Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad,
Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the
second-most-populous city in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country
about from
Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
. In the
Central District of
Mashhad County
Mashhad County () is in Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Mashhad, which is also the capital of the Province.
History
After the 2016 National Census, Binalud, Iran, Binalud was elevated to ...
, it serves as the capital of
Razavi Khorasan province, the county, and the district.
It has a population of about 3,400,000 (2016 census), which includes the areas of Mashhad Taman and
Torqabeh
Torqabeh () is a city in Torqabeh District of Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population wa ...
.
The city was governed by different ethnic groups over the course of its history. Mashhad was previously a small village, which by the 9th century had been known as
Sanabad, and which was located—along with
Tus and other villages—on the ancient
Silk Road
The Silk Road was a network of Asian trade routes active from the second century BCE until the mid-15th century. Spanning over , it played a central role in facilitating economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the ...
connecting them with
Merv
Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...
to the east. Mashhad would eventually outgrow all its surrounding villages. It gained its current name meaning "place of
martyrdom
A martyr (, ''mártys'', 'witness' stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external party. In colloqui ...
" in reference to the
Imam Reza shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
, where the eighth
Shia Imam
In Shia Islam, the Imamah () is a doctrine which asserts that certain individuals from the lineage of the Islamic prophet Muhammad are to be accepted as leaders and guides of the ummah after the death of Muhammad. Imamah further says that Imam ...
,
Ali al-Rida
Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim. He is also part of th ...
, is buried. The Abbasid caliph
Harun al-Rashid
Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rāshīd (), or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Hārūn al-Rāshīd (), was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 unti ...
is also buried within the same shrine. The shrine is an important place of
pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a travel, journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) w ...
, visited by 25 millions each year in what is often described as "the holiest city in Iran".
Mashhad later also became associated with
Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
, the
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
poet and author of the ''
Shahnameh
The ''Shahnameh'' (, ), also transliterated ''Shahnama'', is a long epic poem written by the Persian literature, Persian poet Ferdowsi between and 1010 CE and is the national epic of Greater Iran. Consisting of some 50,000 distichs or couple ...
'', who was born in Tus (with many institutions in Mashhad named after him). Mashhad enjoyed relative prosperity in the
Mongol period, and continued to grow. Between 1736 and 1796, Mashhad became the capital of
Afsharid Iran
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly referred to as Afsharid Iran or the Afsharid Empire, was an Iranian empire established by the Turkoman (ethnonym), Turkoman Afshar tribe in Iran's north-eastern province of Khorasan Province, Khorasan, est ...
which was ruled by the
Afsharid dynasty
The Afsharid dynasty () was an Iran, Iranian dynasty founded by Nader Shah () of the Qirqlu clan of the Turkoman (ethnonym), Turkoman Afshar people, Afshar tribe, ruling over the Afsharid Empire.
List of Afsharid monarchs
Family tree
...
founded by
Nader Shah
Nader Shah Afshar (; 6 August 1698 or 22 October 1688 – 20 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, ruling as shah of Iran (Persia) from 1736 to 1747, when he was a ...
,
whose tomb is located in the city. In the modern era, Mashhad continued to expand and became the hometown of some of the most significant literary figures and artists of modern Iran, such as the poet
Mehdi Akhavan-Sales
Mehdi Akhavān-Sāles, or Akhavān-Sāless () (March 1, 1929 in Mashhad, Iran – August 26, 1990 in Tehran, Iran), pen name Mim. Omid (, meaning ''M. Hope'') was a prominent Iranian modern poet. He is one of the pioneers of Free Verse (''New ...
, and the traditional Iranian singer and composer
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master (''Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
. On 30 October 2009 (the anniversary of Imam Reza's martyrdom), Iran's then-President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (born Mahmoud Sabbaghian on 28 October 1956) is an Iranian Iranian principlists, principlist and Iranian nationalism, nationalist politician who served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a mem ...
declared Mashhad to be "Iran's spiritual capital".
History
Etymology and early history
Ancient Greek sources mention the passage and residence of
Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon (; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), most commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the Ancient Greece, ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia (ancient kingdom), Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip ...
in this land, which was called "
Susia" (), in 330 BC. The map of
Tabula Peutingeriana
' (Latin Language, Latin for 'The Peutinger Map'), also known as Peutinger's Tabula, Peutinger tablesJames Strong (theologian) , James Strong and John McClintock (theologian) , John McClintock (1880)"Eleutheropolis" In: ''The Cyclopedia of Bibli ...
