Heeb

Chatting up this month’s honorary Heeb, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Iranian-born Artemis Pebdani, got me wondering, how many other funny Iranians are out there? Turns out, quite a few.

Maz Jobrani

When he’s not on the road with the Axis of Evil comedy tour, Jobrani shares the screen with macho men like Ice Cube and Chuck Norris. His Arabic characters, much to his mother’s chagrin, always seem to die.

 Favorite line:

“It’s not a good time to be from the Middle East. Iranians, we’ve learned how to deal with it. We’ve learned how to trick Americans: We say we’re Persian.”

Arsha Asteraki

Thanks to his YouTube fame (he has the 87th most watched YouTube comedy channel), this proud Persian high school student may very well deflower 72 virgins without even having to blow himself up.

Favorite line (rapped):

"If you call me a terrorist, I’ll say you’re right/

Dim the lights, get in tight and blow me up all night."

Omid Djalili

I actually don’t think he’s that funny, but the English sure do. He has his own one-man show on the BBC, and, since the Brits are always ahead of the comedy curve, on the list he goes.

Favorite line: “Most people associate the Middle East with oil and phlegm and halitosis. I’m joking, I’m joking. We’re running out of oil." 

Shappi Khorsandi:

In the 80s her satirist farther, Hadi Khorsandi, relocated the family to England after receiving death threats. Now, his UK-raised daughter tells jokes which, if word ever gets back to the ayatollah, could give new meaning to the phrase “die laughing."

Efran

This Iranian rapper, who looks like someone you’d find buying Axe body spray at a New Jersey Sam’s Club, isn’t actually trying to be funny. Even so, it’s imposible to watch his video without pissing yourself.

Negin Farsad

She’s the Paris Hilton of NYC’s Persian community, which basically means she needs a lot of STD tests. Fortunately, she turns this little problem into some of her best standup material.

Favorite line: “It was such a hardcore Persian party the hors d’oeuvres were all like yellow uranium cake.”

Dan Ahdoot

If it’s true persecution that makes people funny, this Jewish Iranian might be the best guy out there.

Favorite line: "Iranian Jew. It’s really one of those classic combinations, like peanut butter and cat."

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

I have no idea what he’s saying, but this guy’s hat is boss.

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Honorary Heeb: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’s Artemis Pebdani