Pictures of Lily Explains Iran
Staying in touch with Lily Moayeri
Hello!
Recent events in the Middle East have reconfirmed for me that there is a great deal of misunderstanding about that part of the world. I watched the Islamic Revolution happen from the balcony of our home. I spent many evenings in a blackout and many nights huddled in our basement during the Iran-Iraq War. I experienced the brutality, the ruthlessness and the humiliation of the Islamic regime firsthand and I will never outlive the trauma. I don’t believe anyone who hasn’t experienced an autocratic theocracy for themselves will truly understand the fanaticism, the human rights violations—especially toward women—or the wanton violence. I have written about this a great deal and you can read those articles here.
What is happening with Israel and Iran is not equivalent to what is happening in Gaza. The Islamic regime in Iran is more in line with what happened on 9/11. If the Islamic Republic could get away with terrorism like that, trust me, they would. This is why there is so much concern from Israel and the U.S. about the nuclear program in Iran. The people of Iran are not the target. It’s the Islamic regime. The government is a danger, firstly to its own people and then to the rest of the world. If you think we’re safe from them all the way out West, just remember the Twin Towers.
It’s important to present clear facts that are easy to digest. I will pass that on to Iran expert Karim Sadjadpour who was interviewed by Dave Davies on NPR’s Fresh Air yesterday. A scholar in this area, Karim explained everything extremely well, and Dave did a fantastic job directing thoughtful and intelligent questions. I encourage you to either listen to the entire program here or read through the transcript here.
If you’d like accurate, up-to-date and straightforward information about Iran, may I suggest following @IranExplained on Instagram.
Stay safe out there,
Lily
A few months ago, I went to Las Vegas for a handful of hours to sit with Sebastian Bach in his home and catch up with the former Skid Row frontman turned Broadway superstar, excellent author and visual artist about everything that’s going on with him for the latest print issue of SPIN, which is out now. Also in that issue is my piece on the charming Argentinean trio Tríada. Get yours here.
The lovely Luke Spiller, frontperson for The Struts, has put out possibly the best album of 2025 and he was generous enough to talk me through the top 10 items in his Los Angeles home for my “The Essentials” column at SPIN.
When it comes to Mix Magazine, I get to talk to the people behind music creation, which many times is more interesting than speaking to the artists themselves. In the case of HotWax’s debut album, Hot Shock, I did speak to Lola Sam from the band, but also the producers Catherine Marks and Steph Marziano, and my old friend Neil Comber, who mixed the album. Digital version of the Mix’s June issue here and the online version of the article here.
In case you missed it, my 1999 interview with Moby, at the time of his massive album Play—but before all its success—is the latest episode of the Pictures of Lily Podcast (Vintage Edition), a 35-minute listen.
If you’re not subscribed to the paid tiers of this newsletter, you’re missing out on some lovely photos like this one of Beth Orton that accompanied my feature on her in the debut issue of Flaunt Magazine spring of 1999. You can upgrade, or just buy me and Laurence Schroeder a coffee if you like, it all goes toward the production of the always free Pictures of Lily Podcast. Thank you!