Three fuel-smuggling cartels disbanded in Fars province

TEHRAN – The Intelligence Ministry said on Monday that its forces have dismantled three major fuel-smuggling cartels in Marvdasht, Kazerun and Lamerd counties in the southern Fars province, Mehr reported.

Millennia-old relief unveiled in Shiraz

TEHRAN – A millennia-old bas-relief inscription which has been discovered from Naqsh-e Rostam, a royal necropolis in southern Iran, was officially unveiled in Shiraz on Tuesday, Mehr reported.

A peek into Iranian art and architecture under Sassanids

TEHRAN – In many ways, Iran under Sassanian rule witnessed tremendous achievements of Persian civilization. Experts say that during Sassanid era (224-651 CE), the art and architecture of the nation experienced a general renaissance.

Farmers collect daffodils in Fars province

TEHRAN - Every January, gardeners in Mohr county start collecting daffodils during harvest season to be sold in local markets.

“Cube of Zoroaster” unfazed by subsidence, new research finds

TEHRAN – No threat of subsidence faces the “Cube of Zoroaster”, which is a famed ancient quadrangular structure in southern Iran, according to a new research.

Hospitals, clinics highlighting Iran’s medical tourism

TEHRAN – Over 20 top Iranian hospitals and clinics are taking part in the 10th Pars tourism exhibition, which opened to the public in Shiraz on Wednesday, aiming to get visitors acquainted with Iran’s potentials in medical and health tourism, Fars reported.

Fars province reports sharp rise in number of eco-lodges

TEHRAN – Fars province’s tourism department general has announced a rapid increase in the number of eco-lodges across the province, CHTN reported on Saturday.

Ancient qanat found in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Residents of Rostaq, a rural district in Iran’s southern Fars province, have discovered an ancient qanat, which is estimated to date from some 2,000 years ago.

Fars exhibit to sharpen focus on medical, religious tourism

TEHRAN – Iran’s southern Fars province will play host to the 10th Pars tourism exhibition from December 12 to 15, aiming to explore potential for medical and religious travels.

Fuel-smuggling groups arrested in Fars

TEHRAN – Forces from the Intelligence Ministry have managed to disband several groups involved in smuggling various kinds of fuels, the ministry announced on Monday.

Untapped potential: $450m annual exports of medicinal plants

TEHRAN – Exports of medicinal plants bring annually $450 million on average for Iran, however, the figure is low compared to the great potential of the medicinal plants market in the country, executive director of medicinal plants scheme affiliated to the Ministry of Agriculture, has said.

Achaemenid-era vessels seized in Fars

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have recently confiscated five Achaemenid-era vessels from a rural house in Marvdasht, southern Fars province.

Boundary redrawing to safeguard Sassanid ruins

TEHRAN – Iran’s cultural heritage body has launched a demarcation project to define boundaries of Tal-e Sefidak, a Sassanid-era site which is situated amidst pieces of farmland in Hajiabad, Fars province.

Flood hits 7 provinces, claims 3 lives

TEHRAN – Heavy rainfall on Monday caused flooding in 7 provinces and unfortunately, claimed 3 lives, said head of Rescue and Relief Organization, Morteza Salimi.

Achaemenid-era objects seized in Fars

TEHRAN – Two relics dating from Achaemenid-era (c. 550–330 BC) have recently been confiscated in Marvdasht, southern Fars province.

Farouq a hub of pomegranate in southern Iran

A farmer shows off pomegranates she has picked from a garden on the outskirts of the city of Farouq, southern Fars province.

Roofing covers to protect gateways in Pasargadae

TEHRAN – Two prehistoric gateways leading to royal palaces in Pasargadae, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in southern Iran, will soon be equipped with custom-made roofing covers.

Urgent restoration lifts threat to Achaemenid tomb

TEHRAN – A potential threat of physical harm to Xerxes the Great tomb has been lifted after an urgent restoration plan assured its safety measures.

Persian style

Ethnic costumes of nomad women in Fars Province

TEHRAN -- Iran’s nomadic Qashqai women in southern Fars Province still wear their colorful ethnic costumes.

By Mohammad Homaeifar

Enough is enough 

Again a tragic car accident happened. This time schoolgirls became victims of carelessness casting shadow over travel camps mostly involving pupils and university students. 

Candlelight tribute held for schoolgirls killed in bus accident

TEHRAN — People lit up candles Friday night in sympathy with families of the schoolgirls who were killed as the bus carrying them rolled over early morning the same day.

Bus carrying schoolgirls rolls over, 9 killed

TEHRAN — A bus rollover early on Friday killed seven schoolgirls, their teacher, and the driver and 34 others were injured.

Rangers, locals join hands to save hundreds of flamingo chicks

TEHRAN — Flamingo chicks which were stranded in the briny shallow waters of Bakhtegan Lake in Fars province have been saved by the help of rangers and the local people.

UNESCO experts to assess Iran’s natural, historical sites

TEHRAN – A delegation of the UNESCO World Heritage specialists is scheduled to travel to Iran in summer in order to assess Arasbaran Protected Area in the northeast and the Ensemble of Historical Sassanid Cities in the south of the country.

Fars province’s foreign tourist arrivals rise 42% y/y

TEHRAN – Fars province attracted over 165,000 foreign tourists in the first two months of the current calendar year (March 21 – May 21), up 42 percent from a year earlier, the provincial tourism chief announced on Monday.

New evidence puts man in southern Iran 35,000 years ago

TEHRAN - Radiocarbon tests and archaeological findings of unearthed objects in Rostaq, a rural district in the southern province of Fars, indicate humans inhabited the region at least 35,000 years ago, Tasnim reported on Tuesday.

Iranian, German archeologists begin surveys in southern Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian and German archeologists and researchers on Wednesday commenced research at Hasanabad-e Tall Kamin, a prehistoric site located on the outskirts of Marvdasht in the southern province of Fars.

Women's alpine skiing held in Dizin 

Fars Province finished in first place in the Iran’s women’s alpine skiing held in Dizin resort on Monday.  The competition brought all age groups together in Dizin resort, in the Alborz Mountains north of Tehran. The two-day event was held in two disciplines Slalom and Giant Slalom.  Dizin resort has been around for 47 years and is recognized by the International Ski Federation (FIS). 

Visits to Fars historical sites up 7% during Noruz 

TEHRAN - Various historical sites across the southern province of Fars attracted over 1.6 million visitors during Noruz holidays from March 15 to April 2, up seven percent from the same period in the year earlier. 

Owner demolishes two historic houses 

TEHRAN – Two historic houses in Lar, a city in Fars Province, have been illegally razed to the ground by their owner, ISNA reported on April 1.