli actress and singer
Niki Karimi (born 1971), actress, film director, and screenwriter
Maryam Kavyani (born 1970), actress
Baran Kosari (born 1985), actress, and model; 25th Fajr International Film Festival awards winner
Samiyeh Lak (born 1980), actress
Aylar Lie (born 1984), Iranian-born Norwegian actress, model, singer, former pornographic actress
Mahvash (1920–1961; also known as Masoumeh Azizi Borujerdi), singer, dancer, film actress and stage performer
Yassamin Maleknasr (born 1955), actress and director
Hengameh Mofid (born 1955), film and theatre actress, film director, dramatist
Fatemeh Motamed-Arya (born 1961), actress
Marjan Neshat (born 1975), actress nominated for 2025 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for English; moved to the United States
Nasim Pedrad (born 1981), Iranian-born American actress and comedian
Shiva Rose (born 1969), Iranian-American actress and blogger.^[10]
Nahid Persson Sarvestani (born 1960), Swedish-Iranian documentary filmmaker
Sarah Shahi (born 1980), American actress and former cheerleader, of Iranian-Spanish ancestry
Yara Shahidi (born 2000), American actress, of Iranian, African American and Native Choctaw heritage
Sarah Solemani (born 1982), English actress, writer, and activist
Bahar Soomekh (born 1975), Iranian-born American actress, Crash and Saw III
Tami Stronach (born 1972), actress, dancer, filmmaker, and professor; moved to the United States
Hāni'eh Tavassoli (born 1979), actress
Hedyeh Tehrani (born 1972), actress
Necar Zadegan (born 1982), American actress
Maryam Zakaria (born c. 1984/85), Swedish-Iranian actress in Bollywood and South Indian Cinema
Nina Zanjani (born 1981), Iranian-Swedish actress
Merila Zarei (born 1974), actress
Irene Zazians (1927–2012), Iranian-Armenian actress

Iranian actresses
Shohreh Aghdashloo
Golshifteh Farahani
Sarah Shahi
Nazanin Boniadi
Mahnaz Afshar
Taraneh Alidoosti

Filmmakers and theatre directors

Narges Abyar (born 1970), film director, author and screenwriter
Rakhshan Bani-Etemad (born 1954), film director
Niloofar Beyzaie (born 1967), playwright, theatre director; moved to Germany
Pouran Derakhshandeh (born 1951), film director, producer, screenwriter, and researcher
Tanaz Eshaghian (born 1974), Iranian-born American documentary filmmaker
Aryana Farshad (born c. 1957), Iranian-American writer, director, and documentary film maker; winner of Audience Award, Telly Award, and Davey Award, 2008
Niki Karimi (born 1971), actress, film director, and screenwriter
Maryam Keshavarz (born 1975), Iranian-American film director
Hana Makhmalbaf (born 1988), filmmaker, director
Samira Makhmalbaf (born 1980), filmmaker, film director, and script writer
Yassamin Maleknasr (born 1955), Iranian-American actress and director
Tahmineh Milani (born 1960), feminist, film director, and film producer
Hengameh Mofid (born 1955), film and theatre actress, film director, dramatist
Granaz Moussavi, Iranian-born Australian film director, screenwriter
Mahin Oskouei (1929–2006), first female Iranian theatre director

