Tehran (Hebrew: טהרן) is an Israeli spy thriller television series created by Moshe Zonder for the Israeli public channel Kan 11. Written by Zonder and Omri Shenhar and directed by Daniel Syrkin, the series premiered in Israel on 22 June 2020 and on 25 September internationally on Apple TV. Featuring dialogue in Hebrew, Persian, and English, the series follows an Israeli Mossad agent of Iranian Jewish descent on her first mission in Iran's capital Tehran, which is also her birth place. The second season, starring Glenn Close, was released on 6 May 2022. The third season, with Hugh Laurie joining the cast, was released on 9 December 2024 on Kan 11, and on Apple TV on 9 January 2026. The series has also been renewed for a fourth season. At the 49th International Emmy Awards held in November 2021, Tehran received the award for best drama series, becoming the first Israeli series to win this award. == Plot == === Season 1 === Protagonist Tamar Rabinyan, a young Jewish woman born in Iran but raised in Israel, is a Mossad agent and computer hacker on an undercover mission in the Iranian capital to disable a nuclear reactor. Her objective is to take down the Iranian air defences for long enough to enable the Israeli Air Force to bomb a nuclear plant, and so prevent Iran from obtaining an atomic bomb. When she arrives in Iran, she switches identities with Zhila Gorbanifar, a Muslim employee of the local electric company. In Zhila's place she enters the electric company station and connects to the computer network. Then she tries to cut electric power to the Iranian radar system, to facilitate an ongoing Israeli Air Force attack. Her mission fails because her boss, who thinks she is Zhila, tries to rape her and is killed in the ensuing struggle. After escaping, Tamar goes into hiding. Being born in Iran and having moved to Israel when she was six, Tamar now discovers her local roots, goes to see her aunt, and befriends Iranian pro-democracy activists. Meanwhile, she is hunted by Faraz Kamali, head of investigations of the Revolutionary Guards. === Season 2 === Prior to being smuggled out of Iran to start a new life in Canada, Tamar accepts a mission to rescue one of the Israeli pilots captured after the failed reactor mission. At the hospital where the pilot is being held, she encounters Marjan Montazami, a British psychotherapist and local agent for Mossad, who aids in her escape. Tamar's aunt is executed for assisting her, and a devastated Tamar agrees to stay in Tehran with Milad to undertake a new mission: the assassination of Qasem Mohammadi, who has been promoted to head of the Revolutionary Guards. Tamar works to gain access to Mohammadi by getting close to his son, Peyman. Faraz Kamali continues his relentless pursuit of Tamar, but finds himself compromised as Marjan begins working as a psychotherapist for his wife following her abduction and release by Mossad. In spite of Faraz's reluctant assistance, Tamar's attempt to poison Mohammadi fails, as does an attempt to kill him with a booby-trapped phone. After that they try to take control of Mohammadi's sports car as he races against his son, which only results in Peyman's death. Mossad Director Yulia Magen calls off the mission, but Tamar and Milad continue nevertheless. Marjan is poisoned by Nahid, Faraz's wife. Tamar manages to kill Mohammadi with the explosive mobile phone. Milad is killed by a car bomb planted by Mossad in the escape car, leaving Tamar alone and trapped in Iran with no one to trust. === Season 3 === After Milad's assassination by Mossad, Tamar barely survives. Now hunted by both IRGC agents and Mossad for killing a general against orders, she kills local agent Amir in self-defense and hides in a women's shelter. South African nuclear inspector Eric Peterson believes Iran is secretly building a nuke and plants a spy camera to get evidence. A colleague asks him to remove it; he complies, but Faraz catches and arrests him. Tamar steals Marjan's laptop and discovers Iran is smuggling nuclear warhead parts through a company owned by powerful smuggler Ramin Rasmi, whom she befriends. She uses this intelligence to bargain with Mossad chief Yulia Magen, saving herself from assassination by agent Nissan, codenamed the Owl. Tamar and Nissan then team up. Their paths cross with Peterson at Ramin's warehouse, where Peterson is forced to help assemble the bomb. Thieves, believing the building deserted, attempt to