Khalil Oghab, nicknamed ‘father of Iranian circus’, dies aged 99

Shiraz, The Gulf Observer: Oghab, also known by his original surname Tarighat-Peyma, was born in Shiraz, in southern Iran, where his funeral ceremony was held on Monday in the presence of his fans and a number of local officials.

“I’m the father of the Iranian circus,” Oghab had once said and many think he was truly a founder of modern circus in Iran.

In 1971, his name was included in the Guinness World Records when he lifted 450 kg with his teeth.

He said he was proud of his work because it glorified Iran’s name and made the country proud again.

English newspapers once called Khalil Oghab (Khalil the Eagle) an Iranian prodigy after lifting a 1.4-ton elephant in England.

Along with his son – Ebrahim – Oghab launched the first-ever Iranian circus that observed international standards some three decades ago.