This guide is designed to inspire travel to Iran and give practical travel tips that are hard to find for a country so rarely visited, with the second half outlining the best ways to get to Iran using your points. Make sure to read The Essentials section at the end of this piece.

All of the following images were taken by the author and should not be reproduced without permission.

1. Meet the friendliest people in the world

Word is that Iranians are the amongst the most genuine and approachable people in the world. Is it true?

I had high expectations…and they were met. I would put Iranians in the same category as the Japanese and Americans for hospitality.

Never before in my travels had I ever been stopped on the street so many times (in a non-intrusive way) to be asked:

• Where are you from?
• What did you think of Iran before you came?
• What do you think of it now?

2. Visit the most beautiful city in the world

Big call? Probably. There are many beautiful cities in the world – Kyoto, Sydney, Paris – but Iran’s second-biggest city and main tourist drawcard Isfahan definitely deserves a spot up there.

Built on the River Zayandehrood, even with its dry desert climate it is teeming with green parks, plenty of shade on walks along the river, beautiful bridges, and historic mosques, churches and palaces. If you are going to visit one place in Iran, this is the place to go.

3. Watch the sunset over the dunes in the middle of the desert

Yazd is the gateway desert city of Iran, with day and overnight tours into the desert.

The only sound we heard whilst watching the suns rays descend over the flowing desert dunes was a light breeze carving sand into new dune formations. Truly breathtaking.

4. Eat till your heart’s content

Foodies will love Iran, with primary dishes being lamb, mutton, chicken, eggplant, lentils, cheese, yoghurt, rice, dates and pita bread. Vegetarians will be slightly more limited in choices, but it is not prohibitive.

Having said that, all breakfasts tend to be vegetarian, made up of feta cheese, tomatoes, cucumbers, pita bread, yoghurt and watermelon.

Foodies of all persuasions should be sure to visit the moderately-priced vegetarian restaurant in the Iranian Artists’ Forum in Honarmandan Park (also known as Artists’ Park). The second time we went back the waiter brought us an extra course for free and two university professors at a nearby table joined us for lunch.

5. Visit some of the least tourist-filled mosques in the world

Even during the peak travel month of May, it was hard to encounter many other tourists at the majestic mosques that Iran puts a lot of effort into keeping beautiful.

Of course, be respectful of prayer times, take off your shoes and remember that there are separate areas for men and women. Be sure to check the opening times of mosques on the internet or with your accommodation so as to not be caught out by them being closed.

Mosques in Isfahan are the most expensive to get into (around $8 each), but are also the most beautiful.

6. Visit the ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire

Persepolis (literally ‘The Persian City’) brought together the 28 nations of the Persian Empire (at its peak) for ceremonies and was known as the United Nations of the empire.

Located 90 minutes east of Shiraz, choose the more reasonably-priced accommodation options in Shiraz rather than stay near the UNESCO-protected site, but avoid the midday and afternoon heat by catching a private taxi out for the 8am opening. A tour guide is highly recommended and can be organized upon arrival at the site.

7. Transport options are cheap and relatively efficient

Most transport is by road, so if looking to save money, go by bus, but we found it funny/frustrating how many times people were moved around the bus by the bus driver to make sure that women and men were not seated together. This strict policy is more the work of the government rather than the considerably liberally-minded population.

If you have a bit more money, then another option is a private driver, which will be faster and more comfortable, but you will miss out on the local bus experience.

The 10-12 hour overnight Chinese-built train between Tehran and Shiraz is highly recommended at about $25 for a seat which converts into a bed in a four-person single-sex air-conditioned compartment. Bring your own food – disappointing food on the train.