, which dates back to the early
Roman era
In modern historiography, ancient Rome is the Roman people, Roman civilisation from the founding of Rome, founding of the Italian city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the Fall of the Western Roman Empire, collapse of the Western Roman Em ...
, names this city on the west of
Merv
Merv (, ', ; ), also known as the Merve Oasis, was a major Iranian peoples, Iranian city in Central Asia, on the historical Silk Road, near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Human settlements on the site of Merv existed from the 3rd millennium& ...
, Alexandria, instead of Susia.
Pliny the Elder
Gaius Plinius Secundus (AD 23/24 79), known in English as Pliny the Elder ( ), was a Roman Empire, Roman author, Natural history, naturalist, and naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire, and a friend of the Roman emperor, emperor Vesp ...
, says there is a city in the middle of
Parthia
Parthia ( ''Parθava''; ''Parθaw''; ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Medes during the 7th century BC, was incorporated into the subsequent Achaemeni ...
, near
Arsace and
Nisiaea, called "Alexandropolis" after its founder. Many Muslim historians, from the 10th to the 16th century AD, attribute the founding of "
Sanabad" (the old name of the city) to Alexander.
Also in the
Shia
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood ...
hadith
Hadith is the Arabic word for a 'report' or an 'account f an event and refers to the Islamic oral tradition of anecdotes containing the purported words, actions, and the silent approvals of the Islamic prophet Muhammad or his immediate circle ...
sources, which the narrators connect to the 7th to 9th centuries AD, there are quotations that
Imam Ridha and
Harun al-Rashid
Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rāshīd (), or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Hārūn al-Rāshīd (), was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 unti ...
are buried in a city founded by "the righteous servant, the two-horned one", which is an Islamic title commonly attributed to Alexander the Great.
The older name of Mashhad is Sanabad ( ). It was eventually renamed to Mashhad during the
Safavid Empire
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
. The name Mashhad comes from
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
, meaning a
Mazar (mausoleum)
A ''mazār'' (), also transliterated as mazaar, also known as ''marqad'' () or in the Maghreb as ''ḍarīḥ'' (), is a mausoleum or shrine in some places of the world, typically that of a saint or notable religious leader. Medieval Arabic ...
. It is also known as the place where
Ali ar-Ridha
Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim. He is also part of th ...
(
Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
, Imam Reza), the
eighth Imam
Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth imam in Twelver Shia Islam, succeeding his father, Musa al-Kazim. He is also part of th ...
of Shia Muslims, died (according to the Shias, was martyred). Reza's shrine was placed there.
The ancient
Parthia
Parthia ( ''Parθava''; ''Parθaw''; ''Pahlaw'') is a historical region located in northeastern Greater Iran. It was conquered and subjugated by the empire of the Medes during the 7th century BC, was incorporated into the subsequent Achaemeni ...
n city of
Patigrabanâ, mentioned in the
Behistun inscription
The Behistun Inscription (also Bisotun, Bisitun or Bisutun; , Old Persian: Bagastana, meaning "the place of god") is a multilingual Achaemenid royal inscriptions, Achaemenid royal inscription and large rock relief on a cliff at Mount Behistun i ...
(520 BC) of the
Achaemenid
The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the large ...
Emperor
Darius the Great
Darius I ( ; – 486 BCE), commonly known as Darius the Great, was the third King of Kings of the Achaemenid Empire, reigning from 522 BCE until his death in 486 BCE. He ruled the empire at its territorial peak, when it included much of West A ...
, may have been located at the Mashhad.
At the beginning of the 9th
century
A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c.
...
(3rd century AH), Mashhad was a small city called Sanabad, which was situated away from
Tus. There was a summer palace of
Humayd ibn Qahtaba
Humayd ibn Qahtaba ibn Shabib al-Ta'i () was a senior military leader in the early Abbasid Caliphate.
Biography
Humayd was the son of Qahtaba ibn Shabib al-Ta'i, who along with Abu Muslim led the Abbasid Revolution that toppled the Umayyad C ...
, the governor of
Khurasan
KhorasanDabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 (; , ) is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plateau in West Asia, West and Central Asia that encompasses wes ...
