A large crowd of Armenians gathered at Saint Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran on Sunday, April 24, 2016, to mark the 101st anniversary of the massacre of thousands of Ottoman Armenians in 1915.
What is the Armenian Genocide or the 1915 genocide?
In 1915, leaders of the Turkish government set in motion a plan to expel and massacre Armenians living in the Ottoman Empire. Though reports vary, most sources agree that there were about 2 million Armenians in the Ottoman Empire at the time of the massacre. By the early 1920s, when the massacres and deportations finally ended, some 1.5 million of Turkey’s Armenians were dead, with many more forcibly removed from the country. Today, most historians call this event a genocide–a premeditated and systematic campaign to exterminate an entire people. However, the Turkish government does not acknowledge the enormity or scope of these events. Despite pressure from Armenians and social justice advocates throughout the world, it is still illegal in Turkey to talk about what happened to Armenians during this era. (Source)
The Iranian girls participated in matches for attending in IRAN national team in Kish Island, North of Persian Gulf.
40 boy and girl athletes attended in this competition in teens and adults categories on 2 days. The championship was held in Cable ski park of Kish.
Kish is a 91.5-square-kilometre resort island in the Persian Gulf. It is part of the Hormozgān Province of Iran.
By: Memorias de Oriente/ I can honestly say I never thought about traveling to Iran and I am still not sure what made me go there other than to simply experience firsthand one of the most mislead countries in the world.
What I found was an incredibly hospitable and friendly people, a land full of spectacular landscapes, a fascinating culture and history and despite a extremely difficult political situation the iranians has nothing to do with the image the media show us. This short video represents only a fraction of what I saw and experienced but being one of the most stimulating and enriching journeys of my life let me invite you to watch it and maybe change the image you may have of this beautiful country.
Camera equipment: Sony a7r Leica Summilux 35mm Zeiss 25mm Gopro Hero3 black
Sinceramente nunca había pensado en viajar a Irán y aún no se muy bien qué me llevó a hacerlo más allá de una sana curiosidad por conocer de primera mano uno de los países más herméticos y con peor fama del mundo. Pero lo que encontré fue unas gentes increíblemente hospitalarias y amables, una tierra repleta de paisajes espectaculares, una cultura y una historia fascinantes y a pesar de una situación política muy dura, Irán poco tiene que ver con la imagen que nos llega a través de los medios de comunicación. Demasiados lugares me quedaron por visitar y este video representa únicamente una ínfima parte de todo lo que vi y viví pero siendo uno de los viajes más estimulantes y enriquecedores que he vivido os invito a verlo y así quizás conseguir cambiar algo de la visión que tengáis de este preciosos país.
By David Sim: The lifting of sanctions on Iran as a result of its nuclear deal with world powers could result in a huge tourism boom. Iran made it on to the top destination lists of major publications such as The Financial Times and The Guardian in 2015 thanks to sights that include 2,500-year-old ruins at Persepolis near Shiraz and 16th-century Islamic architectural gems in Isfahan.
The World Travel Market 2015 Industry Report said Iran was set to become a tourism hotspot. Adventurous tourists are already rushing to discover the riches the country has to offer, including ancient ruins, pristine beaches and popular ski resorts. In this gallery, IBTimes UK presents 30 photos of beautiful sights that should be on every itinerary.