The essentials

• Safety: apart from the state execution of a prominent Saudi figure triggering protests in Tehran earlier this year, there is a reason that we rarely hear of violence and terrorist attacks in Iran compared to much more dangerous Middle Eastern countries like Turkey, Israel and Egypt. I can honestly say that I felt safer and less on-edge in Iran than in some European capitals like London, Paris and Brussels, and petty theft is quite uncommon. Of course, please take into account official government warnings and check that your travel insurance will be valid in Iran.
• Best time to go: as you would expect from a country with climatic extremes, spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) are the best times to visit. We went in mid-May and the weather was gloriously sunny and warm-to-hot, without being oppressive.
• Money: take all the cash you may need for the trip…and then some. International cards do not work at Iranian ATMs, so take clean, relatively new US dollars, euros or pounds (not that they are worth much at the moment) to exchange at moneychangers on the street. Be sure to ask your hotel for the going rate before venturing out to change. In May 2016, it was 1 USD = 34,000 rials and 1 EUR = 38-39,000 rials. You can also pay in USD or EUR at most establishments, with change given in rials. Note that most prices are in ‘tomans’, which is one zero less than the price in rial, e.g. 1 USD = 34,000 rials = 3,400 tomans.
• Visas: Australians and New Zealanders are eligible to receive a visa on arrival at the major airports in Iran, including Tehran, Isfahan and Shiraz. You must bring along a copy of your travel insurance which states the dates of coverage as well as clearly indicating it covers travel in Iran. You will be required to pay a visa fee of about €145; most EU nationals pay €75, but as Australia and NZ are allies of the US, that’s where the difference comes from. If you have dual citizenship, try to see which passport gives you a cheaper visa fee. You also need to have a confirmed hotel reservation or letter of invitation printed out, and they will call your hotel to make sure it is legitimate. You do not need hotel bookings for your whole trip, just the first night or two. Expect this process at the airport to take 1-2 hours. Most international flights arrive between midnight and 6am, which is highly inconvenient, but just breathe and be patient. As of this year, any traveller eligible for the ESTA visa waiver program for the US that has travelled to Iran in the past five years will need to apply for a tourist visa at their nearest US embassy or consulate when travelling to the US.
• Money and costs: Budget Your Trip estimates that in Iran you will spend about the same as what you would in Thailand or Mexico, half of what you would in Greece, or double what you would in India. Tehran is surprisingly pricey, especially for accommodation, but the real gems of Iran are outside the capital, so you shouldn’t be spending too much time there anyway. For basic private accommodation for two with breakfast included (always), intercity bus or train transport, mid-range restaurant meals and an attraction or two a day, we spent an average of $60 AUD/NZD per person per day over ten days.
• Drinking water: Water is surprisingly perfectly safe to drink from the tap and Iran has the widest network of public drinking fountains in streets, parks, bus stations, etc that I have seen anywhere in the world.

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Emphasizing the country enjoys full security to host tourists, Iran’s Tourism Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan, invited tourists across the world to experience a unique journey to the land of history and civilization, especially during the spring.
In a statement released on Saturday, Mounesan said, “Nowadays, the world is even more involved in fast and surprising upheavals and ups and downs as a result of unprecedented progress in technology and industry. As such, the modern human is also influenced by urban, mechanical life and his soul needs some refinement and relief.

In such a situation, only travel and tourism can give us relief, joy, and sympathy and provide us with unforgettable experiences and memorable coexistence. In fact, tourism can be thought of as a familial or friendly gathering, the pivotal contents of which are kindness, cooperation, and synergy. In this chaotic era, tourists are like a delightful breeze endearing our souls and uniting all the people from around the world, regardless of their race, country, language, and beliefs.”

“With a deep and practical faith in this attitude, the Iranian government is trying its best to pave the way for incoming tourists and this is why there is a significant growth in tourism infrastructure in our country. In this regard, some incentive such as visa waiver, 90-day visa on arrival, standard residence services, attractive tourism routes and packages, and cheapest and most secure tours to Iran along with the last international tourism standards have enabled us to experience a 53% growth in our inbound tourism, winning the first place in the world in this regard. In addition, when it comes to the prices, Iran has the most competitive prices for tourism in the world and has emerged as a new phenomenon in the world of tourism, attracting the attention of many countries,” the statement added.
“Even if we disregard all that has been said, the unique tourist attractions of Iran are a good reason to have a journey to the land of history, civilization, and nature. With 24 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 34,000 Nationally Registered Heritages and 600 active museums, Iran has a huge capacity to receive international tourists. In addition, high security, cheap tours, premium travel facilities, hospitable people, numerous historic and natural treasures, unique ecotourism facilities, diverse tourism packages (historic-cultural tourism, sport tourism, marine tourism, food tourism, medical tourism, etc.), interesting rituals, and diverse handicrafts and traditional arts provide enough reasons to visit Iran,” he said.

