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Today 17:30
Seven fortresses, one strategy: How the Alamut defensive network worked
TEHRAN - When the name Alamut is mentioned, many people picture a castle standing atop a towering cliff. However, what has now been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List as “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” is far more than a single fortress. It is a complex network of seven mountain strongholds that, between the 11th and 13th centuries CE, formed one of the most advanced defensive systems of medieval Iran through the combined use of geography, architecture, water management and spatial organization.
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Today 17:29
'Shiraz historical district restoration should rely on AI, future studies'
TEHRAN – The director-general of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of Fars province has called for the use of artificial intelligence, advanced technologies and future-oriented approaches in the preservation and revitalization of Shiraz’s historic urban fabric.
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Today 17:29
Iran plans fifth gastronomy festival in Armenia to promote cultural ties
TEHRAN – Iran is planning to hold the fifth edition of a gastronomy festival in Armenia, with a focus on promoting the country’s culinary heritage, national tourism brand, and handicrafts, the deputy tourism minister said.
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Yesterday 17:42
Mahalat: Discover 'the Netherlands of Iran'
Nestled in Iran’s Markazi province, Mahalat is a charming city celebrated for its mild climate, natural beauty, and rich historical heritage. Known nationwide as the City of Flowers and Plants and often referred to as the “Netherlands of Iran,” Mahalat has become one of the country’s most distinctive travel destinations, attracting visitors with its colorful landscapes, ancient monuments, therapeutic hot springs, and thriving horticultural industry.
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Yesterday 17:41
Iran, Italy to cooperate on restoring ancient gateway near Persepolis for site museum
TEHRAN - Cultural heritage authorities are moving ahead with plans to convert the ancient Tall-e Ajori archaeological site near Persepolis into a site museum, following the completion of archaeological excavations and the launch of a restoration project in cooperation with Italian experts.
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Yesterday 17:40
Blue Shield markers being installed on ancient bridges in Lorestan
TEHRAN - Blue Shield emblems are being installed on historic bridges in the western province of Lorestan as part of efforts to protect cultural heritage sites during armed conflict, the provincial cultural heritage chief said.
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2026-07-31 15:45
By Sahar Dadjoo
Destruction of Iran's cultural sites by Israel, US tantamount to destroying a civilization
Historian Touraj Daryaee says international law is nearly powerless against superpowers, but UNESCO status could deter future attacks
TEHRAN – Since US and Israeli strikes began in February, over 130 registered monuments and museums across Iran have sustained damage, from the Golestan Palace to historic quarters in Isfahan, Kordestan, and Lorestan. In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, Touraj Daryaee, historian of ancient Iran and editor of Encyclopaedia Iranica, discusses the emotional and scholarly weight of watching millennia-old heritage damaged within weeks, the limits of international legal accountability, and what the destruction means for how Iran's history will be told and remembered.
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2026-07-31 15:45
VP calls cultural heritage key to national unity, soft power
TEHRAN – Iran's First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref on Thursday described the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts as the country's "ministry of defending civilization and soft victories," saying Iran's cultural heritage remains one of the country's strongest sources of national unity and international influence.
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2026-07-31 15:44
Iran preparing three new UNESCO World Heritage nominations after Alamut listing
TEHRAN — Iran will pursue three new nominations for UNESCO World Heritage inscription next year following the successful listing of Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said.
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2026-07-29 17:35
Lut Desert offers untapped potential for science, geotourism, experts say
TEHRAN – Iran’s Lut Desert, one of the hottest places on Earth and a UNESCO World Heritage site, holds significant potential for scientific research, education and nature-based tourism, researchers said at a conference marking the 10th anniversary of the desert’s inscription on the World Heritage list.
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2026-07-29 17:29
Study points to Sasanian military control reaching Indian Ocean
TEHRAN - A comprehensive geochemical study of ancient transport containers from the Fulayj fort in Oman has provided compelling new evidence of extensive maritime trade networks linking the Iranian heartlands with the Arabian coast during the Late Sasanian and Early Islamic periods.
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2026-07-29 16:49
Mostazafan Foundation launches museum card to encourage visits
TEHRAN - Iran’s Dafineh Museums Institute on Wednesday unveiled a special museum card that will allow holders to visit participating museums across the country, with organizers aiming to expand the scheme beyond the institute’s own museums through partnerships with public and private institutions.
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2026-07-28 17:00
Kermanshah among West Asia’s oldest human settlement areas, researcher says
TEHRAN – Kermanshah is one of the oldest known areas of human settlement in the Iranian Plateau and West Asia, with archaeological evidence indicating human presence dating back as far as one million years, Iranian researcher and historian Mohsen Derekeh said on Monday.
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2026-07-28 16:58
Online monitoring system planned for tourists from Afghanistan and Pakistan
TEHRAN - Iran plans to launch a pilot program to monitor in real time the entry, stay and departure of tourists from Afghanistan and Pakistan, following a meeting of government agencies that approved the executive framework and oversight requirements for the initiative.
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2026-07-28 16:57
Kordestan sets up Arbaeen handicraft markets along border route
TEHRAN – Iran's western Kordestan province has established volunteer service stations, handicrafts markets and tourism promotion programs along routes leading to the Bashmaq border crossing as Arbaeen pilgrims begin traveling to Iraq, provincial officials said on Tuesday.
