Hamedan Day: Herbal medicine festival opens near Avicenna’s tomb

TEHRAN – A herbal medicine festival and sales exhibition, named after Avicenna, opened next to the renowned Persian polymath’s tomb in Hamadan on Sunday, coinciding with Hamadan Day and commemorations honoring the celebrated scholar.

Rock art: Tiny Sasanian bird motif discovered in southern Iran

TEHRAN – Archaeologist Abolhasan Atabaki has reported the discovery of what he describes as the smallest known bird motif from the Sasanian period, measuring just 3 by 2 centimeters and engraved on the rocks of the Marvdasht Plain in Fars province, southern Iran.

Iran, South Africa seek closer tourism cooperation through private-sector ties

TEHRAN – Iran and South Africa have discussed expanding tourism cooperation through stronger private-sector ties, joint marketing initiatives and a framework for implementing bilateral projects.

Tehran, New Delhi seek stronger tourism co-op

TEHRAN – Iran and India have discussed closer tourism cooperation, stronger air links, private-sector partnerships, joint UNESCO nominations and expanded medical tourism.

Iran urges BRICS to build resilient and sustainable tourism sector

TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has called for a new definition of resilience in tourism, saying the sector should help connect nations, revive hope, support communities and contribute to lasting peace.

Iranian, Turkish officials discuss ways to diversify tourism flows

TEHRAN – Officials from Iran and Turkey has recently discussed broaden tourism cooperation by moving beyond a focus on a handful of well-known destinations and promoting the diverse attractions of their provinces to each other’s markets.

Changiz Sheykhli, ‘father of Iranian caving,’ dies at 99

TEHRAN – Changiz Sheykhli, the pioneering figure who founded Iran’s modern caving and speleology movement, died on Wednesday, August 20, in Karaj at age 99, following a period of illness.

Persian Empire: New scholarly work sheds light on Achaemenid monetary systems

TEHRAN - A major new scholarly work on the monetary systems of the Achaemenid Empire was published earlier in July, offering the first comprehensive account of the diverse coinages that circulated across one of the ancient world's most expansive and administratively complex territories.

Qal-e Kord Cave may shed new light on evolution of stone-tool technology

TEHRAN -The seventh season of archaeological excavations at Qal-e Kord Cave could provide new evidence for reconstructing the evolution of stone-tool technology and the history of early human occupation on the Iranian Plateau, the project’s director said.

Tehran, Tashkent explore stronger tourism ties 

TEHRAN – Iran and Uzbekistan should turn their shared cultural and civilizational heritage into practical tourism programs and joint projects, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Tuesday.

Archaeologists resume excavations at Qal-e Kord Cave, a key Paleolithic site

TEHRAN - The seventh season of archaeological excavations at Qal-e Kord Cave in Avaj County, Qazvin province, has begun, as researchers seek to reconstruct more precisely the sequence of human occupation and the formation of cultural layers at the prehistoric site.

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.

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. 

By Afshin Majlesi

Tehran municipality official highlights restoration of war-damaged heritage sites

TEHRAN – Ali Shamsipour, head of the Urban Research and Planning Center of Tehran Municipality, has highlighted plans and ongoing efforts to restore heritage sites damaged during the recent war involving the United States and the Israeli regime.

Iranian culinary team wins multiple medals at Armenian festival

TٍEHRAN - An Iranian culinary team won several gold, silver and bronze medals at the fifth edition of the Navasard festival in Armenia, highlighting the country’s culinary heritage and its potential for international food tourism, Mehr news agency reported on Sunday.

Archaeological survey in Taft identifies ruined structures, stone tools

TEHRAN - The first systematic archaeological survey of the Nir and Garizat districts in Taft county, central Iran, has been completed, identifying ancient sites, historic fortifications, water-management structures, cemeteries and stone tools, a provincial heritage official said.

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.

Iran has 58 sites on UNESCO tentative list, heritage official says

TEHRAN - Iran currently has 58 cultural and natural properties and heritage collections on the UNESCO Tentative List, according to the director general of registration of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts.

Echoes of the past: Golden-lustre ceramic bowl

The pictured golden-lustre ceramic bowl, which dates from the 7th century AH (13th–14th century CE), is made of a stone-paste (glass-paste) body. It is deep-bodied, with a flat rim, an elongated profile, and a tall, rounded, concave base. Decorative inscriptions adorn both its interior and exterior surfaces.

Four Iranian historic water structures selected for global irrigation heritage recognition

TEHRAN - Four historic Iranian water and irrigation structures -- Si-o-se-pol in Isfahan, Band-e Amir in Fars, the Shadorvan Grand Weir in Khuzestan and the historic hydraulic structures of Siraf in Bushehr -- have been selected for recognition under the World Heritage Irrigation Structures (WHIS) program of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID).

Alamut’s World Heritage status opens new chapter for tourism and local growth

TEHRAN - Alamut region could become a strategic hub for social cohesion, hope, tourism thrive, and local development following its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, a senior official at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts said.

Centuries-old windmills in Tabas-e Masina undergo restoration

TEHRAN - A new phase of restoration work has begun at the historical windmills that are located in Tabas-e Masina of South Khorasan province, with funding allocated from national budgets, a local cultural heritage official said on Saturday.

Mashhad to get handicrafts township as Iran seeks to expand sector’s export potential

TEHRAN — Iran plans to establish a dedicated handicrafts township in Mashhad as a pilot project that could eventually be replicated across the country, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Friday.

Mulla Sadra house in Qom to become hub for astronomy and philosophy tourism

TEHRAN – Local officials plan to turn the historic house of philosopher Mulla Sadra in Kahak, Qom province, into a hub for astronomy and philosophy tourism, under a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting the city’s cultural attractions and strengthening its tourism economy.

$168,000 worth of handicrafts sold along Arbaeen pilgrimage routes

TEHRAN - Handicrafts worth 31 billion tomans, equivalent to about $168,000 at the prevailing open-market exchange rate, were sold at stalls set up along the Arbaeen pilgrimage routes in six Iranian provinces, an official said.

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.

Restoration of historical alleyways begins in Abarkuh

TEHRAN - Restoration and rehabilitation of alleyways and urban spaces in the historical district of Abarkuh has begun under a cooperation agreement between the local Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department and Abarkuh Municipality, an official said.