“The rich history and civilization of this land, the numerous and spectacular tourist attractions, four-season weather, and high cultural and ethnic diversity have made an invaluable treasure of Iran and put this country in the top 10 tourist destinations in terms of tourism, cultural and natural attractions. Astonishing mountains, breathtaking glaciers, beautiful volcanos, pristine forests, green foothills, delightful lakes, springs and waterfalls, picturesque beaches and wonderful islands, historical sites and distinct architecture, globally registered cities and villages, diverse and colorful handicrafts, delicious traditional cuisine and organic, healing drinks, etc. are only a small part of the beauties you can visit while staying in Iran.”
He noted, “With such advantages, each day the beautiful and safe cities of Iran are hosting thousands of tourists from different countries, having enjoyed the unique experience, most of whom decide to return and bring new fellow travelers with them.
Hereby I invite all the tourists from around the world to visit Iran during these last months of the Persian year, as well as the spring, and experience a distinct journey to the land of history and civilization. A country-size guesthouse is wholeheartedly ready to receive tourists from around the world.”

Following the Iranian missile strikes targeting US forces in Iraq, as well as the accidental downing of Ukrainian passenger jet near Tehran, several major airlines have rerouted or canceled flights in the region.

But some days later after these incidents, Qatar Airways, Emirates and several other regional airlines, including Kuwait Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways have continued using Iranian and Iraqi airspace.

KLM airline also made an announcement on Thursday that it would resume flights over the Iranian and Iraqi skies.

“KLM uses a security management system to analyze risks and thus determine safe flight paths. Substantiated by such analyses, it is once again safe to fly over Iran and Iraq,” the statement said.

Some travel agencies also announced that they would continue to make trips to Iran.

The incident came hours after Iran fired ballistic missiles at two American military bases in neighboring Iraq to respond to the US assassination of a senior Iranian military commander in the Arab country earlier this month.

Iran introduces tourism capacities in Madrid fair

Iranian tourism officials held a special session at the 40th International Tourism Fair in Madrid (FITUR) on Friday to introduce the country’s tourism attractions.

Iran’s Ambassador to Spain Hassan Ghashghavi, who was present at the meeting, referred to the remarkable capacities of the two countries for cooperation in the fields of tourism and handicrafts, voicing Iran’s readiness for promoting collaboration in those spheres.

Referring to the 50% growth in the number of Spanish tourists to Iran over the past year, Ghashghavi said that Iran is among the top ten countries in terms of tourism attractions diversity.

The envoy said the promotion of the tourism industry is high on the Iranian government’s agenda, noting that given the capabilities of Spain in this sector, the issue can serve as one of the areas of cooperation between Tehran and Madrid.

The meeting was also attended by two Spanish tourists who explained their experience of visiting Iran. The two hailed Iranians’ hospitality and the country’s high security despite the anti-Iran propaganda.

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Iran Petrochemical Industry Output to Hit $25bln by 2021

“Iran’s petrochemical production capacity would cross 100 mt/y by 2021,” Minister Zangeneh said, addressing the opening ceremony of the 13th Iran Plast International Exhibition on 23 September 2019.
He noted that the petrochemical production capacity of the country would reach 130 mt/y by 2025 valued at $37 billion.
“Iran’s ethane production capacity would reach 16 million tons per year by 2021 from 4.2 mt/y back in 2013. The items’ current production capacity is 7.3 mt/y,” Zangeneh added.
The Iranian oil minister noted that 27 projects would come on stream in the country by 2021.
In relevant remarks on Sunday, Head of the National Petrochemical Company of Iran Behzad Mohammadi announced that his country will inaugurate 27 new petrochemical complexes by early 2022.
Mohammadi said that Iran would increase the number of its petrochemical complexes to 83, from the current 56, by early 2022, adding that both production and the feed used for those complexes would significantly diversify in the coming years.
He added that the Iran had extensive plans for expansion of refining and petrochemical activity, adding that government and private investment in the sector would top 70 billion in the next two years.
Mohammadi noted that the size of investment in downstream sections of the oil and gas industry, where petrochemicals are produced and marketed, would reach $93 billion by 2025
He said the proportion of gas to liquefied feed burnt in the refineries would change from the current 77-23 to 86-14 by 2025, mainly thanks to plans for collecting flared gas at oil and gas facilities.
The official said Iran had invested around half a billion dollars in research and development for manufacturing catalysts used in the refining process, adding that 16 groups of high-tech devices needed in the industry were currently produced inside Iran and a group of nine others were expected to be covered by the domestic production by 2022.
Mohammadi estimated that jobs created in Iran’s petrochemical sector, including those on the supply chain, was around one million, adding that around 880,000 people were currently working in 15,000 enterprises active in the industry’s downstream section.
Mohammadi had said that the petrochemical industry of Iran has focused on domestic manufacturers and contractors in implementing its projects.
“The National Petrochemical Company (NPC) is seeking to ensure the maximized involvement of domestic manufacturers and contractors in petrochemical projects,” he said.
He noted that the petrochemical industry has currently received about 33 million tons of feedstock, equivalent to 650,000 barrels of oil per day, which was supplied from oil and gas refineries and NGL units.
“About 56 petrochemical plants of the country yielded 31 million tons of finished products annually, of which 22.5 million tons were exported and 8.5 million tons were consumed domestically,” Mohammadi said.
The total value of petrochemical products from domestic sales and exports has hit $17 billion annually.

