Looking Back on TEDxTehran: Reflections on My Interview with TEDxStockholm and Responsible Optimism

It’s been a few years since I shared my thoughts on TEDx values and their resonance in Iran, as captured in my interview with TEDxStockholm back in 2019. A lot has changed in the world since then, but the essence of what I spoke about then – the power of responsible optimism – still holds true today. This concept has continued to resonate with me and our community, and I believe it has only grown more relevant with each passing year. Today, I want to expand on those thoughts and emphasize how they are still driving us forward.

Responsible Optimism was a theme I chose not just for a single TEDx event, but as a guiding principle for how we at TEDxTehran approach our work and our community. It was a response to a specific moment in our society, a moment filled with uncertainty, but also one brimming with potential. At that time, I spoke about the need for hope that was not just about dreams but was about action. Optimism alone, without the responsibility to act, remains a passive wish; it is action that turns it into a driving force for real change. This belief has always been at the core of what we do at TEDxTehran. We knew that in order to create meaningful impact, our optimism needed to be combined with tangible steps towards making a difference, and that commitment remains unwavering.

Today, as I reflect on that interview, I see that the need for responsible optimism is greater than ever. The stress and tension around Iran—or indeed, around the world—have only grown. We face a constant barrage of difficult news and challenges, from economic hardships to social issues that test our resilience. The news cycle continues to focus on immediate crises, often ignoring the slow but crucial efforts of individuals who are building, creating, and inspiring despite the challenges. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the negative, but it is also crucial to recognize the quiet, steady progress that is taking place all around us. I believe that our role, whether as organizers of events or as community members, is to foster that responsibility to act and to move forward, no matter the circumstances.

TEDxTehran is still about growth, for everyone involved: for our team, our audience, our speakers, and our partners. We still strive to make people see Iran not as a place they must leave behind to find opportunities, but as a community rich with potential, creativity, and purpose. We see the power in staying, in building, and in nurturing what we already have here. And yes, our audience remains carefully curated – to bring together those who have the courage to see Iran differently, and to act on that vision. We want to be a platform that amplifies voices of change, voices that echo the belief that Iran can be a place of opportunity, not just for those who stay, but for those who invest their energy in shaping it for the better.

As I mentioned in that original interview, we are committed to helping Tehraners hear the ideas that already exist here. We want to shine a light on the community of thinkers and doers who believe in a beautiful, organized, and creative Iran. This is not naive optimism; this is responsible optimism, where every individual takes on the responsibility to act, to make things better in whatever way they can. It is about recognizing our own agency, and understanding that change starts within each of us. By taking small but meaningful steps, we can create a cumulative impact that gradually transforms our society for the better.

Our recent TEDx events, including the smaller salon events, continue to carry this ethos. Every talk, every gathering, and every story shared is a reminder that there is a future worth fighting for—not just in our dreams, but in our actions. And it's these actions that create ripples in our community and beyond. Each time we gather, we reaffirm our shared values and our collective potential to make a difference. We recognize that even in the face of difficulties, we are capable of inspiring one another and pushing forward. It is these shared experiences that build a resilient community—a community that believes in itself and is willing to take the steps necessary to forge a brighter future.

So, in this "comeback," I want to reiterate that what I said back then still holds true today. We must remain hopeful, but more importantly, we must remain responsible in our hope. Hope that is grounded in reality, hope that acknowledges challenges but refuses to be defeated by them. To my community, to my fellow thinkers and optimists, I say: let’s continue to build, let’s continue to create, and let’s continue to take responsibility for the future we want to see. Let us support each other in this endeavor and recognize that the strength of our community lies in our ability to remain steadfast and proactive.