Iranian women filmmakers and theatre directors

Models and beauty pageant titleholders

Nazanin Afshin-Jam (born 1979), Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author and public speaker, and Miss World Canada 2003
Ramona Amiri (born 1980), Iranian-Canadian Miss World Canada 2005, first runner up in Miss Universe Canada 2007
Sara Nicole Andersen (born 1992), Norwegian-Iranian Miss Universe Norway 2012
Sahar Biniaz (born 1985), Persian-Canadian Miss Universe Canada 2012
Mahlagha Jaberi (born 1989), Iranian-American influencer and Instagram model
Aylar Lie (born 1984), Iranian-born Norwegian actress, model, singer, former pornographic actress
Leyla Milani (born 1982), Iranian-Canadian-American model, TV host and retired actress.
Melika Razavi (born 1989), Iranian-South African Miss Iran 2016, Miss Global Fitness 2016, and Miss Power Woman 2017; also a professional poker player and magician
Roxana Saberi (born 1977), American Miss North Dakota 1997, journalist for CBS News, imprisoned in Evin Prison and sentenced to 8-year prison term under accusations of espionage, released after 101 days.
Shermine Shahrivar (born 1982), Iranian-German Miss Germany 2004 and Miss Europe 2005
Sadaf Taherian (born 1988), model and actress; based in Turkey
Samantha Tajik (born 1983), Iranian-Canadian Miss Universe Canada 2008
Hami Zaker (born 1994), Miss Earth 2021, first Iranian delegate in the Big Four international beauty pageants^[11]^[12]

Iranian women models and beauty pageant titleholders

Musicians

Leila Arab (born 1971), musician, record producer and DJ; based in London
Roya Arab (born 1967), Iranian-British musician, archaeologist, singer and songwriter
Aki Banayi (1951–2025), Iranian-American singer
Sima Bina (born 1945), traditional Iranian musician, singer, composer; lives in Germany
Delkash (1925–2004; also known as Esmat Bagherpour Baboli), singer and actress
Leila Forouhar (born 1959), pop and classical singer, based in Los Angeles
Shushā Guppy (1935–2008), writer, editor, and singer of Persian and Western folk-songs; lived in London
Hayedeh (1942–1990; also known as Ma'soumeh Dadehbala), pop and classical singer; lived in Los Angeles
Ghashang Kamkar, musician, setar player; in the group the Kamkars
Anousheh Khalili (born 1983), Iranian–American singer-songwriter
Mahasti (1946–2007), Persian classical, folk, and pop music singer; lived in California
Moshtari Khanum (c. 1786 – c. 1883), singer and setar player
Marzieh (1924–2010), Persian traditional music singer; lived in Paris
Mina (born 18th century; died 19th century), musician and singer, setar player
Parisa (born 1950; also known as Fatemeh Va'ezi), Persian classical singer, Avaz master
Laleh Pourkarim (born 1982), Iranian–Swedish singer-songwriter, musician, record producer, actress
Rita (born 1962; Rita Jahanforuz), Iranian-born Israeli singer and actress, represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Salome MC (born 1985), hip hop artist; now based in the United States
Sepideh (born 1975), Iranian-American singer
Shakila (born 1962), Iranian–American singer, winner of Persian Academy Award (2006); based in San Diego, California
Shohreh Solati (born 1957), Iranian–American singer
Monir Vakili (1923–1983), singer of western opera and Persian folk music, the first Persian singer to popularize Persian folk songs
Qamar ol-Molouk Vaziri (1905–1953), radif-e âvâz singer, known as the "queen of Persian music"
Farzane Zamen (born 1983), Iranian-British musician, singer, producer, songwriter
Zohreh (born 18th century; died 19th century), musician; kamancheh, setar, and tar player

Iranian women musicians

Dance

Sorour Darabi (born 1990), a member of the ICCD, based in Paris because hers is a form of dance that is taboo in Iran
Rana Gorgani (born 1983), French-Iranian Sufi whirling dervish dancer and former actress
Jamileh (born 1946), Iranian-American actress, cabaret performer, and dancer
Farzaneh Kaboli (born 1949), a leader in Iranian folkloric and national dance art, actress
Moshtari Khanum (c. 1786 – c. 1883), a dancer of the Qajar era

