lynsey addario, photographer

Middle East: iran

Iran, 2005-2006

In two rounds of Presidential elections in June 2005, Iranians elected hardliner, and former Tehran Mayor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad as their new leader. With his election, Iranians and international spectators wondered if the social freedoms Iranians had gained over the past eight years under more liberal President Khatami would be reversed with Ahmedinejad's inauguration.

Eyes around the world are keeping close watch on Iran, composed of a complex mix of liberals and Islamists, as it is led by a new regime.

An Iranian woman holds a poster of Iranian reformist candidate, Mostafa Moin,while campaigning in support of Moin in a square in downtown Tehran, Iran, a few days before Iran goes to the polls for Presidential elections in Iran, June 15, 2005. While many Iranians have threatened to boycott this week's elections, many Iranians are using their opportunity to vote to voice their support of reformist candidates.
  
Iranians shop in the bazaar at Tajris Square the afternoon before the second round of presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, June 23, 2005. In the closest presidential race since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ahmadi-Nejad and former Iran president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanji, will face each other in an unprecedented run-off vote. While voter rigging and foul play has been alleged in the first round of voting, reformers are taking their own precautions to try to prevent any further foul play.
  
Iranians go to the Hazrat-e-Abdulazim Holy Shrine in South Tehran the night before Presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, June 16, 2005. Tensions run high throughout Tehran as many Iranians, including conservatives, have threatened to boycott this week's elections, many Iranians are using their opportunity to vote to voice their support of their favored candidates.
     
  
Iranians pray to Supreme Leader Khomeini's tomb to mark the anniversary of his return to Iran in 1979 in a day of celebration in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2006.
  
Iranians pray to Supreme Leader Khomeini's tomb to mark the anniversary of his return to Iran in 1979 in a day of celebration in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2006.
  
Young Iranian men hang out looking for girls in front of a mall in Tehran, Iran, July 1, 2005. With the recent election of conservative Tehran Mayor as President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, there is much speculation as to whether he will reverse the social freedoms many Iranians have gained in the last eight years under President Khatami.
     
  
Iranian women dance during a co-ed rehearsal for a perfermance scheduled for this summer in Tehran, Iran, July 7, 2005. With the recent election of conservative Tehran mayor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad, many Iranians wonder if the social freedoms they have gained over the past eight years under Khatami will be reversed with Ahmedinejad's inauguration.
  
Young Iranians hang out in their car outside of an icecream shop in North Tehran, Iran, July 8, 2005.
  
Iranian girls enjoy a milkshake at an ice-cream shop in North Tehran, Iran, July 7, 2005.
     
  
Iranian protestors throw firebombs and storm the Danish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, February 6, 2006. Across the Middle East, thousands of Muslims have come out in protest of recent cartoons insulting the Prophet Mohammed, leaving European embassies torched and destroyed.
   
Iranian protestors throw firebombs and storm the Danish Embassy in Tehran, Iran, February 6, 2006. Across the Middle East, thousands of Muslims have come out in protest of recent cartoons insulting the Prophet Mohammed, leaving European embassies torched and destroyed.
   
Iranian men beat their chests in the tradition of the holy Shiite holiday of Muharram in a ceremony inTehran, Iran, February 5, 2006. Shiite Muslims around the world are celebrating the holy holiday leading up to Ashorra, or the tenth, most-important day.
     
  
Iranian Shiite women weep as the men beat their chests and heads in commemoration of Ashorra, the day of the death of Imam Hussein, during the most important day of the holy Shiite holiday of Muharram in a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, February 9, 2006. Shiite Muslims around the world are celebrating the ninth day, leading up to Ashorra, or the tenth, most-important day commenorating the death of Imam Hussein.
  
Iranian men walk through the streets carrying banners and beating their chests in the tradition of the holy Shiite holiday of Muharram in a ceremony in Tehran, Iran, February 8, 2006. Shiite Muslims around the world are celebrating the ninth day, leading up to Ashorra, or the tenth, most-important day commenorating the death of Imam Hussein.
  
Women pray at a madrassa for international students in Qom, one of the holiest cities in Iran, December 2005.
     
  
Two Iranian soldiers stand in front of 50,000 kilos of burning drugs confiscated in raids over the past year to commemorate the annual drug day in Tehran, Iran, June 26, 2005. All eyes are on conservative Tehran Mayor and President-elect, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, as people both within Iran and abroad watch to see how Ajmadinejad defines his policies in the run-up to his inauguration.
  
Iranian women vote at the Hoseinieh Ershad Mosque in Tehran as thousands of iranians go to the polls for Presidential elections, June 17, 2005. Iranians voted today in a high-stakes election shaping up as the closest presidential race since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
  
Iranian women wait on line to vote at a mosque in the second round of presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, on June 23, 2005. In the closest presidential race since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ahmadinejad and former Iran president, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanji, will face each other in an unprecedented run-off vote next week.
     
  
In two rounds of Presidential elections this June, Iranians elected hardliner, and former Tehran Mayor, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad as their new leader. Eyes around the world are keeping close watch on Iran, composed of a complex mix of liberals and Islamists, as it is led by a new regime.
   
Iranians walk through the market in Tajris Square in Tehran, Iran, July 3, 2005.
  
An Iranian woman sits outside of a mosque in the main bazaar in Tehran, Iran, July 2, 2005.
     
  
Iranian women walk through Tajris Square as Iranians gear up for the second round of campaigning for Presidential elections in Tehran, Iran, June 19, 2005.
   
Young Iranians hang out outside of an underground rock concert in Tehran, Iran, January 26, 2006.
  
Young Iranians hang out outside of an underground rock concert in Tehran, Iran, January 26, 2006.
     
  
Iranian women sit in the women's section of Adazi Stadium while watching Saba Battery play Peycan in Basketball in Tehran, Iran, December 2005. Unbenounced to many in Iran and abroad, American basketball players play on teams across Iran, and often dominate the game with their talent.
  
An Iranian woman stops to pray while leaving the holy shrine in Qom, one of the holiest cities in Iran, December 2005.