steal chemicals, triggering a shootout with guards; they take Peterson hostage. Faraz kidnaps Tamar but strikes a deal with Yulia: he will cooperate with Mossad and spare Tamar in exchange for asylum in Norway for his wife Nahid, who plans to flee to her sister there. Another spy accompanies Nahid as part of the arrangement. Nissan surprises Faraz at gunpoint, locks him in a shed, and rescues Tamar. The hostage takers agree to return Peterson to Ramin. Tamar and Nissan intercept the meeting moments before IRGC forces arrive, escaping with Peterson but blowing Tamar's cover to Ramin, leading to his arrest by the IRGC. Later, Peterson assaults Tamar, holds her hostage, and reveals he has been working for Iran all along—his arrest was a ruse. With Faraz's help, Peterson escapes. At the detention center, Faraz gives Ramin an ultimatum: apprehend Tamar to prove loyalty to Iran. The Mossad spy takes Nahid hostage when the deal collapses but is killed by a suspicious detective, who interrogates her about the spy's identity and Marjan's death. Nahid tricks the detective into helping her escape her home and armed security detail. She hides in the same women's shelter as Tamar, who provides her with money, a passport, and escape details. Faraz calls Nahid one last time, affirming he will always choose duty to Iran over family. Back at the lab, the Iranians discover CIA malware in the bomb, planted by Ramin, who secretly worked against the program and reveals this to Tamar, prompting their alliance. Peterson removes the malware but programs it to detonate at noon underground, intending to expose Iran's program through a detectable nuclear test—killing top scientists and containing the blast. The Iranians reschedule the test earlier, planning above-ground transport, risking a full nuclear explosion in Tehran. Realizing the danger, Peterson convinces Tamar and Ramin to help stop it. They agree and coerce Faraz to assist. With minutes left, Tamar and Peterson remove the nuclear core, preventing a nuclear blast. The resulting conventional explosion kills Peterson and Faraz, and destroys the prototype. Tamar and Ramin escape with the core as special forces close in. == Cast == === Main === Niv Sultan as Tamar Rabinyan, a young Jewish woman born in Iran but raised in Israel, a Mossad agent and computer hacker Shaun Toub as Faraz Kamali, head of investigations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Shervin Alenabi as Milad, Tamar's boyfriend (seasons 1–2) Menashe Noy as Meir Gorev (season 1) Liraz Charhi as Yael Kadosh (season 1) Shila Ommi as Nahid, wife of Faraz Kamali (seasons 2–3; recurring season 1) Darius Homayoun as Peyman Mohammadi, son of Qasem and Fatemeh Mohammadi (season 2) Glenn Close as Marjan Montazami, a British Mossad agent in Tehran (season 2; guest season 3) Hugh Laurie as Eric Peterson, a South African nuclear inspector (season 3) === Special guest stars === Navid Negahban as Masoud Tabrizi (season 1) === Recurring === Esti Yerushalmi as Arezoo, maternal aunt of Tamar and mother of Raziyeh Nekumard (seasons 1–2) Arash Marandi as Ali, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps agent working under Kamali. (seasons 1–2) Vassilis Koukalani as Sardar Qasem Mohammadi, head of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (seasons 1–2) Danny Sher as Mike (season 1) Moe Bar-El as Karim (season 1) Ash Goldeh as Hassan (season 1) Nati Navid Toobian as Dariush, father of Raziyeh Nekumard (seasons 1–2) Reza Brojerdi as Farham Kasrai (season 1) Alex Naki as Mordechai Rabinyan, Tamar's father (season 1) Qais Khan as Mohammed Balochi (season 1) Sogand Sara Fakheri as Raziyeh Nekumard (seasons 1–2) Reza Diako as Shahin (season 2 special appearance; season 1) Dan Mor as Eran (season 1) Tomer Machloof as Nevo (season 1) Sara von Schwarze as Yulia Magen (season 2) Bahador Foladi as Amir (season 2) Sia Alipour as Vahid Nemati (season 2) Behi Djanati Atai as Fatemeh Mohammadi, wife of Qasem Mohammadi and mother of Peyman Mohammadi (season 2) Bijan Daneshmand as Dr. Kourosh Zamestani, head of the hospital (season 2) Elnaaz Norouzi as Yasaman Haddadi (season 2) Bahar Pars (season 3) Phoenix Raei as Ramin Rasmi (season 3) Sasson Gabai as Nissan the 'Owl' (season 3) == Episodes == === Season 1 (2020) === === Season 2 (2022) === === Season 3 (2024–25) === == Production and distribution == === Season 1 production === The series was created by Moshe Zonder for the