Iranian women dancers

Fine arts

Shirin Aliabadi (1973-2018), multidisciplinary visual artist
Morehshin Allahyari (born 1985), artist, educator, based in Brooklyn
Akram Monfared Arya (born 1946), Swedish-Iranian painter late in life, but best known as the second licensed female aircraft pilot of Iran
Iran Darroudi (1936-2021), Surrealist painter
Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019), best known for her mirror mosaics, sculptor, painter, textile designs
Parastou Forouhar (born 1962), installation artist, lives in Germany
Mokarrameh Ghanbari (1928–2005), self-taught painter
Nahid Hagigat (born 1943), Iranian-born American painter and illustrator; based in New York City
Mansooreh Hosseini (1926–2012), painter and art critic
Fakhr Jahan Khanum (1798–1858), nail-style (Nakhoni) calligraphist
Tala Madani (born 1981), Iranian-born American artist
Shirin Neshat (born 1957), Iranian-American conceptual artist and photographer
Guity Novin (born 1944), Iranian-born Canadian painter, graphic artist and founder of transpressionism movement in painting
Behjat Sadr (1924–2009), Modernist painter; moved to France

Iranian women fine artists

Design

Leila Araghian (born 1983) architect, founder of Diba Tensile Architecture, specializing in the design, manufacture, and installation of membrane structures
Farshid Moussavi (born 1965), Iranian-born British architect, founder of Foreign Office Architects
Marjane Satrapi (1969–2026), French-Iranian film director, illustrator, and graphic novelist
Nasrine Seraji (born 1957), Iranian-born French-British architect, founder of Atelier Seraji Architectes & Associes.

Iranian women designers

Fashion design

Farnaz Abdoli (born 1957), womenswear fashion designer and founder of POOSH-e MA
Pegah Anvarian (born 1974), Iranian-born American fashion designer, based in Los Angeles
Arefeh Mansouri (born 1980), Iranian-Canadian fashion and costume designer
Behnaz Sarafpour (born 1969), Iranian-born American couture fashion designer, based in New York City

Iranian women fashion designers

Journalists

Masih Alinejad (born 1976), Iranian-American journalist, author, and political activist critical of the status of human and women's rights in Iran
Christiane Amanpour (born 1958), British–Iranian, CNN's chief international correspondent
Rudi Bakhtiar (born 1966), Iranian-American television news anchor
Sediqeh Dowlatabadi (1882–1961), feminist activist and journalist and one of the pioneering figures in the Persian women's movement
Sibel Edmonds (born 1970), American of Iranian Azerbaijani and Turkish ethnicity, editor-in-chief of news website NewsBud; former contract translator for the FBI and whistleblower
Camelia Entekhabifard (born 1973), Iranian-American journalist and author
Faezeh Hashemi (born 1963), journalist, women rights activist, and former member of Iranian parliament
FakhrAfagh Parsa (1898–1980), director of the Women's World magazine and the first female journalist in the Iranian history to be exiled
Atoosa Rubenstein (born 1972), Iranian-American founder and editor of CosmoGirl magazine; editor of Seventeen
Roxana Saberi (born 1977), American journalist for CBS News, imprisoned in Evin Prison and sentenced to 8-year prison term under accusations of espionage, released after 101 days
Shadi Sadr (born 1974), feminist activist, lawyer and journalist, based in the United Kingdom
Iran Teymourtash (1914–1991), journalist and early activist; daughter of Abdolhossein Teymourtash; moved to France.