. In 808, when
Harun al-Rashid
Abū Jaʿfar Hārūn ibn Muḥammad ar-Rāshīd (), or simply Hārūn ibn al-Mahdī (; or 766 – 24 March 809), famously known as Hārūn al-Rāshīd (), was the fifth Abbasid caliph of the Abbasid Caliphate, reigning from September 786 unti ...
,
Abbasid
The Abbasid Caliphate or Abbasid Empire (; ) was the third caliphate to succeed the prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was founded by a dynasty descended from Muhammad's uncle, Abbas ibn Abd al-Muttalib (566–653 C ...
caliph
A caliphate ( ) is an institution or public office under the leadership of an Islamic steward with Khalifa, the title of caliph (; , ), a person considered a political–religious successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad and a leader of ...
, was passing through to quell the insurrection of
Rafi ibn al-Layth
Rāfiʿ ibn al Layth ibn Naṣr ibn Sayyār () was a Khurasani Arab noble who led a large-scale rebellion against the Abbasid Caliphate in 806–809.
Background
He was the grandson of the last Umayyad governor of Khurasan, Nasr ibn Sayyar. His ...
in
Transoxania
Transoxiana or Transoxania (, now called the Amu Darya) is the Latin name for the region and civilization located in lower Central Asia roughly corresponding to eastern Uzbekistan, western Tajikistan, parts of southern Kazakhstan, parts of Tur ...
, he became ill and died. He was buried under the palace of Humayd ibn Qahtaba. Thus the Dar al-Imarah was known as the Mausoleum of Haruniyyeh. In 818, Ali al-Ridha was martyred by
al-Ma'mun
Abū al-ʿAbbās Abd Allāh ibn Hārūn al-Maʾmūn (; 14 September 786 – 9 August 833), better known by his regnal name al-Ma'mun (), was the seventh Abbasid caliph, who reigned from 813 until his death in 833. His leadership was marked by t ...
and was buried beside the grave of Harun. Although Mashhad owns the cultural heritage of Tus (including its figures like
Nizam al-Mulk
Abū ʿAlī Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī Ṭūsī () (1018 – 1092), better known by his honorific title of Niẓām al-Mulk (), was a Persian Sunni scholar, jurist, political philosopher and vizier of the Seljuk Empire. Rising from a low position w ...
,
Al-Ghazali
Al-Ghazali ( – 19 December 1111), archaically Latinized as Algazelus, was a Shafi'i Sunni Muslim scholar and polymath. He is known as one of the most prominent and influential jurisconsults, legal theoreticians, muftis, philosophers, the ...
,
Ahmad Ghazali
Ahmad Ghazālī (; full name Majd al-Dīn Abū al-Fotuḥ Aḥmad Ghazālī) was a Sunni Muslim Sufi mystic, writer, preacher and the head of Al-Nizamiyya of Baghdad (c. 1061–1123 or 1126). He is best known in the history of Islam for his id ...
,
Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
,
Asadi Tusi
Abu Nasr Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi Tusi (; – 1073) was a Persian poet, linguist and author. He was born at the beginning of the 11th century in Tus, Iran, in the province of Khorasan, and died in the late 1080s in Tabriz. Asadi Tusi is considered a ...
, and
Shaykh Tusi
Shaykh Tusi (), full name ''Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi'' (), known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifah () was a Persian scholar of the Twelver school of Shia Islam. He is the author of two of the Four Books of hadith; namely, '' Tahdhib al-Ahka ...
), earlier
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
geographers have correctly identified Mashhad and Tus as two separate cities that are now located about from each other.
Mongolian invasion: Ilkhanids
Although some believe that after this event, the city was called Mashhad al-Ridha (the place of martyrdom of al-Ridha), it seems that Mashhad, as a place-name, first appears in al-Maqdisi, i.e., in the last third of the 10th century. About the middle of the 14th century, the traveller Ibn Battuta uses the expression "town of Mashhad al-Rida". Towards the end of the Middle Ages, the name Nuqan, which is still found on coins in the first half of the 14th century under the
Il-Khanids, seems to have been gradually replaced by al-Mashhad or Mashhad.
