Magnitude 5.7 quake hits northwestern Iran, 75 injured

TEHRAN – An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale shook Qatoor district in Khoy city, West Azarbaijan province.

Foreign visits to Aras Free Zone up 74% in 10 months

TEHRAN – The number of foreign arrivals in Aras Free Zone, northwestern Iran, rose by 74 percent during the first ten months of the [current Iranian calendar] year (started March 21, 2019), IRNA reported. 

Travelers’ camp to bring comfort to visitors of Saint Thaddeus monastery

TEHRAN – A travelers’ campsite is to be established adjacent to the Monastery of Saint Thaddeus, northwestern Iran, in order to bring comfort to the visitors of the UNESCO-registered place of worship.

Intelligence Ministry disbands currency smuggling gang in northwestern Iran

TEHRAN – The Iranian Intelligence Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has dismantled a team of currency smugglers in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan. 

Monastery of Saint Thaddeus being restored meeting UNESCO standards

TEHRAN - The Monastery of Saint Thaddeus is being restored according to UNESCO standards and benefiting from technical experts, director of Iran’s Armenian monastic ensembles has said.

Relics relating to Kingdom of Urartu found in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeological relics relating to Kingdom of Urartu (860 BC – 590 BC) has recently been found in Anaqizli mount, Chaypareh county, northwest Iran.

22% rise in visits to historical, recreational sites in West Azarbaijan

TEHRAN – Visits to historical and recreational sites in West Azarbaijan province rose 22 percent during the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21) compared to the same period a year earlier.

Major exhibits of tourism, handicrafts underway in Urmia

TEHRAN – Urmia, the capital of West Azarbaijan province, is playing host to major exhibits of tourism and handicrafts from August 17 to 20, CHTN reported.

Visitors to West Azarbaijan museums almost doubles yr/yr

TEHRAN - With its rich culture and unique natural landscapes, Iran’s West Azarbaijan province is becoming an increasingly popular destination for local and even international travelers.

Exhibit to bring together crafters from six provinces

TEHRAN - Tens of crafters and artisans from six provinces will come together to promote skills in a sales exhibit which is to be held in Mahabad, West Azarbaijan province.

Three IRGC forces martyred in terrorist attack in Iran’s northwest

TEHRAN – Three forces with the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) were killed in a terrorist attack on the IRGC forces in the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan.

Development projects worth $1b inaugurated

TEHRAN- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani launched and inaugurated some development, service, and infrastructure projects worth 44.65 trillion rials (about $1.063 billion) in West Azarbaijan Province.

Northwestern Kani Barazan Wetland play host to 30,000 migratory birds

TEHRAN — Some 30,000 migratory birds have winged their ways to Kani Barazan Wetland, located in northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, Mahabad chief of department of environment has said.

Silent death: Zagros Mountains forest plagued by deforestation, degradation 

TEHRAN — Deforestation and degradation are gravely threating the Zagros Mountains forest and the current trend can seriously harm the ecology of the region and its biodiversity in the near future. 

Iran will sell its oil despite U.S. sanctions, Rouhani insists

Rouhani: Iran won’t yield to economic war

TEHRAN – President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday that Iranians will not surrender to those who have started economic war on the country.

Tourism gains momentum in West Azarbaijan province

TEHRAN – Some one million people stayed at tourist accommodations across northwestern West Azarbaijan province during the first seven months of the current Iranian calendar year (starred March 21), which shows 10 percent year-on-year growth, provincial tourism chief said on Monday.

‘Salt particles raising from Lake Urmia contained by 80%’

TEHRAN – Salt particles raising from the catchment basin of Lake Urmia has been contained by nearly 80 percent, Farhad Sarkhosh, head of the provincial department for the Lake Urmia restoration program at West Azarbaijan has said.

Frescos of Saint George Church restored

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian restores have completed restoration of historical murals and frescos at the Saint George Church, which is located in Haftvan village, northwestern West Azarbaijan province of Iran.

Urmia to host crafts exhibit

TEHRAN – A sales exhibition of handicrafts is due to open on Monday in the northwestern city of Urmia, the capital of West Azarbaijan province.

3000-year-old seeds unearthed in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – A team of Iranian archaeologists has recently found some wheat and weed seeds which are estimated to date from some 3,000 years ago.

Millennia-old Hasanlu under restoration, landscaping project

TEHRAN – A restoration and landscaping project on Iran’s Teppe Hasanlu has been completed some 70 percent, CHTN reported on Wednesday.

IRGC kills 10 militants in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Force has succeeded to smash a terrorist cell in Oshnavieh, the northwestern province of West Azarbaijan, killing at least 10 militants, Tasnim reported on Saturday.

Iron Age remains unearthed in northwest Iran 

TEHRAN – Iranian archaeologists have recently unearthed vestiges of architectural elements, potteries and stone tools, which are estimated to date from the Iron Age, IRNA reported.

Restoration commences on St. George Church

TEHRAN – A new round of restoration project has recently started on the centuries-old Saint George Church, which is located in Haftvan village, northwestern West Azarbaijan province.

Lake Urmia likely to revive in 10 years; building our hopes up?

TEHRAN — Chief of West Azarbaijan province’s Department of Environment, Parviz Arasteh, has said that Lake Urmia will be revived within the next 10 years, but is he building our hopes up?

Traces of ancient smelting discovered in northwest Iran  

TEHRAN – A team of archaeologists and researchers has recently found remnants of ancient metal smelting across two villages in northwest Iran.

Two border guards killed in clashes with gunmen in NW Iran

Two Iranian border guards have been killed during clashes with armed bandits in the northwest of the country near the border with Iraq.

Ancient Armenian sites being restored in northwest Iran

TEHRAN – Restoration work has commenced for three Armenian sites that stand adjacent to the UNESCO-registered Monastery of Saint Thaddeus (Qareh Klise) in West Azarbaijan province, northwest Iran.

By Mohammad Ali Haqshenas

Salt mining in Lake Urmia: Opportunity vs. threat

The dryness of Lake Urmia in recent decades has revealed great salt reserves in its bed. Estimations for the amount of salt in the lake varies from 6 to 10 billion tons. That’s certainly a great potential for mining and has already tempted some individuals to extract some salt, however, there are different views on salt mining in the region.