The ancient city of Isfahan, the former Persian capital from 1598 to 1722, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world – and is Iran’s number-one tourist destination. Leafy streets, hand-painted tiling and the famous Islamic architecture are unparalleled by any other Iranian city, centred around the magnificent Unesco-listed Naghsh-e Jahan Square. One of the world’s largest city squares, it is home to several magnificent monuments, the Shah Mosque, the Lotfollah Mosque, the Ali Qapu Palace and the Imperial Bazaar/iStock
Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, built in the early 1600s, was the first of four monuments that dominate Isfahan’s huge Naqsh-e-Jahan Square. The marble mosque is decorated throughout with exquisite tiles and calligraphy/iStock
The Shah Mosque or Imam Mosque, a Unesco World Heritage site on Naghsh-e Jahan Square in Isfahan, is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Persian Architecture, with stunning mosaics and calligraphic inscriptions/iStock
The highly ornamented Ali Qapu Palace is located on Naqsh e Jahan Square, opposite the Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque in Isfahan/iStock
The Bazaar of Isfahan, a vaulted two-kilometre street linking the old city with the new, is one of the oldest and largest markets in the Middle East/iStock
Isfahan’s Allāhverdi Khan Bridge, more popularly known as Si-o-seh pol, has two rows of 33 arches over the Zayandeh River/iStock
Vank Cathedral, also known as Holy Saviour Cathedral, is an Armenian Apostolic church built in the early 1600s in Isfahan/ iStock
In the 17th century, Isfahan was home to around 3,000 magnificent towers built to house pigeons. About 300 remain scattered throughout the countryside around the city/ iStock
Abyaneh is one of the oldest villages in Iran. Located at 2,500m above sea level in Isfahan province, the village is a jumble of houses packed one on top the other on the slopes of Mount Karkas. The walls of the houses are made of mud bricks that contain a lot of iron oxides, giving them a reddish colour/ iStock
Dizin, established in 1969, is the most popular ski resort in Iran. The ski season here runs from December to May – longer than European resorts because of its high altitude (3,600m, making it one of the 40 highest ski resorts in the world)iStock
Darbandsar, 60km to the north-east of Tehran, is one of the newest ski resorts in Iran. It offers a variety of winter sports such as snowboarding, mountain climbing, cross-country and off-piste skiing, etc/iStock
Founded by Darius I in 518 BC, Persepolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire and is situated around 70km north-east of the city of Shiraz/iStock
The tomb of Cyrus the Great, in the Pasargadae World Heritage Site, is believed to date back to the 4th century BC/iStock
Narenjestan-e Qavam, the Qavam Orange Grove, is a 19th-century garden in Shiraz. It leads to the elegant Qavam House, decorated in a style inspired by Victorian era Europe/iStock
The Nasir ol Molk Mosque in Shiraz is also known as the Pink Mosque, thanks to colour of the tiles used to decorate the interior. It looks particularly beautiful with light streaming through its coloured glass windows/iStock
Tehran lacks the beautiful architecture of Isfahan and the history of Persepolis, but makes up for it with its range of restaurants, cafés, museums and art galleries – and its location at the foothills of the Alborz mountains make for fantastic walking trails/iStock
Golestan Palace is a Unesco world heritage site in Tehran, and part of a former royal complex that includes palaces and museums, decorated with intricately carved marble and mirrored halls/iStock
Milad Tower, also known as the Tehran Tower, is the sixth tallest tower in the world. Standing at 435m (1,427ft) high, the top floors are home to observation deck and a revolving restaurant/iStock
Mount Damāvand is the highest peak in Iran and the Middle East. This potentially active volcano is located in the Alborz range, near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, about 60km north-east of Tehran/iStock
Meymand, an ancient village in Kerman Province, is thought to date back 12,000 years ago. More than 600 people still live in around 350 hand-dug rock houses/iStock
Kandovan is a village in East Azerbaijan Province containing cliff dwellings excavated inside volcanic rocks similar to those in the Turkish region of Cappadocia. These rock houses are still occupied today – at the 2006 census, the village had a population of around 600/iStock
Yazd, a city of around a million people and the driest city in Iran, is architecturally unique and an important pilgrimage destination for Zoroastrians/iStock
The Amir Chakhmaq Complex is the largest structure in Iran. It is illuminated with orange light in the evenings and provides wonderful views over the city of Yazd/iStock
The city of Bam in Kerman Province surrounds an ancient citadel dating back around 2,000 years, to the Parthian Empire (248 BC–224 AD)/iStock
Qom, a city of around a million people about 125km south-west of Tehran, is considered holy by Shia Islam and is a popular pilgrimage destination/iStock
The Zagros Mountains, regarded as sacred by the Kurds, run along Iran’s western border. The highest point on the range is Zard Kuh, at 4548m (14,921 ft)/iStock
Anzali Lagoon in the Caspian Sea in the northern Iranian province of Gilan is a good place for birdwatching, despite increasing pollution thanks to being used for many years as waste dumping site/iStock
The port city of Bandar Abbas is capital of Hormozgān Province on the southern coast of Iran, on the Persian Gulf. Thousands of tourists visit the city and the nearby islands, including Qeshm and Hormuz/iStock
The Bazaar of Tabriz, another Unesco World Heritage Site, is thought to be the largest covered bazaar in the world. Situated on the ancient Silk Road, the bazaar has separate sections for jewellery, carpets, leather goods, etc/iStock
The Golden Eagle Danube Express is a luxury train that takes two weeks to wind through the 7,000km journey from Budapest to Iran, via the Balkans, the Bosphorus and eastern TurkeyBernadett Szabo/Reuters
The New York Times, By ELAINE GLUSACTourism in Iran is already popular with Europeans. Iranian officials told The Associated Press last fall that about five million foreign travelers visited Iran in 2014, and that the country aims to attract 20 million tourists, spending $30 billion, by 2025.
