Onze man in Teheran - 2 ª Season

Dutch Iran correspondent Thomas starts his second season, three years after the first, in the state censorship office where he gets a generally good appreciation for the first, only is hinted to point more at positive points and progress, which he agrees is there. Several popular characters return, including his native photographer wife, resisting her family's push for grandchildren. Also a political activist hoping president Rouhani will bring modern progress and even the conservative 'Big Mouth' who changed his tune, not his beliefs, to using Internet technology -Instagram rules in Iran- and even allows his wife driving a car. The regime seems to give the eager youth more- rope, especially in Internet cafes, yet tightly pulls the reins when it really counts, as with electoral candidate vetting.

In the Islamic Republic, religious rules are equal to the law, but interpreting them is very blurry, even for mullahs, notably on men-women issues, so practice varies enormously, like the confiscation of impure dogs was stopped, others resort to clandestine activities even as innocent as Zumba gym. Arranged marriages are out, but divorces multiplies, so counseling is in. The macho gym also serves militant patriotism, as the cult of war heroes, even from informal troops as against ISIS.

Despite the persisting official enmity between Iran and the USA, for most (especially young) Iranians America is the land of opportunity, where a large, successful 'Persian' community flourishes. Many aspire a scholarship there, often nit returning, even though Thomas finds a US-educated daughter who dreams of migrating 'back' to Iran.

Thomas focuses on the long-growing enmity between the American and Iranian governments, popularly reflected in media and propaganda. It started when the US helped protect the British oil interests in Persia by toppling the democratic republic to help install the shah, who was ousted by Khomeini's Islamic revolution. Since then Washington demonized the ayatollahs, who inspired the 444 embassy hostage taking, but never even apologized properly for the strait of Hormuz 'incident' when an Iranian passenger flight was shot down by an aircraft carrier. The sanctions and nuclear deal coincided with opposite alliances, culminating under Trump with the appointment as National security Advisor of John Bolten, who promised supporters regime change in Teheran by 2019, as 'only solution'. It looks like hatred and grudges will remain and be cultivated, as by memorial victim graves, a US singer and war movie productions.

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