Iranian women journalists

Writers and poets

Masoumeh Abad (born 1962), writer, conservative politician, author
Mahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), writer, politician, women's rights activist; moved to the United States
Mana Aghaee (born 1973), Iranian-Swedish poet, translator, and bibliographer
Mahshid Amirshahi (born 1937), novelist, humorist, and translator; moved to France
Mina Assadi (born 1943), Iranian-Swedish poet and author; winner of the Hellman/Hammett award from Human Rights Watch in 1996
Camila Batmanghelidjh (1963–2024), Iranian-Belgian psychotherapist, author
Najmieh Batmanglij (1947), Iranian-American cookbook author
Simin Behbahani (1927–2014), poet, 1997 Nobel Prize nominee
Niloofar Beyzaie (born 1967), dramatist, playwright and theatre director; moved to Germany
Simin Daneshvar (1921–2012), academic, novelist and translator of literary texts from several languages into Persian
Sahar Delijani (born 1983), Iranian-American widely translated novelist; author of Children of the Jacaranda Tree; living between the United States and Italy
Parvin E'tesami (1907–1941), poet
Forough Farrokhzad (1934–1967), modernist poet and film director
Rabe'e Ghazdari, poet, 10th century
Roya Hakakian (born 1966), Iranian-American writer, journalist, and poet
Sheema Kalbasi (born 1972), Iranian-Danish-American poet, writer
Mehrangiz Kar (born 1944), lawyer, author, Radcliffe Fellow at Harvard University (2005–06)
Leila Kasra (1939–1989), poet and lyricist; moved to the United States
Porochista Khakpour (born 1978), Iranian-American novelist
Mahsati (c. 1089–1159), medieval poet
Leandra Medine (born 1988), American author, blogger, and humor writer best known for Man Repeller
Azadeh Moaveni (born 1976), Iranian-American writer and journalist
Bita Moghaddam, Iranian-American author of Ketamine
Akram Monfared Arya (born 1946), Iranian-born Swedish author, poet, aircraft pilot, and the second woman to earn a pilot's license to fly aircraft in Iran
Roza Montazemi (1922-2009), author of cookbooks
Granaz Moussavi (born 1974), Iranian-Australian poet
Azar Nafisi (born 1948), Iranian-American writer, Reading Lolita in Tehran
Shahrnush Parsipur (born 1946), novelist; moved to the United States
Zoya Pirzad (born 1952), novelist and winner of Hooshang Golshiri Literary Award
Moniro Ravanipour (born 1952), Iranian-American writer
Gulrukhsor Safieva (born 1947), national poet of Tajikistan
Homa Sarshar (born 1946), Iranian-American author, activist, media personality, and award-winning journalist
Marjane Satrapi (born 1969), French-Iranian graphic novelist of Persepolis, Embroideries and Chicken with Plums
Hila Sedighi (born 1985), poet, painter; moved in part to Dubai
Mahasti Shahrokhi (born 1956), poet, novelist; moved to France
Fatemeh Shams (born 1983), poet, author; moved to the United States
Esther Shkalim (born1954), Israeli, Mizrahi feminist poet
Dalia Sofer (born 1972), Iranian-born American writer
Tahereh Qorrat Al-'Ayn (c.1814–1852), poet, philosopher and theologist; seventeenth disciple or Letter of the Living of the Báb (mid-19th century)
Niloufar Talebi, British-born American-Iranian writer, literary translator, multidisciplinary artist, producer
Lobat Vala (born 1930), poet; moved to England
Sholeh Wolpé (born 1962), Iranian-American poet

Iranian women writers and poets

Business

Afsaneh Beschloss (born 1956), Iranian-born American former treasurer of the World Bank, economist, entrepreneur, and investor, CEO of RockCreek, an investment firm that she founded
Mandana Dayani (born 1982), Iranian-American businesswoman and media executive
Sepideh Nasiri (born c. 1981/82), Iranian-American founder of Persian Women In Tech (PWIT)^[13]
Shahrzad Rafati (born 1979), Iranian-Canadian CEO of BroadbandTV Corp (BBTV)
Maryam Rofougaran (born 1968), Iranian-American electrical engineer, CEO and co-founder of Innovent Systems, Inc. and Movandi; member of the CNBC CEO Council^[14]^[15]
Sheherazade Semsar-de Boisséson (born 1968), French-Iranian founding CEO of POLITICO Europe, CEO of McCourt Global
Marzieh Shah-Daei (born 1962), former Executive Director of National Petrochemical Company; Iranian Deputy Minister of Petroleum (2017–19)
Farzaneh Sharafbafi (born 1973), former CEO of Iran Air