Shias
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to ...
began to make
pilgrimages
A pilgrimage is a journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life. A pilgrim (from the Latin ''peregrinus'') is a traveler (literally one who has come from afar) who is o ...
to his grave. By the end of the 9th century, a dome was built above the grave, and many other buildings and
bazaars
A bazaar or souk is a marketplace consisting of multiple small stalls or shops, especially in the Middle East, the Balkans, Central Asia, North Africa and South Asia. They are traditionally located in vaulted or covered streets that have doors ...
sprang up around it. Over the course of more than a millennium, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. In 1161, however, the
Seljuks
The Seljuk dynasty, or Seljukids ( ; , ''Saljuqian'',) alternatively spelled as Saljuqids or Seljuk Turks, was an Oghuz Turkic, Sunni Muslim dynasty that gradually became Persianate and contributed to Turco-Persian culture.
The founder of th ...
seized the city, but they spared the sacred area their pillaging. Mashad al-Ridha was not considered a "great" city until
Mongol raids in 1220, which caused the destruction of many large cities in Khurasan but leaving Mashhad relatively intact in the hands of Mongolian commanders because of the cemetery of Ali Al-Rezza and Harun al-Rashid (the latter was stolen). Thus the survivors of the massacres migrated to Mashhad.
[Zabeth (1999) pp. 14–15.] When the
Arab
Arabs (, , ; , , ) are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in West Asia and North Africa. A significant Arab diaspora is present in various parts of the world.
Arabs have been in the Fertile Crescent for thousands of years ...
traveller
Ibn Battuta
Ibn Battuta (; 24 February 13041368/1369), was a Maghrebi traveller, explorer and scholar. Over a period of 30 years from 1325 to 1354, he visited much of Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the Iberian Peninsula. Near the end of his life, Ibn ...
visited the town in 1333, he reported that it was a large town with abundant fruit trees, streams and mills. A great dome of elegant construction surmounts the noble mausoleum, the walls being decorated with colored tiles.
The most well-known dish cooked in Mashhad, "sholeh Mashhadi" (شله مشهدی) or "Sholeh", dates back to the era of the Mongolian invasion when it is thought to be cooked with any food available (the main ingredients are meat, grains and abundant spices) and be a Mongolian word.
Timurid Empire
It seems that the importance of Sanabad-Mashhad continually increased with the growing fame of its sanctuary and the decline of Tus, which received its death-blow in 1389 from
Miran Shah
Mirza Jalal-ud-din Miran Shah Beg (1366 – 20 April 1408), commonly known as Miran Shah (), was a son of the Central Asian conqueror Timur, founder of the Timurid Empire.
During his father's reign, Miran Shah was initially a powerful regio ...
, a son of
Timur
Timur, also known as Tamerlane (1320s17/18 February 1405), was a Turco-Mongol conqueror who founded the Timurid Empire in and around modern-day Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, becoming the first ruler of the Timurid dynasty. An undefeat ...
. When the Kartid noble who governed the place rebelled and attempted to make himself independent, Miran Shah was sent against him by his father. Tus was stormed after a siege of several months, sacked and left a heap of ruins; 10,000 inhabitants were massacred. Those who escaped the holocaust settled in the shelter of the 'Alid sanctuary. Tus was henceforth abandoned and Mashhad took its place as the capital of the district.
Later on, during the reign of the
Timurid
Timurid refers to those descended from Timur (Tamerlane), a 14th-century conqueror:
* Timurid dynasty, a dynasty of Turco-Mongol lineage descended from Timur who established empires in Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent
** Timurid Empire of ...
Shahrukh Mirza
Shah Rukh or Shahrukh Mirza (, ''Šāhrokh''; 20 August 1377 – 13 March 1447) was the ruler of the Timurid Empire between 1405 and 1447.
He was the son of the Central Asian conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), who founded the Timurid dynasty in 1370. ...
, Mashhad became one of the main cities of the realm. In 1418, his wife
Goharshad
Gawhar Shad (; meaning "joyful jewel" or "shining jewel"; also Gawhar Shad Begum, Gohar Shād or Gawharshâd; died 19 July 1457) was the chief consort of Shah Rukh, the emperor of the Timurid Empire.
