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2026-01-24 17:17
By Afshin Majlesi
Tribal tourism: visiting a traditional world in the modern age
TEHRAN - Tribes are a proud and living part of Iran’s civilization, and their thousands of years of experience have turned travel among them into a unique and memorable journey. In an age shaped by speed, technology, and urban life, such a tourism genre offers visitors a rare chance to encounter a way of living that remains closely connected to nature.
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2026-01-21 17:20
By Afshin Majlesi
Water leaks, ground subsidence raise concerns at Isfahan’s UNESCO-listed mosque
TEHRAN - Iranian authorities and heritage experts are racing to contain what they describe as a structural threat to parts of the UNESCO-registered Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, also known as the Atiq Mosque, after a limited ground subsidence, water leakage and rising moisture were detected around one of the world’s most important Islamic monuments.
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2026-01-18 17:00
By Afshin Majlesi
At Tchogha Zanbil, a living monument to Elamite faith and engineering
On a serene plain in southwestern Iran, the stepped ziggurat of Tchogha Zanbil has stood for more than 3,500 years, making it the best-preserved ziggurat outside Mesopotamia and one of the rare surviving monuments of the Elamite civilization.
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2026-01-06 17:12
By Afshin Majlesi
Sarakhieh, Iran’s little Venice
At first, it is hard to believe such a place exists in Iran. But deep inside the vast Shadegan wetland in Khuzestan province, there is a village where water is the main road and boats replace cars. This village is Sarakhieh, often called Iran’s “Little Venice.”
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2026-01-04 17:11
By Afshin Majlesi
Shushtar residents call for UNESCO listing of historical urban fabric
SHUSHTAR (Khuzestan province) - Residents of the historic city of Shushtar in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province have launched a public campaign calling for the inscription of the city’s historical urban fabric on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, citing its cultural, architectural and living heritage value.
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2025-12-19 17:09
By Afshin Majlesi
Golestan at a glance: forests, ancient monuments and Caspian landscapes
GORGAN - Golestan is one of the least visited provinces in Iran, yet for many travelers who take the time to explore it, the region may quickly become a favorite destination.
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2025-12-14 17:42
By Afshin Majlesi
An inside look at Gorgan’s tribal festival
The 17th International Festival of Tribal Culture, scheduled to take place in Gorgan, the capital of Iran’s Golestan province, from Dec. 16 to 19, is often described as a celebration. But to see it only as a cultural event is to miss its deeper significance.
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2025-12-09 17:07
By Afshin Majlesi
Sa’dabad director outlines major restoration, conservation push at former royal complex in Tehran
TEHRAN – The director of the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex says the former royal residence in northern Tehran has accelerated restoration and conservation work, completing a long-delayed digital inventory of its holdings while advancing new projects to safeguard thousands of stored objects.
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2025-12-05 17:27
By Afshin Majlesi
A thousand stories under one name, Herbert Karim-Masihi reflects on his new exhibition
TEHRAN – Iranian-Armenian photographer, and cultural heritage researcher Herbert Karim-Masihi is presenting a new exhibition titled “Iran Thinks of You” at the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex in northern Tehran.
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2025-11-04 14:01
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran is not what Western media depicts, Indian ambassador says
TEHRAN - In an exclusive interview with the Times of Tehran on Saturday, the Indian ambassador to Iran urged greater efforts to correct what he called a “distorted image” of Iran shaped by Western media.
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2025-11-02 17:30
By Afshin Majlesi
India’s embassy in Tehran marks Diwali with cultural celebration
TEHRAN – On Saturday evening, the Embassy of India in Tehran celebrated Diwali, aka the Festival of Lights, with a cultural event held at the residence of the Indian ambassador, attended by diplomats, Iranian artists, and cultural figures.
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2025-10-29 17:16
By Afshin Majlesi
Where the pomegranate blooms: Its place in Iranian life
If you visit Iran in autumn, you’ll find every greengrocer glowing with shades of red and gold! It’s a season that belongs to one fruit above all others: the pomegranate, or Anar as it’s lovingly called in Persian.
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2025-10-22 19:17
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran-China relations through ages: an interview with National Museum director
In an exclusive interview with the director of the National Museum of Iran, we explore the remarkable “Silk Legacy” exhibition currently underway in Tehran. The show offers an unprecedented look at the deep and enduring cultural ties between Iran and China, tracing a connection that stretches back over four millennia.
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2025-10-19 18:09
By Afshin Majlesi
Aran and Bidgol emerges as a must-visit desert destination
ARAN AND BIDGOL, Isfahan Province - Nestled just beyond the renowned city of Kashan, Aran and Bidgol county is rapidly emerging as one of Iran’s captivating travel destinations, offering a mesmerizing blend of vast desert landscapes, ancient history, and vibrant local culture.
