Archaeologists uncover traces of ‘7,000-year-old’ village beneath Iran’s historic Dehdasht

TEHRAN - Archaeologists in Iran have discovered evidence of a prehistoric settlement dating back up to 7,000 years beneath the historic city of Dehdasht in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province, the lead researcher said on Saturday.

Persepolis launches new conservation program using advanced material and imaging technology

TEHRAN – Iranian restoration teams have launched a new conservation program at the UNESCO-designated Persepolis and the nearby Naqsh-e Rostam site using advanced imaging, special material, and stone-analysis technologies, officials said on Saturday.

‘The Land of Legends’ unveiled at National Museum ceremony

TEHRAN – The unveiling ceremony of the book “Iran, The Land of Legends” was held on Tuesday evening at the National Museum.

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.

Kharanaq historical fortress restored

TEHRAN – A restoration work on the historic Kharanaq fortress in Ardakan county, central Iran, has been completed, provincial authorities said on Tuesday.

Isfahan’s Vank Cathedral draws 500,000 visitors annually, Armenian council member says

TEHRAN - About 500,000 people visit Vank Cathedral in the Armenian district of [New] Jolfa in Isfahan each year, a member of the Armenian Caliphate Council of Isfahan said on Wednesday.

UN Tourism chief offers full support for Iran’s plan to develop intl. investment guide

TEHRAN – The UN Tourism chief has praised Iran’s recent institutional reforms and investment initiatives, saying the agency is ready to help prepare an international guide for tourism investment in the Islamic Republic.

Cultural Heritage Ministry seeks national registration of Chenarestan petroglyph site

TEHRAN—Markazi Cultural Heritage Department is seeking national registration of historical site of Chenarestan petroglyphs in Delijan city, with the aim of preserving the cultural history and scientifically protecting this valuable heritage.

Restoration work begins on centuries-old water mill

TEHRAN - Restoration and revitalization work has begun on an ancient water mill in Qaleh Bala, a touristic village in Shahrud county of Semnan province, according to the local heritage authority.

Zagros women wear Golvani, a scarf with 3,000-year-old history

TEHRAN—A customary headscarf of Lor women called ‘Golvani’ is not just a piece of clothing. It is a combination of history, veil, and identity that has a record of 3,000 years in Zagros land.

Cultural heritage minister: Persepolis has not suffered any deformation or damage

TEHRAN--Based on technical reports and periodic assessments of Persepolis (also known as Takht-e Jamshid) in Fars province, no new or worrying events have been observed so far regarding the deformation of structures or damage related to subsidence, Minister of Cultural Heritage Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri has said.

Yazd hosts sign-language workshop to support accessible tourism

TEHRAN – A sign-language training workshop for staff of tourism facilities was held in Yazd on Tuesday to promote accessible tourism in the UNESCO-listed city, organizers said.

Tehran signals renewed regional engagement as ECO Cooperation enters ‘new horizon’

TEHRAN - Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has said constructive dialogue with member states of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) has opened “a new horizon” for regional collaboration, marking what he described as a pivotal moment for cultural, tourism and economic synergy between the member states.

Archaeology students tour historical monuments in Varamin plain

TEHRAN – A group of archaeology students from the University of Tehran visited several major historical and religious sites across the Varamin plain on Monday.

Iran lifts export restrictions on handmade backgammon boards

TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have lifted export restrictions on handmade backgammon boards, a move officials say will open new international markets, strengthen craft-based employment, and support the country’s traditional artisans.

Baneh rosewater festival added to Iran’s national tourism calendar

TEHRAN – An annual rosewater festival being held in the border city of Baneh, western Iran, has been officially inscribed in the country’s national tourism events calendar, becoming the tenth registered tourism event of Kordestan province, provincial tourism chief announced on Monday.

16th-century Ardabil carpets lie far from home in London and Los Angeles

TEHRAN - Two monumental 16th-century Ardabil carpets--woven in the Safavid court for the shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din Ardabili--now lie thousands of kilometers from their home, housed separately in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). 

Lufthansa to resume flights to Iran from January 16, 2026

TEHRAN – Lufthansa said it is set to resume flights to Iran on Jan. 16, 2026, following security and operational assessments carried out in coordination with Iranian aviation authorities.

Groundbreaking research reveals two-thirds of Babylonian Bisotun inscription may be lost

A new study published in the journal IRAQ has cast doubt on the long-accepted completeness of the Babylonian version of the famous Bisotun (Behistun) Inscription, one of the most important trilingual records of the ancient world.

Isfahan opens intl. tourism exhibition, officials say event marks new phase in sector

TEHRAN – Officials in Iran’s central province of Isfahan said on Tuesday that the 15th Isfahan International Exhibition of Tourism, Handicrafts and Hoteling would help launch a new phase in the region’s tourism development.

Ardabil to present over 100 tourism investment opportunities at intl. forum

TEHRAN - Ardabil province is set to present 112 investment opportunities in tourism, handicrafts and related services at an international on Thursday, a provincial official said.

National Museum to host conference on human living spaces

TEHRAN – The National Museum of Iran is scheduled to hold a national conference on human living spaces on Feb. 15, 2026.

UNESCO-listed Susa completes protection work on 253 Apadana Palace remains

TEHRAN – Conservation teams in the UNESCO-registered Susa have completed a project to safeguard and protect 253 architectural remains from the Achaemenid-era Apadana Palace, the head of the Susa World Heritage base said on Tuesday.

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.

‘Narrators of Ancient Iran’ extended after popular demand

TEHRAN - Due to “its great success”, the exhibition “Narrators of Ancient Iran: A Selection of Objects from the National Museum” has been extended for one month and will now remain open to the public until December 21.

3.5 million religious tourists visited Iran last year

TEHRAN – Tourism Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri has said that 3.5 million religious tourists from Iraq, the Persian Gulf region, Central Asia, and the Caucasus traveled to Iran during the past Persian year (1403), which ended on March 20, 2025.

South Korean ambassador says southeast Iran visit enriched his heritage insight

TEHRAN - The South Korean ambassador to Iran has said his recent personal visit to southeastern Iran, including a tour of the regional museum in Zahedan, gave him a deeper insight into the area’s cultural legacy and its connections to ancient Iranian traditions.