Life
She was the daughter of Giāth ud-Din T ...
funded the construction of an outstanding mosque beside the shrine, which is known as the
Goharshad Mosque
The Goharshad Mosque (; ) is a grand Sunni Friday mosque (''jāmeh'') that is part of the Imam Reza Shrine complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. Construction of the mosque commenced in 1418 CE, during the Ti ...
.
The mosque remains relatively intact to this date, its great size an indicator to the status the city held in the 15th century.
Safavid Empire
Ismail I
Ismail I (; 17 July 1487 – 23 May 1524) was the founder and first shah of Safavid Iran, ruling from 1501 until his death in 1524. His reign is one of the most vital in the history of Iran, and the Safavid period is often considered the beginn ...
, founder of the
Safavid Empire
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
, conquered Mashhad after the death of
Husayn Bayqarah
Sultan Husayn Bayqara Mirza ( ''Husayn Bāyqarā''; June/July 1438 – 4 May 1506) was the Timurid ruler of Herat from 1469 until May 4, 1506, with a brief interruption in 1470.
A skilled statesman, Sultan Husayn Bayqara was best known for ...
and the decline of the Timurid dynasty. He was later captured by the
Uzbeks
The Uzbeks () are a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia, being among the largest Turkic ethnic groups in the area. They comprise the majority population of Uzbekistan, next to Kazakhs, Kazakh and Karakalpaks, Karakalpak ...
during the reign of
Shah Abbas I
Abbas I (; 27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629), commonly known as Abbas the Great (), was the fifth Safavid shah of Iran from 1588 to 1629. The third son of Shah Mohammad Khodabanda, he is generally considered one of the most important rulers ...
. In the 16th century the town suffered considerably from the repeated raids of the Özbegs (Uzbeks). In 1507, it was taken by the troops of the Shaybani or Shabani Khan. After two decades, Shah Tahmasp I succeeded in repelling the enemy from the town again in 1528. But in 1544, the Özbegs again succeeded in entering the town and plundering and murdering there. The year 1589 was a disastrous one for Mashhad. The Shaybanid '
Abd al-Mu'min
Abd al-Mu'min (c. 1094–1163) (; full name: ʿAbd al-Muʾmin ibn ʿAlī ibn ʿAlwī ibn Yaʿlā al-Kūmī Abū Muḥammad) was a prominent member of the Almohad movement. Although the Almohad movement itself was founded by Ibn Tumart, Abd al-Mu' ...
after a four months' siege forced the town to surrender. Shah Abbas I, who lived in Mashhad from 1585 until his official ascent of the throne in Qazwin in 1587, was not able to retake Mashhad from the Özbegs until 1598. Mashhad was retaken by the Shah Abbas after a long and hard struggle, defeating the Uzbeks in a great battle near
Herat
Herāt (; Dari/Pashto: هرات) is an oasis city and the third-largest city in Afghanistan. In 2020, it had an estimated population of 574,276, and serves as the capital of Herat Province, situated south of the Paropamisus Mountains (''Se ...
as well as managing to drive them beyond the
Oxus River
The Amu Darya ( ),() also shortened to Amu and historically known as the Oxus ( ), is a major river in Central Asia, which flows through Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan. Rising in the Pamir Mountains, north of the Hindu Ku ...
.
Abbas the Great
Abbas I (; 27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629), commonly known as Abbas the Great (), was the fifth Safavid Iran, Safavid shah of Iran from 1588 to 1629. The third son of Mohammad Khodabanda, Shah Mohammad Khodabanda, he is generally considered ...
wanted to encourage Iranians to go to Mashhad for pilgrimage. He is said to have walked from
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
to Mashhad. During the
Safavid
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
era, Mashhad gained even more religious recognition, becoming the most important city of Greater Khorasan, as several
madrasah
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary education or higher learning ...
and other structures were built beside the
Imam Reza shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
. Besides its religious significance, Mashhad has played an important political role as well. The Safavid dynasty has been criticized in a book (Red Shi'sm vs. Black Shi'ism) on the perceived dual aspects of the Shi'a religion throughout history) as a period in which although the dynasty didn't form the idea of Black Shi'ism, but this idea was formed after the defeat of Shah Ismail against the Ottoman leader Sultan Yavuz Selim. Black Shi'ism is a product of the post-Safavid period.
Afsharid Empire
Mashad saw its greatest glory under
Nader Shah
Nader Shah Afshar (; 6 August 1698 or 22 October 1688 – 20 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, ruling as shah of Iran (Persia) from 1736 to 1747, when he was a ...