Iranian businesswomen

Athletes

Forough Abbasi (born 1993), Olympic alpine skier
Kimia Alizadeh (born 1998), Iranian-born Bulgarian taekwondo athlete, first Iranian female Olympic medalist
Padideh Boloorizadeh (born 1974), Asian pentathlon champion, captain of Iranian national volleyball team
Leila Ebrahimi (born 1979), former runner
Nasimeh Gholami (born 1985), futsal player; on the Iran women's national futsal team
Vida Halimian (born 1988), compound archer
Marjan Kalhor (born 1988), Iranian-French Olympic alpine skier
Janet Kohan-Sedq (1945–1972), Olympic track and field runner
Shima Mehri (born 1980), motorcyclist; based in Dubai
Mahtab Parsamehr (born 1989), archer
Aravane Rezaï (born 1987), French–Iranian tennis player
Maryam Sedarati (born 1950), former high jumper; first Iranian woman to win a medal at an international athletics competition in 1973
Laleh Seddigh (born 1977), race car driver, and rally champion of Iran
Behnaz Shafiei (born 1989), motocross rider

Iranian women athletes

Politicians

Masoumeh Abad (born 1962) conservative politician, author, university professor, served as the Iranian Ambassador to Finland
Marzieh Afkham (born c. 1962/63), Iranian Ambassador to Slovenia, was Iranian ambassador to Malaysia
Mahnaz Afkhami (born 1941), women's rights activist, author, was first Minister of Women's Affairs in Iran (1976–78), and second woman in the world to hold the position; former professor of English Literature at the National University, and former Secretary General of the Women's Organization of Iran; lives in Maryland
Haleh Afshar (1941–2022; also known as the Baroness Afshar), Iranian-British life peer in the House of Lords, professor at the University of York
Raumesh Akbari (born 1984), Iranian-American and Black politician and lawyer, member of the Tennessee Senate
Goli Ameri (born 1956), Iranian-American businesswoman and former diplomat, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs (2008–09) and U.S. Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Values and Diplomacy (2010–12)
Nusrat Bhutto (1929–2011), Iranian-born Pakistani First Lady of Pakistan (1971–73), 2nd chairperson of the social democratic Pakistan People's Party (1979–84), Senior Minister of Pakistan (1989–90)
Masoumeh Ebtekar (born 1960), diplomat, the Vice President of Iran for Women and Family Affairs (2017–21), Vice President of Iran Head of Department of Environment (2013–17), member of the City Council of Tehran (2007–13); additionally former spokeswoman for the students in the Iran hostage crisis; professor of immunology
Shahla Habibi (1958–2017), Iran's Presidential Advisor on Women's Affairs (1991–97)
Fatemeh Haghighatjou (born 1968), Member of Parliament of Iran (2000–04, when she resigned); lives in the United States
Fatemeh Javadi (born 1959), Vice President of Iran for Environmental Protection and Head of the Department of the Environment (2005–09)
Anna Kaplan (née Monahemi) (born 1965), Iranian-American member of the New York State Senate (2019–22), attorney
Farah Karimi (born 1960), Iranian-Dutch politician, member of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands (1998–2006), Senator for GroenLinks–PvdA in the Dutch Parliament since 2019
Elaheh Koulaei (born 1956), Member of Parliament (2000–04), and professor of political science at Tehran University
Azar Majedi, communist activist, politician, and writer; lives in England
Farrokhroo Parsa (1922–1980), physician, educator and politician in the Parliament of Iran (1963–68), Minister of Education (1968–71), the first female cabinet minister of an Iranian government; executed by a firing squad in 1980, following the Iranian Revolution
Nasrin Soltankhah (born 1963), politician, member of the Tehran City Council, served as Vice President of Iran for Women's Affairs (2009–13), under Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

