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The Israeli TV series "Tehran," set in that city, is filmed in Athens, Greece. I can understand why filming in Tehran would be politically impossible. But why did they choose Athens as their location? Aside from being hilly, does it have anything in common with Tehran?

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    Most civil entities have an office that promotes film and TV production there by giving logistical or financial support. It can safely be said that the Greek or Athens office gave them a much better deal than the Iranian office :)
    – Harper - Reinstate Monica
    Dec 3, 2020 at 21:50

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According to this article:

Not only are both cities very ancient, but Herzberg says they have also undergone “massive urban restructuring in the 20th century”. This has seen the introduction of modernist architecture and urban planning into old cities. As a result, Tehran and Athens have a similar mixture of what Herzberg calls “glum modern, Neoclassical and European-style buildings”, each of which are low rise and have either Greek or Persian architecture.

Herzberg also notes they have “narrow residential streets and alleys” that are “combined with wide boulevards and squares”, while even their “lower-income neighbourhoods are not dissimilar, too”. As a result, they did not have to create any new studio sets or fake facades for filming.

Bejach says these similarities were not only restricted to the city centres. “Athens is a city surrounded by mountains, exactly like Tehran. Athens is also very green with gardens resembling Tehran.”

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As you point out, filming Tehran, was not possible given the political tensions between Israel and Iran - for example, recently, by Iranian accounts, Israel assassinated their top nuclear physicist.

The production team had to find a location that was mediterranean, surrounded by mountains, with narrow alleys and gardens with a profusion of jasmine and bougainvillea' and the production team felt that Athens best fit this bill.

On a personal note, I can vouch for the 'narrow alleys' of Athens since I've been to the city and seen them for myself.

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    Not quite sure I agree that Tehran is "Mediterranean"
    – CGCampbell
    Dec 3, 2020 at 15:48
  • @CGCampbell: if you go by etymology it certainly is, although in that case Athens would be not.
    – Martin Argerami
    Dec 4, 2020 at 18:36
  • @CGCampbell: You tell that to the production team ...
    – Mozibur Ullah
    Dec 5, 2020 at 15:09
  • @Martin Argerami: I don't see what etymology has got do with my answer.
    – Mozibur Ullah
    Dec 5, 2020 at 15:12

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