Israel, Iran — and the Family Killed in the Crossfire

On the 13th of June, Israel attacked Iran. Drones and missiles hit civilian and military sites as well as targets associated with the country’s nuclear program, which Israel has long seen as an existential threat. Iran retaliated, attacking civilian areas in Israel. In Tehran, this residential neighborhood, home to one of Iran’s top nuclear scientists, was among the locations hit. A floor below him lived the Abbasi family. Hasan Shaygan was their building manager. Parviz and Masoumeh Abbasi lived with their son, 16-year-old Parham, and their daughter, 24-year-old Parnia. They moved into the apartment last year and filmed this moment of celebration. Azadeh Shariarifar is Masoumeh’s sister and aunt to Parham and Parnia. She’s an artist and photographer. Her first exhibition dealt with the theme of life and death, and it was due to open on the day of the bombing. Parnia made this compilation of her and her boyfriend, Sajad. They had been together for five years and were planning a future together. The family was buried in the city’s main cemetery, in an area dedicated to victims of the 12-day war with Israel. Azadeh had only visited a few times. She says the place attracts both grief and politics, becoming too loud and crowded to mourn peacefully. While Azadeh is critical of Israel, she also expected more from her own country.