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Yesterday 17:23
Tehran, Tashkent discuss direct flights and visa facilitation
TEHRAN - Tehran's ambassador to Tashkent and the head of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee have discussed expanding tourism cooperation, increased direct flights and facilitated visas for Iranian citizens during talks in Uzbekistan's capital, according to Uzbek media reports published on Friday.
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Yesterday 17:22
Free Internet service launched for Arbaeen pilgrims at Iran's Shalamcheh and Chazabeh border crossin
TEHRAN - Free wireless Internet service has been launched at the Shalamcheh and Chazabeh border terminals in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province to support pilgrims travelling to Iraq for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, a regional telecommunications official said on Saturday.
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Yesterday 17:21
Ancient Espi Mazget up for restoration, tourism development by private sector
TEHRAN - Authorities in Iran's northern Gilan province plan to protect, restore and develop the historic Espi Mazget monument for tourism through a partnership with a private investor, a senior provincial official said during a visit to the site on Saturday.
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2026-07-24 18:17
Tehran, Seoul discuss roadmap for cultural, tourism cooperation at UNESCO meeting
TEHRAN - Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri and South Korea's Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young agreed on Friday to pursue closer cooperation in cultural heritage, tourism, handicrafts and creative industries during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Busan.
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2026-07-24 18:16
Iran says six border crossings ready for Arbaeen pilgrim traffic
TEHRAN - Iran has completed preparations at six main border crossings with Iraq for the upcoming annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, introducing upgraded cooling systems, expanded passenger facilities and redesigned transport services to improve the movement of millions of pilgrims, a senior road transport official said on Friday.
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2026-07-24 18:13
Three cool escapes near Tehran for an affordable family day trip
TEHRAN - As summer temperatures rise in Tehran, many residents look for short, affordable getaways that offer cooler weather without the cost of an overnight stay. Within less than two hours of the capital, several destinations provide fresh mountain air, natural scenery and opportunities for hiking, picnicking and family outings.
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2026-07-22 16:23
UNESCO renews concern over damage to Golestan Palace in Busan session
TEHRAN – UNESCO has renewed concern over damage to Tehran's Golestan Palace caused by the shock wave and debris from nearby military strikes, as the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict returned to the agenda of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
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2026-07-22 16:23
UNESCO-listed Bisotun prepares to receive Arbaeen pilgrims, official says
TEHRAN – The UNESCO-listed Bisotun archaeological site has completed preparations to receive pilgrims travelling to Iraq for Arbaeen commemorations, with authorities planning to hold a handicrafts market along the pilgrimage route, the site’s executive director said on Wednesday.
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2026-07-22 16:22
Floor coverings in Iran: From Neolithic mats to Safavid silk carpets
TEHRAN – During the Neolithic period, the inhabitants of Iranian plateau used reed mats as floor coverings in their shelters and also wrapped the deceased in them for burial. Thousands of years later, during the Safavid era, the use of silk brocade carpets woven by the artisans of Tabriz became widespread.
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2026-07-21 19:59
30 Iranian NGOs, institutions call for intl. action to protect cultural heritage after war damage
TEHRAN - A coalition of 30 Iranian non-governmental organizations and cultural heritage institutions has called on international organizations, including UNESCO, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to take urgent action to protect Iran's cultural heritage following damage to historical sites during the recent military conflict involving Iran and the combined forces of the United States and the Israeli regime.
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2026-07-21 19:59
Iran’s East Azarbaijan, Kazakhstan seeks to expand tourism co-op
TEHRAN - The head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department in East Azarbaijan said on Tuesday that Tabriz is ready to host tourism delegations from Kazakhstan as the two countries seek to expand cooperation in tourism, museums, handicrafts and cultural exchanges.
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2026-07-21 19:58
Tehran reviews draft regulation to coordinate medical tourism development
TEHRAN - Iranian officials from multiple ministries and government bodies met on Tuesday at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts to review a draft regulation aimed at strengthening coordination in the country's medical tourism and supporting plans to expand the sector.
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2026-07-20 17:15
Oldest known photographs reveal how Persepolis has changed over time
TEHRAN - The oldest known photographs of Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and now a UNESCO World Heritage site, provide a rare visual record of the monument before modern archaeological excavations reshaped its appearance.
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2026-07-20 17:15
Tehran, Minsk move to expand tourism ties
TEHRAN – Iran and Belarus are moving to strengthen tourism cooperation, with direct flights between Tehran and Minsk set to be launched after Belarus granted the necessary aviation approvals, officials from both countries said at a meeting in Tehran.
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2026-07-20 17:14
Ilam to showcase historical heritage to Arbaeen pilgrims, official says
TEHRAN – Iran’s western province of Ilam will use the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage to introduce its historical monuments and ancient civilization to domestic and foreign pilgrims passing through the Mehran border crossing, the province’s cultural heritage chief said on Monday.
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2026-07-19 18:59
Ancient Alamut fortifications complete Iran’s architectural and defensive history, expert says
TEHRAN - The proposed UNESCO World Heritage nomination of the Cultural Landscape of Alamut and its related fortifications would complete the historical narrative of Iran’s architectural and defensive heritage, Iranian cultural heritage veteran Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti said on Sunday.