Among growth signs, Air France recently announced that it plans to start three flights weekly between Paris and Tehran beginning in April. Already Iran is a one-stop destination from New York via Istanbul, Dubai or Doha on Turkish Airlines, Emirates or Qatar Airways.
Iran hosts some of the world’s oldest cultural monuments, including 19 Unesco World Heritage Sites, and its varied terrain ranges from desert locales to ski resorts.
“It’s just extraordinarily beautiful, and the sites are as magnificent as any you can find in the world,” said William O. Beeman, a professor and chairman of the anthropology department at the University of Minnesota and an expert in Iran. “Isfahan is comparable to Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat. These are major centers of civilization that have been lovingly restored.”
The plane – an A330 – in Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKIA). It is carrying the French Transport Minister Alain Vidal as well as the CEOs of Air France and Boeing among others.
This is the first Air France jet to land in Iran in eight years following a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1.
Visit Iran – 79 reasons and places that will make Iran your next travel destination
João Leitão: Iran is an amazing country. Do you have any doubts about it? I know that the general opinion in the West is that Iran is a dangerous country.
The NEWS in Europe and the US tell us about a different Iran. They describe a place full of violence that makes us believe the country is populated with mad, unfriendly and ferocious people.
Well, we got that wrong…
Why?
First: Iran is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to. Crime is much lower than in most European countries and USA.
Second: Iranian people are among the friendliest and most hospitable in the World;
Third: Iran is quite developed, clean, and its population are well educated and have cultural / political awareness.
I’ve been twice to Iran. The last time was back in 2012. I went along with my girlfriend and we left Iran with the desire of coming back soon. And we will.
I’m sure that your opinion about Iran will change after you check out these 79 reasons and places that will make Iran your next travel destination.
1- Arg-e Rayen Citadel in Rayen – Visit Iran
1,000 years old Arg Rayen Citadel in Rayen – Places to Visit in Iran
2- Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan
Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan built in the 16th century. The interior decoration of this palace is incredible – Visit Iran
3- Golestan Palace in Tehran – Visit Iran
Golestan Palace in Tehran built in the 16th century – UNESCO Sites in Iran
4- Naqsh-e Khostam
Naqsh-e Khostam ancient necropolis from 1000 BC – Sightseeing in Iran
5- Alis Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage
Alis Malt Beverage – What to drink in Iran
6- Amir Chakmak Mosque Complex in Yazd
Amir Chakmak Mosque in Yazd from the 16th century – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
7- Architecture in Tehran – Visit Iran
Architecture in Tehran – Visit Iran
8- Arg-e Bam Citadel in Bam
Bam Citadel, was the largest adobe building in the world – UNESCO Sites in Iran
9- Ateshkadeh Zaroastrian Fire Temple in Yazd
Zoroastrian Religion Ateshkadeh Fire Temple in Yazd – Religion in Iran
10- Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan
Bastani Traditional Restaurant in Isfahan – Where to eat in Iran
Traditional Iranian Puppet Show – What to do in Iran
Video of Traditional Iranian Puppet Show in Golestan Palace, Tehran:
72- Iranian Religiousness and Spirituality
Religiousness and Spirituality – Religion in Iran
73- Vakil Mosque in Shiraz
Vakil Mosque in Shiraz – Visit Iran
74- Iranian Street Wall Art
Wall Art – What to see in Iran
75- Water Museum in Yazd
Water Museum in Yazd – What to do in Iran
76- Old City in Yazd
Yazd Old City – Where to go in Iran
77- Zaid Mosque in Tehran
Zaid Mosque in Tehran – Religion in Iran
78- Ziai Ye School in Yazd
Ziai Ye School in Yazd, also known as Alexander’s Prision – Monuments and Sightseeing in Iran
79- City Center in Shiraz
City Center in Shiraz – What to visit in Iran
Some ideas about Iran to be taken in consideration:
Everything Western TV says about Iran is mostly propaganda and do not correspond to the real Iran.
