Finnish photographer documents everyday life in Iran amid conflict and repression

Finnish photographer Kimmo Kirves has spent years building close relationships in Iran, capturing images of daily life that contrast sharply with typical news coverage of the country, reports Yle.

Kirves, based in Joensuu, first visited Iran in 2002 and has returned repeatedly, drawn by what he describes as exceptional hospitality and a strong sense of community. His photographs depict private celebrations, family meals, and moments of connection—scenes rarely seen in international media. “People forget that Iranians live ordinary lives at home,” he said. “They eat, they celebrate, they dance—even though public dancing is banned.”

His most recent trip was in autumn 2024, when he cycled across the country for two months. Now, with Iran at war following attacks by the U.S. and Israel in late February, Kirves monitors the situation from Finland, worried about friends he can no longer reach easily. Communications have been restricted by authorities, and messages—when they arrive—are brief and cautious. “If someone works in a Tehran hospital, they won’t write about that,” he noted. “But people still go to work.”

Kirves’s access to Iranian society stems from his unassuming approach: he travels by bicycle, uses a small camera, and often shares printed photos as gifts. Over time, he says, locals stop seeing him as a foreign outsider. “I become the Finnish cousin who’s part of the family.” His images include private parties with drumming and dancing—activities prohibited in public—but he stresses that such moments reflect Iran’s resilient culture. “No regime or war can destroy that,” he said.

The photographer, who retired from Karjalainen newspaper in 2022, is uncertain if he’ll return. Safe travel would require an end to the conflict and improved stability, as well as his own continued health. For now, he follows developments from afar, haunted by reports of executions under Iran’s authoritarian rule. “The numbers are heartbreaking,” he said. “I don’t know how I’d cope if I had to witness a hanging.”