Iranian authorities have confirmed a one-year prison sentence against Jafar Panahi, the internationally celebrated director whose latest film, It Was Just an Accident, won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 2025.

According to a statement attributed to Panahi’s lawyer, Mostafa Nili, Branch 26 of the Islamic Revolutionary Court of Tehran has rejected the filmmaker’s appeal and upheld an in absentia verdict on charges of «propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran.» The ruling also imposes a two-year travel ban and prohibits Panahi from membership in political or social groups.

The indictment cited a wide range of alleged evidence, including the making of what prosecutors described as an «underground» and «problematic» film, support for imprisoned activists and dissidents, backing for the «Women, Life, Freedom» protests, endorsement of a statement on the truckers’ strike, and the reposting of a performance of the anthem «O Iran» in protest against death sentences.

The decision marks another escalation in the Iranian state’s long-running confrontation with one of its most visible cinematic critics. Panahi, whose career has been defined by both international recognition and restrictions at home, has repeatedly continued to work despite bans, imprisonment, and state pressure. His recent Cannes triumph placed renewed global attention on a filmmaker whose public statements have emphasised solidarity with Iranians across political and ideological lines, making the case especially significant for the international film sector.

The press release stresses that the indictment does not connect Panahi to any single political party, faction, or movement. Rather, it frames the case as evidence of his broader defence of expression and representation across divergent social positions at a moment when Iranian artists continue to face punitive restrictions and renewed pressure from judicial authorities.

The sentence can still be challenged before the Tehran Provincial Court of Appeal within twenty days of formal notification.