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The port of Bushehr is located in 28,58 N and 50, 50 E in the north end of a peninsula on the coast of the Persian Gulf. This peninsula is 14 Km long. The depth of water is near to 7m in the external anchorage leading to internal anchorage by the external channel 9200m in length and from the internal anchorage to Khor Soltani, Bushehr berth and then to Khor Booder by the internal channel 3900m in length. The channel is 140m in average width.
Climate in Bushehr Port

Climate in Bushehr Port
Bushehr port has got a semi-tropical climate with very hot and humid Summer and temperate Winter. The seasonal South Western winds blow on Bushehr sea from the beginning of June to the end of October but they rarely reach the harbor. The seasonal North Eastern winds blow on Bushehr sea and sometimes very strongly on the land from the end of December to the beginning of May.
The power of North Wind usually reaches to 6 in Beaufort scale, but it may rarely border on 8.
The average power of Wind in Winter is 4 in Beaufort scale
The temperature range during summer is +35 to +40 degrees centigrade, whereas it mat border on +2 degrees centigrade in Winter.
The humidity range during Winter is %40 to %80 and %30 to %99 in Summer.

TIDAL RANGE
The ebb and tide in Bushehr port is diurnal. The tidal range differs from 1 m to 1.6 m.
The highest tide may reach to 2 m and the lowest ebb may border on .7 m. The speed of water current in the internal channel and Khore Soltani may reach to 2-3 knots in ebb and flow conditions
The maximum height of the wave in the external anchorage is almost 1.5 m and .6 in the internal anchorage. Services

ROAD SERVICES

The port of Bushehr is connected to neighboring cities via 4 important routes:

• Bushehr – Khormooj – Kangan – Lengeh – Bandar Abbas extended 920 Km in length.
• Bushehr – Borazjan – Shiraz extended 290 Km in length.
• Bushehr – Borazjan – Yasooj – Isfahan.
• Bushehr – Genaveh – Deylam – Mahshahr – Abadan extended 690 Km in length.

It is worth mentioning that Bushehr – Borazjan route is a highway

AIRPORT

The port of Bushehr is one of the most accessible ports of the country to airport with only 5 Km distance. The international airport of Bushehr is provided with domestic flights to Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashad, Kish, Kharg and international flights to Dubi and Jaddeh.

SHIP BUILDING FACTORIES

These factories, located near the port, are capable of repairing vessels of any kind up to 2500 tons onshore and building offshore constructs. Iran -Sadra Company has up to now built some huge oil platforms belonged to Southern Pars Area.

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Historical Background
Mandaeans are also known as Sabian (in the Qur`an) and Subbi/Sobbi (in Arabic). Iranian Mandaeans speak Persian (Farsi) in addition to a localized Arabic dialect similar to the Arabic spoken in the southern region of Iraq.

