Cultural Committee of the Iranian Association of Boston (IAB)
The Cultural Committee of the Iranian Association of Boston (IAB) was established in 2018 by Jamshid Latifpour, Javad Moulai, Reza Sadr, Saeed Pirooz, Mehdi Zarghamee, and Soheila Shafai with the vision of fostering cultural dialogue, preserving Iranian heritage, and connecting generations through meaningful programs.
Present members (2026) consist of Jamshid Latifpour, Mehdi Zarghamee, Shahla Haeri, Shima Jaffarian, Mojgan Olia, Syamak Moattari and Soheila Shafai.
Since its founding, the committee has curated a vibrant series of lectures, performances, film screenings, book signings, and community conversations that highlight the richness of Iranian culture and its intersections with global perspectives. Each event is thoughtfully designed to not only honor traditions but also to provide a space for critical reflection, creative expression, and cross-cultural exchange.
Over the years, the Cultural Committee has hosted renowned scholars, artists, writers, and cultural figures, including Dr. Ervand Abrahamian, Dr. Abbas Amanat, Dr. Ali Banuazizi, Dr. Touraj Daryaee, Dr. Olga Davidson, Dr. Shahla Haeri, Jan Lewinston, Dr. John Ghazvinian, Dr. Abbas Milani, Dr. Cumrun Vafa, Ms. Rakhshan Banietemad, Ms. Nasim Alikhani, Ms. Marjan Kamali, Shadi Hamedi, Mrs. Parinaz Eleisch, Mr. Pejman Hadadi, Mr. Nima Jonmohamadi, Mr. Bahman Panahi, Mrs. Afarin Ordubadi, Mr. Hamid Rahmanian, Mr. Mohamad Reza Haeri, Mr. Nasser Khajenoori, Mrs. Persis Karim, and many others. Programs have ranged from discussions on Iranian history and politics, explorations of Persian art, music, literature, and cinema, to celebrations of cultural icons such as Mohammad Reza Shajarian. The most recent guests were Dr. Manijeh Zarghamee, Mandana Asgari, Dr. Reza Moridi and Afarin Ordubadi.
The Cultural Committee remains committed to ensuring that everyone—whether born in Iran, of Iranian descent, or simply interested in the culture—can participate in an inclusive, engaging, and inspiring environment.