Israeli public channel Kan 11. It was co-written by Zonder and Omri Shenhar, and directed by Daniel Syrkin. Production began on 28 October 2019. Some of the actors playing Iranians were born in Iran, and speak the language as their mother tongue. Niv Sultan, who plays Tamar, studied Persian for four months. In addition, she studied Krav Maga, an Israeli self-defence system. The series was shot entirely on location in Athens. === International distribution and release === The series premiered on Kan 11 in Israel on 22 June 2020, In July 2019, Cineflix acquired exclusive global distribution rights for the series. On 16 June 2020, Apple TV+ bought international rights to the series outside of Israel, including serving as the exclusive streaming home to the series worldwide. The series was popular with audiences in India, Japan, and Singapore. In September 2020, it was announced that Moshe Zonder, the series co-creator, had signed a first-look deal with Apple. In October 2020, Niv Sultan signed with WME. === Season 2 === On 10 September 2020, it was announced that co-creator Moshe Zonder had signed a multi-year "first look" deal to create projects for Apple TV+. In December 2020, executive producer Julien Leroux said that production had begun on a second season though it had not been officially approved. On 26 January 2021, Apple TV+ confirmed that the series had been renewed for the second season. On 22 June 2021, it was announced that Glenn Close would be joining the cast. The second season was released on 6 May 2022. Filming for Season 2 began in August 2021. Season 2 was released on 6 May 2022, with the first two episodes released that day and later episodes on a weekly basis. === Season 3 === On 8 February 2023, Apple TV+ announced that Tehran had been renewed for a third season, with Hugh Laurie set to join the ensemble cast. The show's producers and Kan 11 reached an interim agreement to allow production of the third season to continue during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. The third season, produced by both Apple TV+ and KAN 11, wrapped shooting in Greece in the summer of 2023 and was supposed to premiere around April 2024, but the release was delayed due to the Gaza war and the ensuing Iran–Israel conflict. Kan announced in April 2024 that they would attempt to persuade Apple to reconsider and approve an alternative release date. In November 2024, after Kan received the green light from co-producers Apple, the season premiere was announced for 9 December 2024 on Kan. The first episode of the third season aired on 9 December 2024 on Kan 11, with a single subsequent episode airing weekly, with the exception of episode 6 "No Way Out". The last two episodes of the season aired back to back on Kan 11 on 27 January 2025, while having still remained unannounced for Apple TV. In December 2025, Apple announced that the series would premiere on their service on 9 January 2026 with one episode, followed by new episodes every Friday through 27 February. === Season 4 === In November 2023, producers were asked to rewrite parts of the fourth season due to real-life events from the Gaza war resembling scenes in the series, leading to a delay in the filming and production schedules. In a 2025 interview, director Daniel Syrkin reiterated that major parts of season 4 were rewritten due to similarities with the 12-day war, leading to postponed scouting dates. He also stated that the outcome of the war would affect the season's content. In February 2026, producer Dana Eden was found dead in an Athens hotel room during filming of season four. == Reception == Tehran has received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, season one holds a rating of 94% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Tehran's expertly plotted twists further elevate a geopolitical thriller deftly balanced between the global and the personal." On Metacritic, the show has a score of 72 out of 100, based on six critics. Writing in The Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson gave the second series four out of five, praising Close's performance and describing the series as "a solid thriller, often breathlessly exciting, [that] has cracked the code of relentless tension". == References == == External links == Tehran on Kan 11 website (in Hebrew), including stream of all aired episodes Tehran at Apple TV+ Tehran at IMDb Tehran at Metacritic Tehran at Rotten Tomatoes