Astarabad restores historic passage to celebrate heritage, draw visitors

TEHRAN - The municipality of Gorgan has officially launched the second phase of a major restoration project aimed at revitalizing a historic passageway in the ancient city of Astarabad, now known as Gorgan.

Taq-e Bostan sign installed in Turkey’s Gaziantep

TEHRAN - A sign representing Taq-e Bostan, one of Iran’s most significant Sasanian archaeological sites near Kermanshah, has been installed in a prominent square leading to the city’s airport in Gaziantep.

Automobile Museum of Iran launches special detailing workshop

TEHRAN – The Automobile Museum of Iran, also known as the Historical Car Museum of Iran, will host its first workshop on professional car detailing and preservation starting August 24.

Lighting upgrade begins at majestic Chehel Sotoun Palace

TEHRAN – Authorities have started modern lighting installation at the Chehel Sotoun Palace complex in Isfahan, provincial cultural officials announced on Sunday.

Underground Anuj complex added to Iran’s national heritage list

TEHRAN - An ancient underground hand-carved complex, located in the Samen district of Malayer county, has been officially registered on Iran’s national heritage list, authorities announced.

Tehran museum to host festival of Arbaeen heritage

TEHRAN – An international festival dedicated to Arbaeen heritage is scheduled to take place on July 21-22 at the National Museum of the Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense in Tehran.

Iran’s handicrafts reflect religious culture, says deputy minister

TEHRAN – Iran’s handicrafts serve as a mirror of the country’s religious culture and Shia identity, the deputy minister for handicrafts at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage said on Sunday.

Iraqi Airways resumes flights to Iran’s Rasht airport after a one-month hiatus

TEHRAN – Iraqi Airways has resumed its weekly flights to Rasht Airport in Iran’s Gilan province after a nearly one-month suspension caused by the recent 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel.

Tehran ceremony to honor devotees of manuscript culture

TEHRAN – A ceremony honoring supporters of handwritten manuscripts will be held in Tehran in February 2026 under the slogan “Yesterday’s Heritage, Today’s Thought.”

Iran considers extending ‘Land of Kindness’ exhibition in China following high demand

TEHRAN -- Iran is considering an extension of its highly acclaimed cultural exhibition, “Land of Kindness”, currently on display in China, following a formal request from Chinese officials, according to Ali Darabi, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage.

Historical Takyeh restored in Semnan province

TEHRAN - The restoration work on a historical Takyeh in Iran’s Semnan province has been completed, officials announced.

Echoes of the past: gold rhyton in the form of a winged lion

TEHRAN - Drinking vessels of varied designs flourished throughout the Near East from the 1st millennium BCE well into the Islamic era.

Tourism, one of Iran's soft power tools in international interactions

TEHRAN—The Secretary of the Cabinet Seyyed Kamel Taqavi-Nejad said today, tourism is not only an industry but is one of the effective tools for Iran’s economic and cultural diplomacy.

University of Michigan professor congratulates Iran on UNESCO designation of Paleolithic caves

TEHRAN - Professor John D. Speth, a distinguished anthropologist and emeritus faculty member at the University of Michigan, has warmly congratulated the recent inscription of the Paleolithic caves of Iran’s Khorramabad Valley on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

‘I will never regret coming’: solo female traveler reflects amid Israel’s strikes on Iran

TEHRAN - When 24-year-old Taiwanese traveler Ariel Kang Chengxuan went to bed on June 12 in Isfahan, Iran, she had no idea she was about to wake up in the midst of all-out war.

Tourism minister visits Great Wall of Gorgan in northern Iran

TEHRAN - Iran’s tourism minister, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, paid a visit to the Great Wall of Gorgan on Thursday, where he inaugurated construction on the site’s first official visitor information center, which is regarded as a key milestone toward the wall’s eventual nomination for UNESCO World Heritage status.

By Afshin Majlesi

A journey beyond the misconceptions

TEHRAN - For those who dare to look beyond the headlines, Iran unveils a spectacular array of treasures. From the ancient ruins of Persepolis, once the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, to the winding alleyways and wind towers of Yazd, a UNESCO-listed desert city, the country is a living museum.

By Afshin Majlesi

Cultural heritage is a voice against hostile narratives, Iran tourism minister says

TEHRAN – In a press conference held on Tuesday afternoon, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, along with his deputies, addressed the ministry’s role in shaping cultural resilience during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel.

11,000-year-old secret revealed: Boars transported across Zagros for ritual feasts in western Iran

TEHRAN - A study by an international team has revealed that pre-agricultural communities at the Early Neolithic site of Asiab, near Kermanshah in western Iran (~9660–9340 cal BCE), engaged in complex logistical efforts to provision large-scale ritual feasts.

Rab'-e Rashidi: restoration campaign, land acquisition drive launched

Muharram rituals: thousands of pilgrims walk to Imam Reza shrine

TEHRAN – Around 7,000 pilgrims traveled on foot to the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad to commemorate Tasu’a and Ashura, two of the most significant days in the Islamic calendar, at the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Shia Imam.

Police recover 21 Ilkhanid-era coins in northern Iran

TEHRAN — Iranian police have recovered 21 ancient coins believed to date back to the Ilkhanid era during a vehicle search near the city of Faruj in North Khorasan province, northeastern Iran.

Poet Heydar Yaghma’s tomb restored

TEHRAN - The tomb of contemporary Persian poet Heydar Yaghma (1924–1984) has recently undergone a restoration project, according to the head of Neyshabur’s office for cultural heritage.

Most world heritage sites at risk from drought or flooding: UNESCO

TEHRAN – Nearly three-quarters of the world’s cultural and natural heritage sites are under threat due to either drought or flooding, according to a report released Tuesday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Qazvin’s threefold strategy for tourism highlighted during ministerial visit

TEHRAN - The Governor-General of Qazvin province, Mohammad Nozari, has emphasized a comprehensive three-pronged approach to advancing tourism in the province, encompassing short-, medium-, and long-term strategies.