Deputy minister congratulates artisans for success at Uzbekistan handicrafts festival

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy minister for handicrafts and traditional arts congratulated Iranian artisans on Tuesday for winning top awards at an international handicrafts festival held in Kokand and Rishtan, Uzbekistan.

55 Iranian hotels nominated for Green Label Award

TEHRAN— A total of 55 hotels from 15 provinces and one from Kish Free Zone will compete in the first round of awarding the Green Label for Iranian Hotels, Mohammad Jahanshahi, the Secretary of the National Committee for Nature Tourism, has said.

National taskforce formed to address subsidence threat to Isfahan monuments

TEHRAN – Iran’s government cabinet has approved the formation of a National Taskforce to Combat Subsidence, which will operate under the supervision of the First Vice President, to safeguard Isfahan’s historical monuments and world heritage sites, Amir Karamzadeh, head of the Isfahan Cultural Heritage Department, said.

Iran-Saudi Arabia ties serve interests of both countries, Salehi-Amiri says

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, said strengthening relations with Saudi Arabia is in the interests of both nations, speaking at a ceremony marking Saudi National Day at the Espinas Palace Hotel in Tehran on Tuesday.

Archaeologists uncover early Elamite burial near Persepolis in southern Iran

TEHRAN - Archaeologists have discovered evidence of an early Elamite jar burial and traces of kiln waste at Tol-e Roubahi Kenareh, less than two km south of the UNESCO World Heritage site of Persepolis in southern Iran.

Iranian ceramicist honored as ‘most skilled female potter’ at Uzbekistan festival

TEHRAN – Zahra Aslani, a ceramic artist from Ardabil, northwest Iran, has won the title of “most skilled female potter” at an international festival recently held in Uzbekistan.

Iran sees tourism roadshow in Iraq as key to boosting sector, deputy minister says

TEHRAN – Iran’s Deputy Tourism Minister Anoushirvan Mohseni-Bandpei said on Monday that a planned tourism roadshow in Iraq would play an important role in expanding different areas of tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Baba Shams hill links history, nature, and agriculture in Ilam

TEHRAN – Scattered pottery fragments, historic aqueducts, and the proximity of the Karzan River point to ancient settlements at Baba Shams hill, located on the western edge of a village of the same name, according to Habibollah Mahmoudian, a specialist in prehistoric archaeology.

Iran orders reopening of all museums and heritage sites after wartime closure

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ministry has ordered the reopening of all museums, historical palaces, and archaeological sites across the country, following months of closure after the 12-day war with Israel.

Ali-Sadr Cave discovery documents archived at Iran’s National Library

TEHRAN—Head of the National Library and Archives of West of Iran, Atefeh Zarei, gave news of the registration of documents of the discovery of Ali-Sadr Cave in Hamedan in the institute‘s list.

Maragheh becomes pilot for implementation of tourist city plan

TEHRAN—Maragheh in East Azarbaijan province, has been chosen as a pilot for implementation of tourist city.

Cotton festival in Gorgan aims to promote tourism

TEHRAN – The fourth Cotton Festival, under the slogan “From Farm to Garment,” will be held on October 2 at Tooska Farm on Tooskestan Road in Gorgan, Golestan province, aiming to promote tourism.

400 events planned for Iran’s Tourism Week

TEHRAN – Concurrent with the start of Tourism Week, 400 festivals and special events focusing on tourism and sustainable development will be held across Iran from September 27 to October 3, Mostafa Fatemi, director-general of the Domestic Tourism Development Office, said.

Iran approves museum dedicated to 12-day war with Israel

TEHRAN – Iran has approved the establishment of a museum dedicated to the 12-day war with the Zionist regime of Israel, Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Monday.

Evidence of life and industry discovered at Tepe Sialk

TEHRAN— In the fourth season of the excavation of Tepe Sialk in Kashan, central Iran, some workshops have been selected as the focus of research; a continuation of last year's excavations with the aim of more accurately and deeply understanding the newest layers of the site. So far, valuable findings have been obtained from these sections.

Restoration and strengthening operations of Zangoleh Dome start

TEHRAN—Head of Damghan Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department Mojtaba Akbarpour gave news of restoration and strengthening operations of Zangoleh Dome in Damghan, Semnan province.

Met Museum’s tiny clay figurine reveals ancient origins of the mighty Hyrcanian tiger

TEHRAN - A seemingly unremarkable clay fragment, housed for decades in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collections, has been identified as a landmark archaeological discovery. New research confirms the artifact is one of the oldest known depictions of a tiger, reshaping the history of the animal’s role in Iranian art and culture.

UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace to reopen museums in phases from Sept. 23

TEHRAN – Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in central Tehran, will begin reopening its museums and historic buildings in stages starting Sept. 23, the site’s director said on Sunday.

Iran, Iraq to improve ties through tourism roadshow

TEHRAN— Iran-Iraq ties in cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts fields are improving in spite of regional and international crises, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri has said.

Gartak ancient site, a hidden treasure of Ilam history

TEHRAN—The Gartak ancient site in Sirvan county, Ilam province, holds the secrets of the lives of ancient people and is a hidden treasure of the history of Ilam, Habibollah Mahmoudian, a specialist in prehistoric archaeology, has said.

By Katayoon Dashti

World’s largest hand-made cave, an unknown heritage in Fars province

Sang Shekanan (stonemasons) cave in the south of Jahrom, Fars province, has been dubbed the largest hand-made cave in the world, but many people in Iran and even Fars have not yet heard of it, and it has few visitors.

Tehran Day designated to highlight capital’s historical, cultural and tourism assets

TEHRAN – Tehran’s provincial Cultural Council has designated Mehr 14 (Oct. 6) as “Tehran Day” to commemorate the city’s historic role in the establishment of Iran’s constitutional system and its designation as the national capital.

Iranian artisans join crafts festivals in Uzbekistan

TEHRAN – Iranian artisans are participating in the third Kokand International Crafts Festival and the second International Festival of Handicrafts in Rishtan, Uzbekistan, which opened on September 18.

Elymaean, Sassanid artefacts seized in Yasuj

TEHRAN – A number of historical objects dating back to the Elymaean and Sassanid periods have been seized in Yasuj, the head of the Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad province said on Wednesday.

Shalbafian: Iran ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism

TEHRAN—Iran is ready to draw foreign investment in health tourism, said Ali-Asghar Shalbafian, a senior official of Tourism Ministry.

Mahdishahr’s self-colored carpets manifest natural wonders

TEHRAN—Mahdishahr’s self-colored carpets are a manifestation of the wonders of nature and the unparalleled art of human hands, which have imprinted the authenticity and identity of a region in their texture and weave.

Nearly 60,000 Chinese tourists visit Iran annually, ambassador says

TEHRAN - About 60,000 Chinese tourists travel to Iran each year, China’s ambassador to Tehran said on Tuesday, highlighting efforts to expand cultural and scientific exchanges between the two countries.