, ruler of Iran from 1736 to 1747, and also a great benefactor of the shrine of Imam Reza, who made the city his capital. Nearly the whole eastern part of the kingdom of Nadir Shah passed to foreign rulers in this period of Persian impotence under the rule of the vigorous
Ahmad Shah Durrani
Ahmad Shāh Durrānī (; ; – 4 June 1772), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (), was the first ruler and founder of the Durrani Empire. He is often regarded as the founder of modern Afghanistan.
Throughout his reign, Ahmad Shah fought ov ...
of the Afghan
Durrani Empire
The Durrani Empire, colloquially known as the Afghan Empire, or the Saddozai Kingdom, was an Afghanistan, Afghan empire founded by the Durrani tribe of Pashtuns under Ahmad Shah Durrani in 1747, which spanned parts of Central Asia, the Iranian ...
. Ahmad defeated the Persians and took Mashhad after an eight-month siege in 1753. Ahmad Shah and his successor
Timur Shah
Timur Shah Durrani (; ;), also known as Timur Shah Abdali or Taimur Shah Abdali (December 1746 – 20 May 1793) was the second ruler of the Afghan Durrani Empire, from November 1772 until his death in 1793. An ethnic Pashtun, he was the second e ...
left
Shah Rukh
Shah Rukh or Shahrukh Mirza (, ''Šāhrokh''; 20 August 1377 – 13 March 1447) was the ruler of the Timurid Empire between 1405 and 1447.
He was the son of the Central Asian conqueror Timur (Tamerlane), who founded the Timurid dynasty in 1370 ...
in possession of Khurasan as their vassal, making Khurasan a kind of buffer state between them and Persia. As the city's real rulers, however, both these Durrani rulers struck coins in Mashhad. Otherwise, the reign of the blind Shah Rukh, which with repeated short interruptions lasted for nearly half a century, passed without any events of special note. It was only after the death of Timur Shah (1792) that
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (; 14 March 1742 – 17 June 1797), also known by his regnal name of Agha Mohammad Shah (), was the founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran, ruling from 1789 to 1797 as Shah. Originally a chieftain of the Quwanlu branch of t ...
, the founder of the Qajar dynasty, succeeded in taking Shah Rukh's domains and putting him to death in 1795, thus ending the separation of Khurasan from the rest of Persia.
Qajar Empire

Some believe that Mashhad was ruled by
Shahrukh Afshar
Shahrokh Mirza (; 1734–1796), better known by his dynastic title of Shahrokh Shah (), was the Afsharid king (shah) of the western part of Khorasan (corresponding to the present-day Khorasan Province) from 1748 to 1796, with a two-month i ...
and remained the capital of the
Afsharid dynasty
The Afsharid dynasty () was an Iran, Iranian dynasty founded by Nader Shah () of the Qirqlu clan of the Turkoman (ethnonym), Turkoman Afshar people, Afshar tribe, ruling over the Afsharid Empire.
List of Afsharid monarchs
Family tree
...
during
Zand dynasty
The Zand dynasty () was an Iranian dynasty, founded by Karim Khan Zand (1751–1779) that initially ruled southern and central Iran in the 18th century. It later expanded to include much of the rest of contemporary Iran (except for the provi ...
until
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar (; 14 March 1742 – 17 June 1797), also known by his regnal name of Agha Mohammad Shah (), was the founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran, ruling from 1789 to 1797 as Shah. Originally a chieftain of the Quwanlu branch of t ...
conquered the then larger region of
Khorasan
KhorasanDabeersiaghi, Commentary on Safarnâma-e Nâsir Khusraw, 6th Ed. Tehran, Zavvâr: 1375 (Solar Hijri Calendar) 235–236 (; , ) is a historical eastern region in the Iranian Plateau in West and Central Asia that encompasses western and no ...
in 1796.