People are more friendly than you think.
The country is more developed than you think.
Iran is relatively cheap.
Iran will be one of the safest countries you’ve ever been to. Crime is almost non-existent.
Women travelers have to cover their hair while in Iran.
All countries in the world can get an easy 15 day Iranian Visa on arrival at any international airport. However, this rule does not apply to nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, Colombia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, United States and Uzbekistan. Visa exemption countries are: Azerbaijan, Bolivia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey and Venezuela. Entry is banned to Israeli nationals.
Also that you should know about Iran,
Iranian sites inscribed on the World Heritage UNESCO list:
Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, Bam and its Cultural Landscape, Bisotun, Golestan Palace, Gonbad-e Qābus, Masjed-e Jāmé of Isfahan, Meidan Emam, Esfahan, Pasargadae, Persepolis, Sheikh Safi al-din Khānegāh and Shrine Ensemble in Ardabil, Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, Soltaniyeh, Tabriz Historic Bazaar Complex, Takht-e Soleyman, Tchogha Zanbil and The Persian Garden.
Imam Mosque in Isfahan built in 1611 – UNESCO Sites in Iran
Iranian sites submitted on the Tentative List of UNESCO:
Alisadr Cave, Arasbaran Protected Area, Bastam and Kharghan, Bazaar of Qaisariye in Laar, Cultural Landscape of Alamout, Damavand, Firuzabad Ensemble, Ghaznavi- Seljukian Axis in Khorasan, Hamoun Lake, Harra Protected Area, Hegmataneh, Historic ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Historic Monument of Kangavar, Historical Ensemble of Qasr-e Shirin, Hyrcanian Forest Caspian Forest, Jame’ Congregational Mosque of Esfahan, Jiroft, Kaboud Mosque, Kerman Historical-Cultural Structure, Khabr National Park and Ruchun Wildlife Refuge, Khorramabad Valley, Kuh-e Khuaja, Lut Desert the vicinity of Shahdad, Nasqsh-e Rostam and Naqsh-e Rajab, Persepolis and other relevant, Qanats of Gonabad, Qeshm Island, Sabalan, Shahr-e Sukhteh, Shush, Silk Route also as Silk Road, Susa, Tape Sialk, Taq-e Bostan, The Collection of Historical Bridges, The Complex of Handmade Settlements in Iran Maymand Village, The Complex of Izadkhast, The Cultural Landscape of Uramanat, The Cultural-Natural Landscape of Ramsar, The Ensemble of Historical Sassanian Cities in Fars Province Bishabpur Firouzabad Sarvestan, The Historical City of Masouleh, The Historical City of Maybod, The Historical Port of Siraf, The Historical Structure of Yazd, The Historical Texture of Damghan, The Historical Village of Abyaneh, The Historical–Cultural Axis of Fin Sialk Kashan, The Natural-Historical Landscape of Izeh, The Zandiyeh Ensemble of Fars Province, Touran Biosphere Reserve, Tous Cultural Landscape and Zozan.