Early scholars of the 1920s (M.J. Lagrange, R. Bultmann, Dane V. Schou-Pedersen, E. Yamauchi) debate the origin of Mandaeans, proposing them to be Jewish baptizing sects, Christian, or Babylonian – all in the Jordan area. More recently, Jacobsen Buckley argues that “…a consensus, based on linguistic and historical research, puts Mandaeism back into its original, “heretical” Jewish baptist milieu.” This argument is based on the linguist specialists’ argument based on the language used in their religious texts and the time and religious environment of John’s gospel. Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley firmly believes that Mandaeism never had a Christian stage. Popular legends describe Mandaean migrations. Buckley states that Mandaeans moved from their homeland under the protection of Ardban the Parthian King in the first century of CE, perhaps during the time of Ardban III.

Currently, Mandaeans live next to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Iraq as well as the Karoon River in the southern region of Iran (Khozestan), in the cities of Khorramshahr, Abadan, Ahvaz, Shushtar, Dezful, Shush, Chogha Zambil, and Howeizeh.

Mandaean Religious Beliefs
The religion is mostly classified with Gnosticism with certain elements such as yarna (running water), Kushta (truth), and Manda (knowledge) are directly connected to the religion’s Western origins. Mandaeans believe in Yahya, which is the prophet, John the Baptist. “Early on, the religion clearly experiences more or less hostile contacts with various forms of Christianity and becomes acquainted with Babylonian remnants, Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, and other religions.” These influences and contacts with various religions that existed at the time of the Mandaean migration to Iranian regions are evident through direct borrowing of Manichaean hymns that are translated from Mandaean poetry. They believe that Miriai (Mary, mother of Jesus) becomes pregnant by witchcraft or by another man who is not her husband. The Jewess Miriai is
a Mandaean. Mandaeans believe that they are former Jews, and the language in the Talmud is the language of Babylonia that is very close to classical Mandaic (the language of Mandaeans). Miriai is a heroine but her son Jesus deviated from the truth and his Mandaean heritage. Mandaeans also believe that the punishment of the Jews is deserved.
The Mandaean holy book is called Ginza (treasure). It is separated into a right (Ginza Right/GR), and a left (Ginza Left/ GL).

GR contains materials, mostly in poetic style, related to the soul’s ascent to the Lightworld. GR is believed to be the oldest surviving text. When turning the Ginza upside down, one can read the GL, which deals with the fate of the soul when the body dies. Among other matters (such as the destiny of the soul, prayers), it contains the story of the first man who died, Adam’s son Sitil. The Mandaean story of creation has three different levels: the upper, Lightworld which is heavenly known as alama d-nhura or the world of light, a middle world which is the earthly world of human inhabitants known as Tibil, and the third world that is the dark and gloomy underworld. Most attention is paid to the Lightworld, which teaches that in the world above the supreme First Life lives and the true home lies above in the light. The supreme First Life is also known as the King of Greatness or the King of Light. Mandaean scripture describes two models of creation of the world: the first is an emanation model of creation and the second model is based upon the opposing poles of the Lightworld and the Darkworld. Buckley states that “…the emanation model is by far the most common, and the sheer mass of variations in the creation mythology makes it impossible to appoint one[,] specific version as ‘the original.’” Inhabitants of the Lightworld are known as utras (angels, guardians), who were involved in creation of the dark and light worlds and they continue to look after the earthly and Lightworld and keep in touch with Mandaeans of earth. The Lightworld sent prayers and all forms of rituals by the forces of light to be taught to the Mandaeans. Thus, the human world and the rituals and prayers connect the Lightworld. Therefore, the Mandaean must be concerned about how to live his life in Tibil, the earth, and how to die in order to receive a proper ascent to the Lightworld. The rituals connected with the Mandaean religion are complex and time consuming and a number of them cannot be performed by a lay person and require the assistance of a priest.

Status of Mandaeans in Iran
Mandaeans enjoyed protection by the kings during the later part of the Iranian Dynasty of Ashkanian, who ruled from 248 B.C.E. until their overthrow by the Sassanid Dynasty in C.E. 224). However, during the reign of the Sasanid ruler Bahram I in 273 C.E., religious persecutions were carried out regularly. Mani is executed in the early stages of Bahram I rule. The Zoroastrian high priest Karter suppressed followers of other religions such as Mandaeans, Manichaeans, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and Buddhists. “During these dangerous years, one might surmise a consolidation of Mandaean literature in an attempt to rescue and codify the religion.” At the early stages of the Islamic expansion, Mandaeans showed the Muslim authorities their holy book Ginza and proclaimed that John the Baptist was their prophet. This was crucial for Mandaeans to receive protection by their Muslim rulers, because they were aware that a holy book and a prophet are essential to gain the status of “People of the Book” (ahl al Kitab). In addition, Mandaeans cite the Qur`an for their existence in the holy scripture of Muslims. They are mentioned by the name of Sabians (II: 62, and V:72):

Those who believe (in the Qur`an),
And those who follow the Jewish (scriptures),
And the Christians and the Sabians ,
Any who believe in God
And the Last Day,
And work righteousness,
Shall have their reward.