1912 Imam Reza shrine bombardment
In 1911 Yusuf Khan of Herat was declared independent in Mashhad as Muhammad Ali Shah and brought together a large group of
reactionaries
In politics, a reactionary is a person who favors a return to a previous state of society which they believe possessed positive characteristics absent from contemporary.''The New Fontana Dictionary of Modern Thought'' Third Edition, (1999) p. 729. ...
opposed to the revolution, and keep stirring for some time. This gave Russia the excuse to intervene and 29 March 1912 bombed the city; this bombing killed several people and pilgrims; action against a Muslim shrine caused a great shock to all
Islamic countries
The terms Islamic world and Muslim world commonly refer to the Islamic community, which is also known as the Ummah. This consists of all those who adhere to the religious beliefs, politics, and laws of Islam or to societies in which Islam is p ...
. On 29 March 1912, the sanctuary of Imam Reza was bombed by the Russian artillery fire, causing some damage, including to the golden dome, resulting in a widespread and persisting resentment in the Shiite Muslim world as well as
British India
The provinces of India, earlier presidencies of British India and still earlier, presidency towns, were the administrative divisions of British governance in South Asia. Collectively, they have been called British India. In one form or another ...
. This bombing was orchestrated by Prince Aristid Mikhailovich Dabizha (a
Moldovan who was the Russian Consul in Mashhad) and
General Radko (a
Bulgarian who was commander of the
Russian Cossacks
The Cossacks are a predominantly East Slavic Eastern Christian people originating in the Pontic–Caspian steppe of eastern Ukraine and southern Russia. Cossacks played an important role in defending the southern borders of Ukraine and Russ ...
in the city).
Yusuf Khan ended up captured by the Persians and was executed.
Pahlavi dynasty
Modernization under Reza Shah

The modern development of the city accelerated under Reza Shah (1925-1941). Shah Reza Hospital (currently Imam Reza Hospital, affiliated with the
Basij
The Basij (, lit. ''The Mobilization'') or Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin (, lit. ''Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed''), is a paramilitary volunteer militia within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and one of its five ...
organization) was founded in 1934; the sugar factory of Abkuh in 1935; and the
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences (MUMS) is a medical school in Iran. Located in Razavi Khorasan province in the city of Mashhad, it was established in 1949 with Ferdowsi University of Mashad and separated in 1986 from its parent institut ...
in 1939. The city's first power station was installed in 1936, and in 1939, the first urban transport service began with two buses. In this year the first population census was performed, with a result of 76,471 inhabitants.
1935 Goharshad Mosque rebellion
In 1935, a backlash against the modernizing, anti-religious policies of
Reza Pahlavi erupted in the Mashhad shrine. Responding to a cleric who denounced the Shah's heretical innovations, corruption, and heavy consumer taxes, many bazaars and villagers took refuge in the shrine, chanted slogans such as "The Shah is a new Yazid." For four days local police and army refused to violate the shrine and the standoff was ended when troops from Azerbaijan arrived and broke into the shrine, killing dozens and injuring hundreds, and marking a final rupture between Shi'ite clergy and the Shah. According to some Mashhadi historians, the Goharshad Mosque uprising, which took place in 1935, is an uprising against Reza Shah's decree banning all veils (headscarf and chador) on 8 January 1936.
1941–1979 reforms

Mashhad experienced population growth after the
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran in 1941 because of relative insecurity in rural areas, the 1948 drought, and the establishment of Mashhad University in 1949. At the same time, public transport vehicles increased to 77 buses and 200 taxis and the railway link with the capital, Tehran, was established in 1957. The 1956 census reflected a population of 241,989 people. The increase in population continued in the following years thanks to the increase in Iranian oil revenues, the decline of the feudal social model, the agrarian reform of 1963, the founding of the city's airport, the creation of new factories and the development of the health system. In 1966, the population reached 409,616 inhabitants, and 667,770 in 1976. The extension of the city was expanded from .

In 1965 an important urban renewal development project for the surroundings of the shrine of Imam Reza was proposed by the Iranian architect and urban designer
Dariush Borbor
Dariush Borbor (, born April 28, 1934), is an Iranian-French architect, urban planner, designer, sculptor, painter, researcher, and writer. In 1963, Borbor established his own firm under the name of Borbor Consulting Architects, Engineers, City ...
to replace the dilapidated slum conditions which surrounded the historic monuments. The project was officially approved in 1968. In 1977 the surrounding areas were demolished to make way for the implementation of this project. To relocate the demolished businesses, a new bazaar was designed and constructed in Meydan-e Ab square (in Persian, "میدان آب")
by
Dariush Borbor
Dariush Borbor (, born April 28, 1934), is an Iranian-French architect, urban planner, designer, sculptor, painter, researcher, and writer. In 1963, Borbor established his own firm under the name of Borbor Consulting Architects, Engineers, City ...
