As the CannesA city in southern France, known for its annual film festival. Film Festival opened yesterday, the crowds gathered to see the stars arrive. There was Meryl Streep, and Demi Moore. But the name on everyone's lips was someone most people would not recognise.

The IranianFrom Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, a country in West Asia home to nearly 90 million people. director Mohammad Rasoulof is due to present his film The Seed of the Sacred Fig. It tells of a judge in TehranThe capital of Iran. who becomes paranoidBelieving, often with no solid basis, that you are being harassed, betrayed or persecuted by others. after the country's growing political protests.

We do not yet know whether Rasoulof will make it. He is currently in hiding from Iran's secret police after escaping the country.

Iran's leaders want Rasoulof to stop sharing his film. Last week he was sentencedDeclare the punishment for a person who has done something wrong. to eight years in prison, floggingBeating someone with a whip or stick. , a fine and told his property would be taken away.

Rasoulof has been jailed several times in the past.

Even now he is not safe. Protesters against Iran's leaders have been killed in the past.

The BBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is the UK's national broadcaster. has found evidence that a 16-year-old girl called Nika Shakarami was killed in 2022 while taking part in a protest in Iran.

And last month an anti-governmentThe group of people who govern - or lead - the country. TV presenter called Pouria Zeraati was attacked on a London street. Fortunately, he survived.

Meanwhile, Iran has supported rebels and terroristsThose who use violence or the threat of violence to create fear among a wide group of people. such as the HouthisAn Islamist rebel group that controls a large part of Yemen. They are allies of Hamas in Gaza. in Yemen and HezbollahA militant organisation based in Lebanon, classified in the UK as a terrorist group. It has made direct attacks on Israel and is believed to have been responsible for assassinating Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. in Lebanon. It has also supplied RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people. with drones to attack UkraineA country in Eastern Europe. It was invaded by Russia in February 2022. .

Is Iran a threat to the world?

Yes! Iran's leaders have helped terrorist groups in foreign countries and protesters have ended up dead. Some even worry that it could make a nuclear bombA device that uses a nuclear reaction to create an explosion. .

No! Iran is not strong enough to take on the world's big powers, such as the USA. The main threat from Iran is to its own people.