October 24, 2014 by Nellie Huang– If you’re looking for a country that surprises, then Iran is the place for you. Traveling Iran can be an eye-opening experience, considering how closed and misunderstood this Islamic Republic is. It is a rewarding place to visit especially for curious travelers who want to learn the basis of the country, who its people are, and what their culture stand for — beyond political issues and news headlines.
In all honesty, I went to Iran with no idea what to expect; but Iran still surprised me on so many levels. Unknown to many, it’s a very urban and populated country, with over 75 million people occupying a country that ranks 17th biggest in the world. It’s the biggest country in Central Asia and also the most populated. Almost two-thirds of Iranians live in cities and many of its cities bursting at their seams with over five million people. Heavy traffic is a severe problem in the country,with the government increasing oil prices and building underground metro systems to help control the problems.
Cities like Tehran, Tabriz and Shiraz exude the modern and prosperous 21st-century vibes you’ll find in developed Middle Eastern cities, constantly buzzing with endless traffic, weaving through rows of markets, shops and tall buildings. There are people everywhere, literally in every street corner and square. Urban dwellers rush from one place to another, spotting heavy make-up and funky haircut. You’ll be surprised to find women pushing the limits by wearing hijab (headscarf) halfway back on their head and tight, colorful leggings or skinny jeans. Oh and even more over-the-top is how popular nose jobs are in Iran. It’s common to see women spotting bandages on their noses, the result of plastic surgery that is getting more and more popular by the day.
And of course, the warmth and hospitality of the people was the biggest surprise of all. “Welcome!” was the word I heard most in Iran, I lost count of the number of times when Iranians warmly welcomed me into their country. Perhaps because of the hospitable nature of the Central Asians or the fact that Iranians don’t receive many visitors in the country, they are undoubtedly the friendliest people I’ve ever met on my travels. Locals came up to me ever so often, wanting to know where I’m from, what I was doing in Iran, and how I liked their country. A few invited me to sit down with them for tea, while others ditched their plans and helped me get to where I was going. The people of Iran moved me with their genuine generosity and kindness — and it’s people like that who made my trip to Iran truly memorable.
Chinese tourists come to Iran more than before.Annie Dai that introduced herself “Chinese girl living in Paris” visiting IRAN. She shares her photos from IRAN trip in Instagram from Kashan. Xiaoye Xuan is with Annie in IRAN trip.
IRNA – Iranian officials and visiting European Union delegation headed by European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini signed various memoranda of understanding for cooperation on research on Saturday.
Iran’s participation in the EU Horizon 2020 framework program, with its 80 billion euro budget for the years 2014-2020 was also discussed between Iranian and EU officials.
Iranian and European officials underlined formation of a task group for boost of cooperation.
Renewable energies, peaceful nuclear issue, risk management, urban planning, earthquake engineering, climate change, water resources, food security, agriculture economy, and health were topics of cooperation agreements reached between Iranian and European officials.
Mogherini was in Tehran on Saturday at the head of a large delegation of EU officials to visit Iran in years. The two sides announced a string of joint projects—from the energy sector to migration and joint research work—in a bid to broaden bilateral relationship that was long restricted by the dispute over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
EU mission in Iran
With a view to opening a full EU diplomatic mission in Iran an EU liaison team will be sent to Tehran, Mogherini and Zarif said in a joint statement.
“Today is a new beginning in Iran and EU relations. We hope this cooperation between the Iranian nation and European Union brings about shared interests and global development,” Zarif was quoted as saying by IRNA.
The EU executive’s visit comes on the heels of trips to Tehran by European governments seeking to revive ties with Iran after the July 2015 nuclear deal.
The EU and Iran will exchange business missions in the second half of this year and Brussels will assist Iran in becoming a member of the World Trade Organization, the statement said.
On the issue of human rights, which also figured in discussions, Mogherini said the EU would continue to be firm on its principles while maintaining dialogue with Iran.
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani in a meeting with European Union Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini on Saturday called for resolution of Iran’s banking problems.