Mandaeans enjoyed prosperity and freedom to practice their religion. Many scribal activities and collections of Mandaean texts exist at this time (mid 7th CE).
Mandaeans’ status as people of the book came into question throughout their history living in Iran. For example, Mandaeans under Qajar rule in the 1780s experienced difficulties by the Shah’s local representatives by throwing them into wells where they drowned. In addition to loss of lives due to cruelty of the local authorities, later in 1830 half of the inhabitants of the city lost their lives to the great cholera epidemic known as the Plague of Shushtar.

The most recent wars and crises in Iran and Iraq have caused migrations of large numbers of Mandaeans from both Iran and Iraq to the Western world. The Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) as well the Gulf War of 1991 are responsible for a large population of Mandaeans dispersion around the world.

Varying statistics about Mandaean numbers range from 15,000-100,000 with the largest population still living in Iraq. Claiming religious persecution, non-recognition of their religion by the government of Iran, discrimination and exclusion from the normal protections of the law, a significant number of Iranian Mandaeans have fled to Australia.

Religious persecution in Iran, based on measured assessments, is on record by Amnesty International, including the following: in Iran all religious minorities, including Christians and Jews, suffer varying degrees of persecution, vis a vis the Shi’ite Muslim majority. The State, for example, does not permit non-Muslims to engage in government employment or to attend the university. And there are restrictions on the extent to which they can fully practice their religion, such as, for example, teaching it publicly. If injured or killed, Mandaeans or their dependents receive less compensation than would the Muslim majority, and they may suffer in assessments of their credibility as witnesses before Iranian courts. In recent years, Mandaeans who worked in any business requiring direct contact with food (such as cooking or baking or selling food items) have lost their jobs because they are viewed as “unclean” people. The discrimination against Mandaeans has increased since the start of Islamic Republic (1978).

Iran Today, An Encyclopedia of Life in the Islamic Republic. Greenwood Press, 2008
Prepared by:
Faegheh Shirazi, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Middle Eastern Studies
Islamic Studies Program
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station, F1500
Austin, TX. 78745.
fshirazi@uts.cc.utexas.edu

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Persepolis (Takhte Jamshid)

Persepolis (Old Persian: ‘Parseh’, New Persian:Takht-e Jamshid’) was an ancient ceremonial capital of the Persian Empire. The largest and most complex building in Persepolis was the audience hall, or Apadana with 72 columns. Persepolis is situated some 70 km northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of Iran (Persia).

In contemporary Persian language the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid (Throne of Jamshid) and Parseh. To the ancient Persians, the city was known as Parsa, meaning The City of Persians, Persepolis being the Greek interpretation of the name Περσες (meaning Persian)+ πόλις (meaning city).

The first westerner to visit Persepolis was Antonio de Gouveia from Portugal who wrote about cuneiform inscriptions following his visit in 1602. His first written report on Persia, the “Jornada”, was published in 1606. The first scientific excavation at Persepolis was carried out by Ernst Herzfeld in 1931, commissioned by the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. He believed the reason behind the construction of Persepolis was the need for a majestic atmosphere, as a symbol for their empire and to celebrate special events, especially the “Nowruz”, (the Persian New Year held on 21 March). For historical reasons and deep rooted interests it was built on the birthplace of the Achaemenid dynasty, although this was not the centre of their Empire at that time.

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The event is organized jointly by the Federation of Freight Forwarders of India and the sports club ‘Kalinga Motor’, said Iran’s Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, reported Trend News Agency.

Iranian entities organizing the race are the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Road Facilities, the Federation of Motorcycles and Vehicles and the Customs Board of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The 30-day rally will cover the route from extending from Shiraz, Isfahan, Tehran, Qazvin, Rasht to Astara port on Iranian territory and onward to Moscow and St. Petersburg and back again to finish in Chabahar.