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2025-10-07 17:57
Four museums open under Mostazafan Foundation
TEHRAN— Four new museums have recently been inaugurated under the Mostazafan Foundation’s Dafineh Museum Group.
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2025-10-07 17:49
By Afshin Majlesi
Tourism ministry highlights intl. collaboration, domestic restoration efforts
TEHRAN – Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts held a press meeting on Tuesday to outline recent achievements in cultural preservation, international heritage registration, and domestic restoration projects, emphasizing cooperation with Iranians abroad and neighboring countries.
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2025-09-28 18:39
By Afshin Majlesi
Tehran marks World Tourism Day with pledges of investment, jobs, and regional cooperation
TEHRAN – Iran marked World Tourism Day on Saturday with officials pledging financial support, new jobs and greater private sector involvement to revive the country’s tourism industry, which has struggled in recent months.
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2025-09-20 10:38
By Afshin Majlesi
Rageh Canyon: A natural wonder, photographer’s paradise near Rafsanjan in southern Iran
RAFSANJAN (Kerman province) - Nestled just 20 kilometers southeast of Rafsanjan in Iran’s Kerman province, Rageh Canyon is one of the country’s most striking natural landscapes.
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2025-09-17 15:34
By Afshin Majlesi
Isfahan holds first investment expo to attract domestic, foreign capital
ISFAHAN – The first Isfahan International Investment Expo (ISINEX 2025) opened on Wednesday in the central Iranian city to attract domestic and foreign investment.
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2025-09-17 15:26
By Afshin Majlesi
‘Face of Iran’ unveiled at Iranology Foundation
TEHRAN – A new geotourism documentary series named “Face of Iran” was unveiled on Tuesday at the Iranology Foundation in Tehran, with the aim of promoting the country’s cultural and natural heritage as a tourism and economic asset.
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2025-08-27 17:35
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran pays tribute to distinguished cultural heritage figures
TEHRAN – Iran honored a selection of prominent cultural heritage figures on Tuesday evening during a special ceremony held at the Sa’adabad Cultural-Historical Complex in northern Tehran, attended by senior government and cultural officials.
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2025-08-08 18:02
By Afshin Majlesi
Restoration of Arnaldo Pomodoro’s 3-ton bronze sphere underway in Tehran
TEHRAN - Conservation work has begun on a 3,000-kilogram bronze sculpture by the late Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro at a museum in northern Tehran.
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2025-07-23 17:01
By Afshin Majlesi
World Heritage listing validates Iran’s commitment to preserving Paleolithic past
TEHRAN – The recent inscription of the Prehistoric Sites of Khorramabad Valley on UNESCO’s World Heritage List marks a significant achievement for Iranian archaeology, capping over fifty years of dedicated research and excavation.
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2025-07-16 19:05
By Afshin Majlesi
Exclusive: The story behind Iran’s first Paleolithic World Heritage site
TEHRAN – In a landmark moment for Iran’s cultural heritage, the Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, marking the first time Iran’s Paleolithic heritage has received such recognition.
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2025-07-12 17:36
By Afshin Majlesi
A journey beyond the misconceptions
TEHRAN - For those who dare to look beyond the headlines, Iran unveils a spectacular array of treasures. From the ancient ruins of Persepolis, once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, to the winding alleyways and wind towers of Yazd, a UNESCO-listed desert city, the country is a living museum.
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2025-07-09 16:40
By Afshin Majlesi
Cultural heritage is a voice against hostile narratives, Iran tourism minister says
TEHRAN – In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, along with his deputies, addressed the ministry’s role in shaping cultural resilience during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.
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2025-06-25 19:54
By Afshin Majlesi
West Azarbaijan: a journey through history, nature, and diversity
URMIA – Tourists arriving in West Azarbaijan province are immediately drawn into a world where every hill and ancient ruin narrates a story of past empires and cultural exchanges.
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2025-06-14 19:48
By Afshin Majlesi
Shams Tabrizi mausoleum gets major boost with new funding
KHOY, West Azarbaijan province – The Iranian government has allocated 30 trillion rials (approximately $375,000) to advance the long-delayed construction of the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi, the famed Sufi mystic and spiritual mentor of the celebrated Persian poet Rumi.
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2025-06-06 17:26
By Afshin Majlesi
Soheili village: a model of sustainable tourism in southern Iran
QESHM ISLAND - As a journalist focused on tourism and cultural heritage, my recent journey to Soheili village, located on the sun-kissed Qeshm Island in southern Iran, felt less like a reporting mission and more like uncovering a hidden gem with astonishing potential.
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2025-06-04 13:14
By Afshin Majlesi
Minister outlines visa-free travel agreements, cultural initiatives, and infrastructure plans
TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, unveiled a series of major developments in regional tourism cooperation, heritage protection, and tourism infrastructure during a press conference held on Tuesday at the ministry headquarters in Tehran.