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2026-07-01 20:10
By Afshin Majlesi
War, memory and the race to save a civilization
An interview with Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director of the National Museum of Iran
TEHRAN – What happens when one of the world's oldest civilizations is confronted with the realities of modern warfare? How do museums prepare for conflict, protect irreplaceable artifacts, and respond when cultural institutions come under threat? And what lessons have museum professionals learned from navigating these extraordinary challenges?
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2026-06-30 16:41
By Afshin Majlesi
Experts discuss strategies to protect cultural heritage and historic cities during wartime
TEHRAN – Iranian experts on Tuesday examined international approaches to safeguarding cultural heritage and the historical identity of cities during armed conflict, calling for stronger documentation, digital preservation, legal protection, and broader international cooperation while emphasizing the role of cultural resilience in the aftermath of war.
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2026-06-14 18:17
By Afshin Majlesi
Alborz artisans share their craft, passion and concerns
TEHRAN - World Handicrafts Day, observed annually on June 10, is an occasion to celebrate the creativity, skills and cultural heritage of artisans around the globe.
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2026-06-09 16:25
By Afshin Majlesi
Pamenar cited as model for youth return and women’s role in rural tourism development
TEHRAN – Pamenar Village in Iran’s southwestern Khuzestan province has emerged as an example of how rural tourism can help reverse migration, create jobs and strengthen local participation, with young residents and women playing a central role in the village’s development, a tourism official said the Tehran Times on Monday.
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2026-05-31 17:32
By Afshin Majlesi
Riab, an example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation
TEHRAN – The historical village of Riab in eastern Iran is emerging as a leading example of heritage preservation, sustainable tourism and community participation as it seeks international recognition through the United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Best Tourism Villages initiative.
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2026-05-30 17:54
Qaleh Bala: Where community-based governance aligns with wildlife conservation
TEHRAN - The village of Qaleh Bala, located at the “Golden Gate” of Touran National Park, has become a shining model of participatory governance and community-based environmental conservation in Iran.
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2026-05-30 08:25
By Afshin Majlesi
Bajestan: A quiet treasure beyond Iran’s tourist trail
TEHRAN - Set against the plain beauty of eastern Iran’s desert landscapes, the ancient city of Bajestan remains one of the lesser-known destinations of the country, despite possessing a remarkable combination of history, architecture, and natural scenery.
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2026-05-25 20:28
By Afshin Majlesi
Eco-lodges offer tourists a window into traditional rural life
TEHRAN - In the mountainous villages, desert settlements and forested regions of Iran, a growing network of eco-lodges has become more than a form of rural accommodation.
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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.