Twenty trucks are participating in the competitions, one from Russia, Iran and Azerbaijan, while the rest will belong to the Indian teams. Around 39 participants are taking part in the competition.

The North-South transport corridor is designed to connect Northern Europe with India and Southeast Asia. The route will also link the railways of Iran, Azerbaijan and Russia.

In the initial stage, six million tons of cargo are planned to be transported through the corridor per year and the figure will eventually rise to 15-20 million tons.

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Masjed-e Nasir Al Molk
One of the most elegant and most photographed pieces of architecture in southern Iran, the Pink Mosque was built at the end of the 19th century and its coloured tiling (an unusually deep shade of blue) is exquisite. There are some particularly fine muqarnas in the small outer portal and in the northern iwan, but it is the stained glass, carved pillars and polychrome faience of the winter prayer hall that dazzle the eye when the sun streams in.

The mosque attracts most visitors early in the morning (9am to 11am is best) when the hall and its Persian carpets are illuminated with a kaleidoscope of patterned flecks of light. It makes for a magical experience – and an irresistible photograph.

A museum in the opposite prayer hall opens into the Gav Cha (Cow Well), where cows were used to raise water from the underground qanat. The structure has survived numerous earthquakes, due in part to its construction using flexible wood as struts within the walls – look for the wooden bricks in the iwan columns. The rose-pink floral tiles are a signature feature of Shiraz./ Lonely Planet

Time-Lapse: Shiraz – Religious Sites

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Decorated trees, along with Nativity scenes of the Virgin Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus, can also be seen in shops along Mirza Shirazi Avenue and Ostaad Nejatollahi (Villa Avenue) and its surrounding neighborhoods in central Tehran, where many Iranian Christians reside.
Some Iranian Christians celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25 and New Years’ on Jan. 1, while Armenians celebrate Christmas at the same time as the Epiphany on Jan. 6.

Despite being a minority, Iran’s Christians, Jews and Zoroastrians are recognized as established religious minorities and are represented in parliament, and also enjoy freedom to practice their religions and perform their religious rituals.
Unlike other countries in the region where public celebration of Christmas is limited to hotels frequented by foreigners, there is no such restriction in Tehran. The sale of Christmas ornaments, which during the first years of the Islamic Revolution was limited to Christian districts, can now be seen around town.

In fact, festive Christmas decoration and celebration take place throughout the country, specifically in major cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz and even religious cities such as Mashhad.

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Nomads Tour in Iran

There are about one and a half million nomads in Iran, extending from the border of Turkmanistan to the warm waters of the Persian Gulf. Most of these tribes, the Kurds, the Lurs, the Bakhtiaris, the Guilaks (on the Caspian Coast) and the Baluchis are the original invaders who, in the first millennium BC, swept down from Central Asia and settled in various parts of the Iranian Plateau. Most of the tribes in central Iran are from pure Aryan stock, while other tribes such as the Arabs of Khuzestan and Khorassan, the Turkish tribes of Quchan, the Qashqai tribes, the Shahsevan and Afshar tribes of Azerbaijan and the Turkmens are remnants of races that have passed through Iran at various periods of history.

Traditionally, there has always existed a close link in Iran between the ruling dynasty and the domination of one particular tribe or ethnic group./ More

QASHQAI PEOPLE: MEETING THE AUTHENTIC IRANIAN NOMADS
Iran has with one of the biggest nomad populations of any country. And not only this, but these Iranian nomads are also classified into different sub-groups, according to their ethnicity, origin and even language. Around Shiraz, there’s one group of nomads called Qashqai. Originally, they came from Turkey but, even though Turkish is their first language, most of them speak fluent Persian as well. Like most Iranians, they are Shia Muslims.

Qashqai people, also known as Ghashghaei, are one of the Iranian nomadic tribes that keep on moving across the Zagros Mountains. In winter they live in the southern part but, as soon as the summer comes and the heat starts to become unbearable, they start moving north. Their flocks of sheep and goats are their main source of income. From these animals, they get meat, cheese, and milk. They also sell the newborns at the markets of Shiraz.

Qashqai people: meeting the authentic Iranian nomads

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