TEHRAN, Iran, Oct 15, (Agencies): Iranian authorities have reported the tragic stabbing deaths of renowned film director Dariush Mehrjui and his wife, Vahideh Mohammadifar, at their residence, with an unknown assailant being the perpetrator.

On Sunday, Iran's official IRNA news agency released a statement quoting Hossein Fazeli, a judiciary official, who revealed that both Mehrjui and his wife were discovered lifeless, bearing knife wounds on their necks.

Mona Mehrjui, the director's daughter, made the grim discovery while visiting her father's home on Saturday night. The residence is situated in a suburb approximately 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Tehran, the capital city.

While authorities are actively investigating the incident, they have refrained from making any speculative statements regarding the motive behind the gruesome attack. However, it is worth noting that the wife had previously expressed concerns about a knife-related threat on social media in recent weeks.

Dariush Mehrjui, aged 83, was recognized as a co-founder of Iran's film new wave during the early 1970s, emphasizing realism in cinematic storytelling. His notable achievements include receiving accolades such as a Silver Hugo at the Chicago International Film Festival in 1998 and a Golden Seashell at the San Sebastián International Film Festival in 1993.

Mehrjui pursued his film studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, during the early 1960s.