Unprecedented air pollution in Tehran during Noruz

TEHRAN — For Tehraners, the New Year holidays (Noruz) are typically synonymous with clean air, but this year’s air quality went down for five days out of the thirteen-day holidays.

Iran tops list of tourist arrivals in Turkey

TEHRAN – Iran tops list of international tourist arrivals in Turkey in the first two mounts of the year.

Iran politics in the past year: A Noruz report

The politics of Iran was the scene of drastic and diverse developments over the past calendar year (the Iranian year 1396, March 21, 2017 to March 20, 2018).

Tehraners breathe air fouled by fine particles during holidays

TEHRAN — The residents of the Iranian capital breathed air fouled by fine particles during the Iranian New Year holidays, also known as Noruz, starting on March 21.

Leader's Noruz message:

Persian New Year: Support for Iranian products

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in his Noruz message termed the New Year one for support for Iranian products.

Athletes, artists launch campaign to reduce road accidents

TEHRAN – A group of famous Iranian athletes and artists have initiated a campaign titled ‘please_stay_alive’ with the aim of cutting road accidents and fatalities.

Rail passengers up 6.5% yr/yr

TEHRAN – The number of people who traveled by rail rose by 6.5 percent during the current Iranian calendar year (to end on March 20) in comparison with a year earlier.

West Azarbaijan hotels to offer special discounts in Noruz

TEHRAN – Hotels across West Azarbaijan province of Iran will give special discounts to their foreign and domestic customers on the occasion of Noruz - the Iranian new year - starting March 21.

Half a million police and relief forces on duty during Noruz

TEHRAN — Traffic police chief Taqi Mehri has said some half a million police and relief forces will stand on guard during Norouz holidays to fully enforce traffic regulations and provide relief and health services.

Smugglers selling aquatic species face punishment: official

TEHRAN — Animal smugglers who sell aquatic species including emys, water snakes and Lorestan mountain newt will face punishment, chief of Tehran Department of Environment said on Wednesday.

Chaharshanbeh-Suri: Iran’s festival of fire

TEHRAN – This evening, millions of Iranians will make bonfires at sunset and jump over the fire till midnight to observe Chaharshanbe-Suri, a week before Noruz, the New Year holidays.

By Naghmeh Mizanian

Noruz sweeter with mama's plan

TEHRAN – The fragrant smell of spring with Persian folk music playing in the background, family members happily pitching in cleaning the house accompanied by a cup of tea after a tough day, all describe a pleasant family atmosphere during the spring cleaning in one’s home.

Forest protection forces on duty during Noruz

TEHRAN – Some 3,000 forest protection teams will be on standby nationwide during Noruz holidays, starting on March 21, to fight any damage to natural resources, said the commander of the forest protection unit of Forests, Range, and Watershed Management Organization.

Number of cars in Tehran 5 times above capacity: police chief

TEHRAN – The number of vehicles that ply in Tehran are 5 times above the capacity of the megacity’s streets, said Tehran’s police chief General Hossein Rahimi.

Campaign to promote handicrafts as Noruz gifts

TEHRAN – The Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has recently launched a social campaign for using domestic handicrafts as gifts to celebrate Noruz, the Iranian New Year.

New Year pet trade pushing Kaiser's mountain newt toward extinction

TEHRAN — The upward and disturbing trend of trading Kaiser's mountain newt, specially as the Iranian New Year is getting closer, is driving the precious species to extinction.

Tehraners to welcome New Year with tree planting

TEHRAN -- Tehran Mayor Mohammad Ali Najafi has called on Tehrani citizens to plant a tree while they are growing sabzeh for their Haft Seen.

Hotels to offer special discounts during Noruz

TEHRAN – A majority of hotels in seven provinces of Iran are set to give special discounts to their foreign and domestic customers on the occasion of Noruz - the Iranian new year - starting March 21.

Invite spring with colorful flowers to your home

For most people, the spring season is associated with flowers, green earth and blue sky. In Iran, the New Year Celebration, Noruz, is the exact astronomical beginning of the spring.

Benefactors to provide underprivileged students with Noruz clothing

TEHRAN – Some 24,000 students who live in single-parent and impoverished families in Tehran have been identified and benefactors will provide them with clothes for Noruz, the Iranian new year holidays, starting March 21, said Kamyab Sadri, the head of parenting and teaching society of Tehran affiliated to the Ministry of Education.

Stories to add charm to student’s Noruz holidays

TEHRAN -- School children will entertain with book reading, storytelling and story writing during holidays of the Iranian New Year, Noruz, starting March 21.

By Setareh Behroozi

Time to welcome New Year in Persian style

TEHRAN – Esfand, the final month in the Iranian calendar year, is the month of hustle and bustle for all Iranians who are becoming prepared for the New Year celebration, Noruz.

Iranian tourist arrivals in Turkey sharply rise in 2017

TEHRAN – Some 2.5 million Iranians visited Turkey in 2017, a considerable rise of 50.2 percent from 1.66 million in 2016, according to data compiled by Turkey’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Ali Qapu to regain former glory after extensive restoration

TEHRAN – A long-lasting rehabilitating project on Ali Qapu Palace has entered its final stage as scaffoldings are to be removed from the façade of 16th-century monument in Isfahan, central Iran.

Iran seeks multinational UNESCO inscription of Yalda

TEHRAN – Iran has called on its nearby states to join hands to put forward the ancient Persian Yalda festivity for a possible UNESCO registration.

Intl. event to celebrate Tabriz 2018 concurrent with Noruz

TEHRAN – An international event will be held concurrent with Noruz - the Iranian New Year in March 2018 – to celebrate ‘Tabriz 2018’, marking the naming of the city as the capital of Islamic tourism in 2018.

Tourism chief calls on private sector to assist ‘Tabriz 2018’

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism chief has called for a partnership between domestic travel companies and associated businesses to help organize ‘Tabriz 2018’, an event which marks the naming of Tabriz as the capital of Islamic tourism.

Iranian photographers honored at Serbia Exhibition Desire 

TEHRAN – Iranian photographers won several gold medals at the 2nd Exhibition Desire in the Serbian city of Bor last week.