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2026-07-19 18:48
Prominent Iranian archaeologist Ismail Yaghmaei passes away at 84
TEHRAN – Ismail Yaghmaei (also known as Ehsan Yaghmaei), one of Iran’s renowned archaeologists and a veteran of the country’s cultural heritage, passed away on Sunday morning, at Pars Hospital in Tehran. He was 84.
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2026-07-19 18:33
Ancient Iranian goldsmithing in spotlight as 3,000-year-old earrings worn by actress spark heritage
TEHRAN – A pair of earrings incorporating approximately 3,000-year-old Iranian gold medallions has sparked international debate over the use of ancient cultural artifacts in contemporary fashion, drawing renewed attention to the sophistication of ancient Iranian jewelry making and raising questions about the ownership, preservation and ethical use of archaeological objects.
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2026-07-18 21:11
Traditional clothing of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari: A rainbow of ethnic heritage
The traditional clothing of Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari is among the most distinctive expressions of Iran's cultural heritage. Characterized by vibrant shades of pink, green, red, orange, purple, blue, yellow, and white, these garments form a living rainbow that reflects centuries of artistry, craftsmanship, and ethnic diversity.
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2026-07-18 21:08
Research suggests Alamut Castle's role extended beyond military functions
TEHRAN – The ancient Alamut Castle [and its satellite forts and defensive structures], long known primarily as a political and military stronghold of the Nizari Ismaili state, may also have served as a center for preserving and producing scientific knowledge, the head of the library at the Center for Documents of the Great Islamic Encyclopedia said.
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2026-07-18 21:07
Tourism delegation from Afghanistan visits Iran’s barberry capital to expand cooperation
TEHRAN — Tourism officials in Iran’s South Khorasan province introduced the village of Afin, known as the world’s capital of seedless barberry, to tourism industry representatives from Afghanistan’s Herat and Farah provinces during a two-day familiarization tour aimed at strengthening cross-border tourism cooperation, a provincial official said on Saturday.
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2026-07-17 16:44
Persian Garden: A masterpiece of water engineering, geometry and beauty
If Iranian architecture is regarded as the embodiment of wisdom in built form, the Persian Garden can be seen as the expression of Iranian thought in the relationship between humanity, nature and water.
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2026-07-17 16:44
Oman hails Iranian expertise for restoration of historic sites
TEHRAN - Oman welcomes broader cooperation with Iran in museum management and hails the expertise of Iranian restorers and architects for the conservation of the sultanate's historical monuments, Oman's minister of heritage and tourism said during talks with Iranian officials in Muscat.
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2026-07-17 16:43
Iran, Iraq can expand cooperation on shared Sassanian heritage sites: official
TEHRAN - Manouchehr Habibi, the governor-general of Iran’s Kermanshah province, has said that Iran and Iraq can broaden cooperation on shared Sassanian heritage sites through joint cultural and tourism projects linked to the proposed Sassanian historical route extending from western Iran into eastern Iraq.
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2026-07-15 16:26
Minister calls municipalities key partners in tourism development, historical district restoration
TEHRAN - Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts on Tuesday said cooperation between the government and municipalities was essential for expanding tourism infrastructure and restoring historical urban districts.
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2026-07-15 16:25
Kazakhstan sees Iran’s Golestan as potential tourism destination
TEHRAN - Kazakhstan sees Iran’s Golestan province as a potential tourism destination, its consul general in Gorgan said during talks with provincial tourism officials on Wednesday aimed at expanding cooperation between the two sides.
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2026-07-15 16:24
Specialized travel media report major shift in tourism patterns
TEHRAN - Specialized tourism media outlets and international travel research institutions say travel patterns in 2026 are undergoing significant changes, with travelers increasingly seeking cultural experiences, lesser-known destinations, sustainable tourism options, artificial intelligence-based planning tools and event-driven travel.
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2026-07-14 16:43
By Sonia Shidrang, Assistant Professor at Shahid Beheshti University
Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley and Iran’s deep past on UNESCO World Heritage List
This week marks the first anniversary of a milestone that reshaped how the world sees Iran’s ancient past. On July 11, 2025, during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, the Paleolithic Sites of the Khorramabad Valley were inscribed on the World Heritage List—Iran’s 29th such site, and its first ever dedicated to the Paleolithic period.
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2026-07-14 16:29
Restoration work resumes at Persepolis after funding allocated
TEHRAN - Restoration workshops have resumed operations at the UNESCO-listed Persepolis complex after funds were allocated for conservation work, the site’s director said.
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2026-07-14 16:25
Iranian cultural institutions partner on art economy and innovation projects
TEHRAN - Dafineh Museums Institute and the Institute for Culture and Art Development signed a memorandum of understanding in Tehran aimed at expanding cooperation in scientific, cultural, artistic and social projects and strengthening museum-related activities, the Dafineh Museums public relations office said on Tuesdays.