By Afshin Majlesi

The future of travel in Iran

Ubiquitous face masks, partitions, social distances, customer-service protocols, not-yet-fulfilled refunds, and self-quarantined at home on a mass scale, as well as closed borders, canceled events, and changing policies challenge tourism industry insiders to forecast what the lingering impact of the novel coronavirus could be on the way we travel.

Iran eyes to attract more travelers from Turkey

TEHRAN – Iranian travel agencies plan to offer stimulus packages and hold familiarization tours for Turkish agencies, tour operators, journalists, and influencers in a bid to attract more travelers from the neighboring country.

Iran setting rules to resume foreign tourist arrivals amid pandemic

TEHRAN – The ministries of tourism and health in close collaboration with several other government bodies are defining a series of rules for admitting foreign travelers to the country amid a standstill in the global tourism industry caused mainly by the coronavirus.

Coronavirus: Iran preparing to reopen doors to foreign travelers

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism ministry has forecast that the country will start hosting foreign travelers as of mid-summer with the priority given to travelers from the neighboring countries.

Iran-Turkmenistan border crossing to host Noruz celebration

TEHRAN – Iran and Turkmenistan are scheduled to celebrate Noruz, the Persian New Year traditions shared between the two nations, during a joint event at their border crossing on March 27, CHTN reported.

Iran closes southwestern border to Iraqi travelers

TEHRAN – Iran has closed its southwestern Chazzabeh border crossing with Iraq to inbound travelers due to insecurity and unrest in the neighboring country.

Iran temporarily lifts visa requirement for Iraqi nationals

TEHRAN – Iran’s embassy in Baghdad has announced that Iraqi nationals can visit Iran without a visa from October 24 to December 27, 2019.

Iran-Iraq border open to Arbaeen pilgrims

TEHRAN - Iran-Iraq border crossing of Khosravi was opened to Arbaeen pilgrims on Sunday in order to facilitate the commute of people who want to visit the holy city of Karbala.

 By Afshin Majlesi

Traveler recommends potential tourists to visit Iran before a “big influx”

Many tourism associates believe that Iran is still somewhat of a lesser-known destination for many avid globetrotters, saying the country, despite having enormous potentials, has a long way to go to occupy a dominant position in world tourism market.

Official borders open to foreign travelers without passport stamps

TEHRAN – All Iranian border crossings let foreign nationals in without passport stamps according to a presidential decree that orders for the waiver of physical stamping on travelers’ passports upon entering or leaving the country, Interior Ministry’s spokesman has said.

By Mehdi Sepahvand

Another border guard lost in clash with armed groups

TEHRAN – An Iranian border guard has been killed in clashes with armed bandits in the northwestern province of Kurdistan near the border with Iraq.

Maduro shuts border with Brazil to block U.S. package

President Nicolas Maduro has ordered Venezuela's border with Brazil to be shut as the US-backed opposition prepared to bring in what it calls American “humanitarian aid.”  

Pakistan army chief sees better military ties with Iran

TEHRAN – Pakistan’s chief of Army Staff says his country’s cooperation with Iran has strengthened and will continue to enhance regional security.

Girls deprived of education at border areas to be identified

TEHRAN – The presidential office for women’s and family affairs with the cooperation of the Ministry of Education is to identify girls deprived from education in border areas, said Masoumeh Ebtekar, the vice president for women’s and family affairs, here on Wednesday.

Zarif urges Pakistan to help immediately release Iranian abductees 

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Wednesday to follow up on conditions of Iranian border guards who were abducted and transferred to Pakistan by terrorists late on Monday.

Guards crush armed group on Afghan border

TEHRAN – Iranian border guards on Thursday disbanded a three-member team of gunmen as they were trying to cross the country’s border with Afghanistan, local news outlets reported