Total:114
-
Yesterday 17:46
Alborz province: A blend of mountain landscapes, ancient heritage and cultural diversity
TEHRAN - Although Alborz is one of Iran’s youngest provinces in terms of administrative division, its history, cultural heritage and natural landscapes extend far beyond its modern boundaries.
-
2026-11-02 17:11
Semnan’s oral heritage: a living reflection of history and cultural identity
TEHRAN - Semnan province, with its ancient history and remarkable cultural heritage, is home to a rich collection of Iran’s oral traditions, customs, traditional arts and local narratives.
-
2026-10-26 17:07
Restoration of Isfahan’s Chehel Sotoun palace awaits UNESCO funding
TEHRAN - Restoration of Iran’s UNESCO-listed Chehel Sotoun palace and garden is awaiting additional funding from the government and UNESCO, as experts assess structural damage to the Safavid-era monument following a 40-day war with the US and Israeli forces, the site’s director said.
-
2026-10-21 21:02
Tashkent’s new landmark celebrates the legacy of Islamic civilization
A combination photo shows different views of the Islamic Civilization Center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, a major cultural institution dedicated to showcasing the history, scientific achievements and artistic heritage of Islamic civilization. (PHOTOS: Afshin Majlesi)
-
2026-10-14 16:53
Bushehr: Where Iran’s history meets the Persian Gulf
TEHRAN - On Iran’s southern coast, where the Zagros Mountains descend toward the Persian Gulf, Bushehr offers a distinctive blend of history, architecture, nature and living traditions. The sea has shaped almost every aspect of life here, from trade and fishing to cuisine, music and the design of traditional houses.
-
2026-10-05 17:03
Heritage is identity: Iranian archaeologist exposes scale of war destruction to historic sites
TEHRAN – An Iranian archaeologist, Sonia Shidrang, highlighted in a global webinar hosted by the International Committee on Archaeological Heritage Management (ICAHM), a scientific committee under ICOMOS, that the 40-day war with the United States and the Israeli regime left 149 historical sites across 20 provinces damaged, and that Iran's cultural heritage now demands a response grounded in international law, rigorous documentation, and a concrete protection plan.
-
2026-09-25 16:39
Shams Tabrizi mausoleum project seen as boost for cultural tourism
TEHRAN - The completion and opening of the mausoleum of Shams Tabrizi in Khoy will mark a major milestone for cultural diplomacy and tourism in West Azarbaijan, the provincial governor said.
-
2026-09-20 16:44
Promotional Item:
Rail Tourism in Iran: Connecting Historic Cities, Landscapes and Cultural Heritage
Railways have always played an important role in connecting different parts of Iran. However, today, they can offer much more than transportation. With its rich cultural heritage, historic cities, and diverse natural landscapes, Iran has great potential to develop rail tourism. Traveling by train can provide tourists with an opportunity to discover the country in a different way, making the journey itself an important part of the travel experience.
-
2026-09-18 21:12
The pomegranate: A fruit at the heart of Iran’s cultural heritage
TEHRAN – The annual pomegranate harvest feast, one of Iran’s oldest agricultural celebrations, brings together villagers, visitors and returning residents in a traditional ceremony that combines fruit picking with music, local customs and cultural activities.
-
2026-09-12 16:45
Quzlu: A stepped village offering a glimpse of rural Iran
TEHRAN - The stepped village of Quzlu, nestled in the mountainous landscape of northwestern Iran, offers travelers a chance to experience traditional rural architecture, unspoiled nature and a time-honored cultural heritage.
-
2026-09-11 14:37
Demolition of historical building in Sabzevar draws heritage ministry’s legal action
TEHRAN - A historical building known as the Tumanian building, also referred to as the Padegan-e Rusha (“Russian barracks”) has recently been demolished in Sabzevar, northeastern Iran, prompting the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts to blame the city’s municipality and pursue legal action.
-
2026-09-09 16:22
Iran has registered more than 43,000 national heritage sites: minister
TEHRAN – Iran has registered more than 43,000 relics and properties, including more than 14,000 historical buildings, the minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said on Tuesday.
-
2026-09-04 20:03
Sangak bread added to Iran’s national intangible cultural heritage list
TEHRAN — The way of preparing, Sangak, a traditional Iranian flatbread baked on heated pebbles, has been inscribed on Iran’s national list of intangible cultural heritage following a review by the country’s National Council for Intangible Heritage Registration, an official said.
-
2026-08-18 19:23
Ardabil ranks first in Iran for foreign tourism development for second consecutive year
TEHRAN – Ardabil has ranked first among Iran’s provincial cultural heritage departments in the 2025 assessment of foreign tourism marketing and development, retaining the top position for the second consecutive year, a provincial official said.