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2026-07-28 16:52
Tehran, Seoul explore closer heritage cooperation
TEHRAN - Iran has proposed establishing a joint task force with South Korea on cultural heritage restoration, conservation and digital documentation following the inscription of Iran's “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” on UNESCO's World Heritage List, Iranian officials said during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan.
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2026-07-27 17:35
UNESCO-listed Alamut reflects Iran’s military architecture, enduring cultural legacy: expert
TEHRAN – The recent inscription of Iran’s “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” on UNESCO’s World Heritage list recognizes the site’s outstanding military architecture, historical significance and continuing cultural legacy, veteran Iranian archaeologist Rajab-Ali Labaf-Khaniki said.
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2026-07-27 17:34
One-day tours can boost local economies if managed properly, researcher says
TEHRAN - One-day tours can stimulate local economies, strengthen community ties and ease pressure on crowded tourism destinations, but only if they are supported by effective planning and management, an Iranian tourism researcher said.
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2026-07-26 17:12
7,500-year-old Tepe Sialk undergoes restoration work
TEHRAN – Iranian authorities have launched the second phase of restoration work at the Tepe Sialk archaeological site in Kashan following the completion of improvements to the site's entrance, a provincial cultural heritage official said on Sunday.
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2026-07-26 14:12
UNESCO grants World Heritage status to Iran’s Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications
TEHRAN – Iran’s “Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications” has been inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, becoming the country’s 30th tangible cultural heritage property to receive the prestigious international designation.
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2026-07-25 17:23
Tehran, Tashkent discuss direct flights and visa facilitation
TEHRAN - Tehran's ambassador to Tashkent and the head of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee have discussed expanding tourism cooperation, increased direct flights and facilitated visas for Iranian citizens during talks in Uzbekistan's capital, according to Uzbek media reports published on Friday.
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2026-07-25 17:22
Free Internet service launched for Arbaeen pilgrims at Iran's Shalamcheh, Chazabeh border crossings
TEHRAN - Free wireless Internet service has been launched at the Shalamcheh and Chazabeh border terminals in Iran's southwestern Khuzestan province to support pilgrims travelling to Iraq for the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, a regional telecommunications official said on Saturday.
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2026-07-25 17:21
Ancient Espi Mazget up for restoration, tourism development by private sector
TEHRAN - Authorities in Iran's northern Gilan province plan to protect, restore and develop the historic Espi Mazget monument for tourism through a partnership with a private investor, a senior provincial official said during a visit to the site on Saturday.
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2026-07-24 18:17
Tehran, Seoul discuss roadmap for cultural, tourism cooperation at UNESCO meeting
TEHRAN - Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri and South Korea's Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young agreed on Friday to pursue closer cooperation in cultural heritage, tourism, handicrafts and creative industries during a meeting held on the sidelines of the 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee in Busan.
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2026-07-24 18:16
Iran says six border crossings ready for Arbaeen pilgrim traffic
TEHRAN - Iran has completed preparations at six main border crossings with Iraq for the upcoming annual Arbaeen pilgrimage, introducing upgraded cooling systems, expanded passenger facilities and redesigned transport services to improve the movement of millions of pilgrims, a senior road transport official said on Friday.
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2026-07-24 18:13
Three cool escapes near Tehran for an affordable family day trip
TEHRAN - As summer temperatures rise in Tehran, many residents look for short, affordable getaways that offer cooler weather without the cost of an overnight stay. Within less than two hours of the capital, several destinations provide fresh mountain air, natural scenery and opportunities for hiking, picnicking and family outings.
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2026-07-22 16:23
UNESCO renews concern over damage to Golestan Palace in Busan session
TEHRAN – UNESCO has renewed concern over damage to Tehran's Golestan Palace caused by the shock wave and debris from nearby military strikes, as the protection of cultural heritage during armed conflict returned to the agenda of the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea.
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2026-07-22 16:23
UNESCO-listed Bisotun prepares to receive Arbaeen pilgrims, official says
TEHRAN – The UNESCO-listed Bisotun archaeological site has completed preparations to receive pilgrims travelling to Iraq for Arbaeen commemorations, with authorities planning to hold a handicrafts market along the pilgrimage route, the site’s executive director said on Wednesday.
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2026-07-22 16:22
Floor coverings in Iran: From Neolithic mats to Safavid silk carpets
TEHRAN – During the Neolithic period, the inhabitants of Iranian plateau used reed mats as floor coverings in their shelters and also wrapped the deceased in them for burial. Thousands of years later, during the Safavid era, the use of silk brocade carpets woven by the artisans of Tabriz became widespread.
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2026-07-21 19:59
30 Iranian NGOs, institutions call for intl. action to protect cultural heritage after war damage
TEHRAN - A coalition of 30 Iranian non-governmental organizations and cultural heritage institutions has called on international organizations, including UNESCO, the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to take urgent action to protect Iran's cultural heritage following damage to historical sites during the recent military conflict involving Iran and the combined forces of the United States and the Israeli regime.