Iranian women politicians

Royalty

Turan Amirsoleimani (1905–1995), third wife of Reza Shah; moved to France
Soraya Esfandiary Bakhtiari (1932–2001), Iranian-German actress and queen (1951-58); second wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; moved to France
Shahr Banu (c. 7th century), princess; supposedly a daughter of Yazdegerd III, the last Sassanid emperor of Persia
Boran (c. 590–632; also known as Purandokht), Sassanid crown princess and queen, daughter of Khosrow II
Esmat Dowlatshahi (1905–1995), 4th and last wife of Reza Shah, a member of the Qajar dynasty
Ifra Hormizd, wife of Shah Hormizd II and mother of Shapur the Great, held the position of Regent of the Sassanian Empire (309–325)
Nur Jahan (1577–1645; also known as Mehr-un-Nissa), Empress; last wife of the Mughal emperor Jahangir
Maryam Khanom (1770–1843), royal consort of Agha Mohammad Shah (r. 1789–1797), and then the royal consort of Agha Mohammad's nephew and successor Fath-Ali Shah Qajar (r. 1797–1834)
Tadj ol-Molouk (1896–1982; also known as Nimtâj Âyromlu), Queen of Iran; wife of Reza Shah and mother to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; moved to Mexico
Ashraf Pahlavi (1919–2016; also known as Ashraf ol-Molouk Pahlavi), princess; twin sister of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; moved to Monaco
Farah Pahlavi (born 1938; also known as Farah Diba), Empress and 3rd wife of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi; moved to the United States and France
Fatemeh Pahlavi (1928–1987), the 10th child of Reza Shah; moved to England
Hamdamsaltaneh Pahlavi (1903–1992), first child of Reza Shah and his first wife Maryam Savadkooh
Leila Pahlavi (1970–2001), princess; youngest daughter of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and Farah Pahlavi; moved to the United States and England
Shahnaz Pahlavi (born 1940), princess; first child of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his first wife Fawzia Fuad of Egypt; moved to Switzerland
Shams Pahlavi (1917–1996), eldest daughter of Reza Shah and Tadj ol-Molouk; moved to California
Parysatis (died c. 401–385 BC), daughter of Artaxerxes I, Emperor of Persia and Andia of Babylon
Shirin (c. 575 AD – 628 AD), Persian Queen, wife of the Sasanian Empire Shahanshah (English: the king of kings), Khosrow Parviz
Shushandukht, wife of Yazdegerd I, the Sasanian emperor from 399-420, and mother of Bahram V, his successor
Stateira II (? – 323 BC; also known as Barsine), wife of Alexander the Great; daughter of Stateira I and Darius III of Persia; murdered by Roxana, Alexander's other wife, after his death.

Iranian women in royalty

Others

Einat Admony (born 1971), Israeli-American chef, restaurateur, author and television personality
Fateme Asadi (1960–1984), labeled first Iranian 'martyr', her body was found during post-Iran–Iraq War explorations
Qudsiyyih Khanum Ashraf (1889–1976), Bahá'i teacher and midwife
Shohreh Bayat (born 1987), international chess arbiter for FIDE, awarded an International Women of Courage Award for being a champion for women’s rights, based in England
Ladan and Laleh Bijani (1974–2003), conjoined twins
Dorsa Derakhshani (born 1998), Iranian-American chess player and medical student; Woman Grandmaster and International Master; moved to the U.S. after being banned from the Iranian national chess team for not wearing a hijab during a tournament
Sahar Khodayari (c.1990–2019), attempted to enter a sporting stadium disguised as a man in; she died by suicide
Behnaz Mozakka, died in 7 July 2005 London bombings
Sheila Nazarian (born 1989), Iranian-American plastic surgeon and television personality
Shadi Paridar (born 1986), chess player, Woman Grandmaster
Atousa Pourkashiyan (born 1988), Iranian-American chess player; Woman Grandmaster
Effat Tejaratchi (1917–1999), first Iranian woman to fly an airplane
Badri Teymourtash (1908–1995), first female Iranian doctor; a founder of School of Dentistry, Mashad University; sister of Abdolhossein Teymourtash

Other Iranian women

List of Iranian women

Nobel laureates

Scientists and engineers

Academia

Activists

Prisoners and detainees

Actresses

Filmmakers and theatre directors

Models and beauty pageant titleholders

Musicians

Dance

Fine arts

Design

Fashion design

Journalists

Writers and poets

Business

Athletes

Politicians

Royalty

Others

See also

References

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