UC Berkeley Iranian & Persianate Studies encourages and supports the study of the broader Iranian world from ancient times to the present.

We aim to advance individual, collaborative, and interdisciplinary scholarship through seminars, workshops, conferences, fellowships, film festivals, and poetry readings; strengthen ties across departments within UC Berkeley; and develop academic partnerships with national and international educational and cultural institutions.

Upcoming events

Interested in supporting Iranian & Persianate Studies?

Contact the Division of Arts & Humanities at lsgiving@berkeley.edu

Featured News

UC Berkeley Iranian & Persianate Studies Revitalized by Professor Minoo Moallem

December 11, 2025
Minoo Moallem was getting her master’s degree at Tehran University when the Iranian revolution swept the country.

At first, she enjoyed new civil liberties, but as those were curtailed, Moallem left to pursue her Ph.D

...Read more about UC Berkeley Iranian & Persianate Studies Revitalized by Professor Minoo Moallem

The ‘First Lady’ of Iranian Film to Speak in Berkeley

March 11, 2026
This spring, as the war in Iran continues, the Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive is hosting a series of Iranian films.

Over two months, BAMPFA will screen films depicting family dynamics and dramatic relationships,...Read more about The ‘First Lady’ of Iranian Film to Speak in Berkeley

The Opportunities and Complexities of Studying Iran in 21st Century America

December 11, 2025
Adam Benkato is a scholar of Old and Middle Iranian languages spoken over a thousand years ago.

His main focus is Sogdian, which was used throughout much of Central Asia, and Middle Persian, the predecessor to modern Persian. Benkato is currently leading an international project to photograph...Read more about The Opportunities and Complexities of Studying Iran in 21st Century America