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Iranian Television Shows Musical Instruments After 25 Years

Feb 9, 2026 February 9, 2026 1 min read 📰 VOA Persian
📋 Key Takeaway

Iranian television aired images of musical instruments for the first time in 25 years, showcasing traditional instruments during a program called 'Delnavazan'. This change follows years of restrictions imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, reflecting a potential shift in cultural policies. The future of broadcasting musical instruments remains uncertain due to clerical opinions.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The airing of musical instruments on Iranian television after 25 years suggests a potential cultural thaw in Iran.

👥 Key Players

Ali Ma'lum Damghani MENTIONED
Director of the Music Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting
"He represents the official stance on music broadcasting in Iran and has influence over cultural policies."
Clerics MENTIONED
Religious leaders in Iran
"Their opinions significantly shape cultural and social policies, including those related to music and the arts."

📰 What Happened

Iranian television aired images of musical instruments for the first time in 25 years during a program called 'Delnavazan'. This marks a significant cultural shift following decades of restrictions imposed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

  • The prohibition on showing musical instruments was in place since the Islamic Revolution in 1979.
  • The broadcast has raised questions about the future of music representation on Iranian television.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This event could signify a gradual easing of cultural restrictions, reflecting changing attitudes towards music and artistic expression.
🌍 Regional: It may influence neighboring countries with similar cultural and religious dynamics, potentially encouraging more liberal cultural policies.
🌐 International: This shift could be viewed positively by Western nations, indicating a move towards greater cultural openness in Iran.

📚 Background

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran has imposed strict regulations on cultural expressions, particularly in music. The prohibition on musical instruments reflects broader societal restrictions influenced by religious authorities.

Censorship in Iran Cultural policies post-Islamic Revolution
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The article reflects the perspective of state media, which may emphasize positive developments while downplaying ongoing restrictions.

After 25 years of prohibition on broadcasting images of musical instruments on Iranian television, music enthusiasts in the country finally managed to see the tar, tombak, setar, kamancheh, and ney on TV. This event occurred on Saturday this week (September 20) during a program titled 'Delnavazan'. Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, despite the strong desire of fans of traditional Iranian music to showcase Iranian musical instruments, television refrained from displaying these instruments due to certain restrictions. The website (Baztab) notes these limitations, quoting Ali Ma'lum Damghani, the director of the Music Center of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, stating that the reason for this was the clerics' view on the prohibition of buying and selling musical instruments. He also emphasized that he sees no obstacle in this matter, but the clerics' opinion is important. Furthermore, Baztab pointed out that although many people expressed their gratitude to the public relations department of the IRIB following the broadcast of this program, the status of showing musical instruments on Iranian television remains shrouded in ambiguity.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 85%

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