Sina Abedi publishes “Térof”, an essay decrypting the complex art of Iranian politeness, a social code between generosity and strategy.
How can a simple cup of tea become a battlefield? Why does an Iranian “no thank you” often mean “yes, but insist”? In his new essay, “Térof: The Art of Iranian Warfare”, which will be released on May 20, 2026 by Gondishapour editions, architect and researcher Sina Abedi offers the first exploration in French of a cultural phenomenon as fascinating as it is unknown. The book delves into a system of courtesy that deeply structures social, family, professional, and even political relationships in Iran.
An instrument of cultural resilience
Far beyond mere politeness, Térof is presented as a true social and cultural weapon, a tool of resilience perfected over centuries by the Iranian people to face the trials of history. The author describes it as an invisible weapon, “woven from words, silences, gestures, and calculated refusals”. This complex code does not only serve to maintain appearances; it regulates tensions, defuses potential conflicts, and contributes to maintaining a delicate balance within society.
According to the analysis, without this key to interpretation, the subtleties of interactions in Iran remain largely impenetrable. Térof is a kind of “hidden social grammar” reflecting an age-old strategy combining decorum, apparent generosity, survival instinct, and everyday diplomacy.
Between rigorous analysis and personal narrative
Far from being a simple guide to good manners, Sina Abedi’s essay uncovers the mechanisms of this code through concrete situations. From the ritual battle over settling the bill at a restaurant to negotiation strategies and psychological games linked to honor (taarof), the author decodes a way of life that oscillates between genuine generosity and formidable strategy.
Based in Isfahan, Sina Abedi, Ph.D. in architecture and researcher at the National School of Architecture in Paris-Belleville, enriches his analysis with his own intercultural experiences. He notably recounts a stay at a French friend’s house whose patience, tested by seven days of theatrical refusals, finally gave way. The book blends intellectual rigor, storytelling, and a characteristic self-mockery, according to the preface, of Persian culture.
The enlightening perspective of Leili Anvar
The book is prefaced by Leili Anvar, lecturer in Persian language and literature at Inalco and a leading specialist in mystical poetry. She praises a work that “leads to a profound reflection on an essential dimension of Iranian culture”. For her, Térof is one of those untranslatable concepts that illustrate the complexity of Iranian culture.
Encounter and practical information
On the occasion of this publication, Gondishapour editions are organizing a book signing event with Sina Abedi, in dialogue with Fabrice Millon-Desvignes. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 13, 2026 at 7 pm at the Tschann bookstore, located at 125 Boulevard du Montparnasse, in the 6th arrondissement of Paris.
The publisher, Gondishapour, is an association founded in 2020 that defines itself as a space for creation aiming to reinvent the ancient academy of Gondishapour into a “garden of knowledge of the 21st century”.
Térof. The Art of Iranian Warfare – Sina Abedi – Preface by Leili Anvar – Gondishapour editions – 145 pages, 16 euros (Paperback & ebook) – ISBN: 978-2-488778-03-9. More information on the publisher’s website: www.gondishapour.fr.
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