By Farheen Kazmi

The Long Road to Light

From Tehran's dark gates, where the mourners assemble, The black tide moves east, hear the iron wheels tremble.

Over 5,000 foreign guests from 30 countries accommodated in Mashhad for martyred Leader’s funeral

TEHRAN – More than 5,000 foreign guests from 30 countries have been accommodated in hotels in Mashhad for the funeral and burial ceremonies of Iran's martyred Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the spokesperson for the funeral organizing committee in Khorasan Razavi province said on Thursday.

Mashhad combines pilgrimage with tourism and urban infrastructure

TEHRAN - Mashhad, the capital of Khorasan Razavi province, is one of Iran’s main domestic travel destinations, drawing millions of visitors each year for religious, cultural and leisure purposes.

Special driver’s license tests planned for servants and pilgrims of Imam Reza Shrine

TEHRAN-- The cultural and tourism project honoring the servants and pilgrims of Astan Quds Razavi is being implemented by Touring & Automobile Club of the Islamic Republic of Iran (TACI) in Mashhad (centered on the vast Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the capital city of Khorasan Razavi province, with the aim of promoting land tourism and developing automobile assistance services.

‘Forest to Desert’ project, an opportunity for tourism development in Shahroud

TEHRAN--The ‘Forest to Desert’ project is an exceptional opportunity for tourism development in Shahroud county, Semnan province, said Shahroud Governor Mohammad-Hassan Asafari.

UNESCO-listed Chah-Kouran caravanserai undergoes restoration

TEHRAN - Restoration work has begun on the Chah-Kouran caravanserai, a UNESCO-listed heritage site located in Ravar county of Kerman province, provincial cultural officials said on Sunday.

Mashhad eyes sisterhood agreement with Mecca, Medina

TEHRAN – Ahmad Masoumifar, head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ office in northeast Iran, has proposed establishing a sisterhood agreement between Mashhad and the Saudi cities of Mecca or Medina.

Iran seeks to expand tourism ties with Iraq

TEHRAN – Iran aims to broaden tourism cooperation with Iraq across four sectors, a senior industry official said.

Over 4.4 million visit Mashhad for major religious event

TEHRAN - Mashhad, the capital of Iran’s northeastern Khorasan Razavi province and home to the shrine of Imam Reza (A.S.), has hosted more than 4.4 million visitors over a nine-day period that marked one of the largest religious gatherings of the year.

Mashhad is to host over 6.5 million pilgrims, governor-general says

TEHRAN – Mashhad, Iran’s holiest city, is expected to host between 6.5 million and 7 million pilgrims during the last ten days of the Islamic lunar month of Safar, the governor-general of Khorasan Razavi province said.