Iranian Cannes Winner, Oscar Nominee Call for End to Israel-Iran Conflict

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Directors Jafar Panahi (“It Was Just an Accident”) and Mohammad Rasoulof (“The Seed of the Sacred Fig”) have collectively penned a public plea, urging an end to the conflict between Iran and Israel and advocating for the deactivation of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

On Wednesday, the Palme d’Or winner, Asghar Farhadi, along with fellow acclaimed Iranian filmmakers Jafar Panahi (Palme d’Or winner) and Mohammad Rasoulof (Oscar-nominated), added their names to an opinion piece published in the French newspaper Le Monde. Notable Iranian figures who also signed this op-ed include Nobel Peace Prize laureates Narges Mohammadi and Shirin Ebadi, as well as human rights advocates Sedigheh Vasmaghi, Shahnaz Akmali, and Abdolfattah Soltani.

(Note: I used “fellow acclaimed Iranian filmmakers” instead of “other prominent Iranian signatures” to make it more natural and less repetitive)

The open letter calls for an immediate stop to uranium enrichment by the Islamic Republic, a cessation of all military aggressions, an end to assaults on crucial infrastructure in Iran and Israel, and a prevention of civilian killings in both nations,” the statement says.

For years, my concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment has fueled apprehension between Iran and the Western world, as well as Israel. This past Friday, Israel asserted their strikes on Iran, escalating the ongoing conflict, based on their claim that Iran was on the verge of developing an atomic bomb – a charge Tehran firmly refutes.

As a gamer, I firmly stand by this: Prolonging uranium enrichment and the destructive conflict between the Islamic Republic and the Israeli state doesn’t benefit the Iranian people or humanity as a whole. Enriching uranium serves no purpose for the Iranian people. They should not be made to pay the price for the nuclear or geopolitical aspirations of an authoritarian regime. This is my conviction.

In addition to their appeal, the signatories urged Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, to relinquish his position. They argued that the present leaders of the Islamic Republic are incapable of resolving Iran’s internal conflicts or international disputes. Instead, they suggested, the only viable solution for safeguarding this nation and its citizens would be for the current administration to resign.

On his Instagram, filmmaker Panahi shared that he’s been unable to return home to Iran since the invasion started while he was attending the Sydney Film Festival. In his post, he expressed his longing to be reunited with his family, particularly his mother, saying “Ever since that day, I have been seeking a way to go back to my loved ones at home.

This situation is deeply distressing and perilous for me. It’s not just about being physically far from home, but also about the overwhelming sense of helplessness I feel in the face of daily suffering inflicted upon people caught in this war. When a nation’s destiny becomes entwined with those who seek power and influence, it leaves us with only anger, sorrow, and the heavy burden of truth-telling to pass on to future generations.

Back from a triumphant trip to France where I scored the Palme d’Or for “It Was Just an Accident”, I’ve been relishing the freedom to move around my homeland, Iran, since 2023 – a luxury denied due to earlier travel restrictions. Meanwhile, my fellow filmmaker, Rasoulof, who garnered an Oscar nod for “The Seed of the Sacred Fig”, had to say goodbye to our beloved country last year and now calls Germany his home.

The ongoing Israel-Iran dispute remains intense, as reported by Israeli news outlets, Iran launched approximately 30 missiles towards Israel early on Thursday.

Donald Trump, the current U.S. President, has demanded an “unconditional capitulation” from Iran, yet he hasn’t specified if the American military will participate in Israel’s continuous offensive actions at this point.

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2025-06-19 11:25