-
2026-08-18 18:26
Cultural heritage is Iran’s strategic asset, official says
TEHRAN – Iran should regard its cultural heritage as a strategic national asset that can strengthen historical identity, foster national pride and cohesion, and help unlock the country’s tourism and economic potential, Vice President for Parliamentary Affairs and Strategic Affairs Mohsen Esmaeili said on Monday.
-
2026-08-16 17:18
Better use of books is essential to cultural diplomacy, tourism minister says
TEHRAN - Iran should make better use of books, literature and publishing as key tools to present its history, culture and civilization to international audiences, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Saturday.
-
2026-08-10 15:53
Iranian actor calls for artists to become cultural ambassadors for tourism
TEHRAN – Veteran Iranian actor and cultural heritage advocate Majid Mozaffari has called for greater use of the country’s artistic and cultural figures to promote Iran’s cultural heritage, historical and natural attractions and handicrafts to domestic and international audiences.
-
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.
-
2026-07-19 18:33
Ancient Iranian goldsmithing in spotlight as 3,000-year-old earrings worn by actress spark heritage
TEHRAN – A pair of earrings incorporating approximately 3,000-year-old Iranian gold medallions has sparked international debate over the use of ancient cultural artifacts in contemporary fashion, drawing renewed attention to the sophistication of ancient Iranian jewelry making and raising questions about the ownership, preservation and ethical use of archaeological objects.
-
2026-07-17 16:44
Oman hails Iranian expertise for restoration of historic sites
TEHRAN - Oman welcomes broader cooperation with Iran in museum management and hails the expertise of Iranian restorers and architects for the conservation of the sultanate's historical monuments, Oman's minister of heritage and tourism said during talks with Iranian officials in Muscat.
-
2026-07-15 15:54
War, memory and the race to save a civilization
-
2026-07-14 16:43
By Sonia Shidrang, Assistant Professor at Shahid Beheshti University
Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley and Iran’s deep past on UNESCO World Heritage List
This week marks the first anniversary of a milestone that reshaped how the world sees Iran’s ancient past. On July 11, 2025, during the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, the Paleolithic Sites of the Khorramabad Valley were inscribed on the World Heritage List—Iran’s 29th such site, and its first ever dedicated to the Paleolithic period.
-
2026-07-03 18:28
Researcher highlights Isfahan's enduring role in Ta’zieh heritage
TEHRAN - Iran's ritual dramatic art of Ta’zieh continues to thrive across the country, with central Isfahan province widely regarded as the nation's leading center for the centuries-old tradition, according to Iranian researcher and Ta’zieh scholar Esmaeil Mojallali.
-
2026-07-01 20:10
By Afshin Majlesi
War, memory and the race to save a civilization
An interview with Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director of the National Museum of Iran
TEHRAN – What happens when one of the world's oldest civilizations is confronted with the realities of modern warfare? How do museums prepare for conflict, protect irreplaceable artifacts, and respond when cultural institutions come under threat? And what lessons have museum professionals learned from navigating these extraordinary challenges?
-
2026-06-30 16:41
By Afshin Majlesi
Experts discuss strategies to protect cultural heritage and historic cities during wartime
TEHRAN – Iranian experts on Tuesday examined international approaches to safeguarding cultural heritage and the historical identity of cities during armed conflict, calling for stronger documentation, digital preservation, legal protection, and broader international cooperation while emphasizing the role of cultural resilience in the aftermath of war.
-
2026-06-29 17:53
Isfahan unveils tourism roadmap, plans heritage restoration after recent damage
TEHRAN – Isfahan province has prepared a new tourism development roadmap, launched plans to revive historical corridors and begun restoring heritage sites damaged during recent US-Israeli airstrikes, Governor-general Mehdi Jamalinejad said on Monday.
-
2026-06-29 17:46
Martyred leader's funeral ceremonies to be nominated for national heritage status
TEHRAN – Iran's minister of cultural heritage said on Monday that the government plans to seek national heritage registration for the planned funeral ceremonies of the martyred Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mehr news agency reported.
-
2026-06-27 17:55
Official highlights Tirgan as key element of Iran's intangible cultural heritage
TEHRAN – The head of Iran's Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism has described the ancient festival of Tirgan as one of the country's most significant elements of intangible cultural heritage, saying it reflects enduring links between nature, mythology and Iranian society.
-
2026-06-14 18:17
By Afshin Majlesi
Alborz artisans share their craft, passion and concerns
TEHRAN - World Handicrafts Day, observed annually on June 10, is an occasion to celebrate the creativity, skills and cultural heritage of artisans around the globe.
-
2026-06-07 17:10
Lorestan retains leading role in Iran’s national heritage registration: provincial tourism chief
TEHRAN – Lorestan province remains one of Iran’s most significant cultural heritage regions, holding records in national heritage registrations, archaeological sites, and historic bridge architecture, according to provincial heritage officials.