. After the revolution, the urban renewal project was abandoned.
1994 Imam Reza shrine bombing
On 20 June 1994, a bomb exploded in a prayer hall of the
shrine of the Imam Reza. The bomb that killed at least 25 people on 20 June in Mashhad exploded on
Ashura
Ashura (, , ) is a day of commemoration in Islam. It occurs annually on the tenth of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. For Sunni Muslims, Ashura marks the parting of the Red Sea by Moses and the salvation of the Israelites ...
. The
Pakistani
Pakistanis (, ) are the citizens and nationals of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan is the fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the second-largest Muslim population as of 2023. As much as ...
terrorist
Ramzi Yousef
Ramzi Ahmed Yousef (; born 27 April 1968) is a Pakistani convicted terrorist who was one of the main perpetrators and the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the bombing of Philippine Airlines Flight 434; he was also a co- ...
, a
Sunni
Sunni Islam is the largest branch of Islam and the largest religious denomination in the world. It holds that Muhammad did not appoint any successor and that his closest companion Abu Bakr () rightfully succeeded him as the caliph of the Mu ...
Muslim turned
Wahhabi
Wahhabism is an exonym for a Salafi revivalist movement within Sunni Islam named after the 18th-century Hanbali scholar Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab. It was initially established in the central Arabian region of Najd and later spread to other ...
, one of the main perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, was found to be behind the plot.
Geography
The city is located at 36.20º North latitude and 59.35º East longitude, in the valley of the
Kashafrud River
The Kashafrud or Kashafrud River originates in the Hezar Masjed Mountains in Razavi Khorasan Province in northeast of Iran. After passing from the vicinity of the cities of Radkan and Chenaran in Razavi Khorasan Province and then passing north ...
near
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...
, between the two mountain ranges of
Binalood and
Hezar Masjed Mountains
Hezar Masjed Mountains are a group of mountains that form the southeastern section of the Kopet-Dag Range. Located about 20 kilometres east of Dargaz and 70 kilometres north of Mashhad in Razavi Khorasan province in Iran and stretched in a northw ...
. The city benefits from the proximity of the mountains, having cool winters, pleasant springs, and mild summers. It is only about from
Ashgabat
Ashgabat (Turkmen language, Turkmen: ''Aşgabat'') is the capital city, capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag, Kopetdag mountain range in Central Asia, approximately 50 km (30 ...
, Turkmenistan.
The city is the administrative center of
Mashhad County
Mashhad County () is in Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran. Its capital is the city of Mashhad, which is also the capital of the Province.
History
After the 2016 National Census, Binalud, Iran, Binalud was elevated to ...
(or the ''
Shahrestan'' of Mashhad) as well as the somewhat smaller district (''
Bakhsh
A (, also romanized as ) is a third-level administrative division
Administrative divisions (also administrative units, administrative regions, subnational entities, or constituent states, as well as many similar generic terms) are geog ...
'') of Mashhad. The city itself, excluding parts of the surrounding ''Bakhsh'' and ''Shahrestan'', is divided into 13 smaller administrative units, with a total population of more than 3 million.
Climate
Mashhad features a
cold semi-arid climate
Cold is the presence of low temperature, especially in the atmosphere. In common usage, cold is often a subjective perception. A lower bound to temperature is absolute zero, defined as 0.00K on the Kelvin scale, an absolute thermodynamic ...
(
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''BSk'';
Trewartha
Glenn Thomas Trewartha (1896 – 1984) was an American geographer of Cornish American descent.
He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, with a Ph.D. in 1924. He taught at the University of Wisconsin.
He gave an address to th ...
: ''BShk'') with very hot summers, cold winters and
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...
-like dry summer precipitation pattern. The city only sees about of precipitation per year, some of which occasionally falls in the form of
snow
Snow consists of individual ice crystals that grow while suspended in the atmosphere—usually within clouds—and then fall, accumulating on the ground where they undergo further changes.
It consists of frozen crystalline water througho ...
. Mashhad has wetter and drier periods with the bulk of the annual precipitation falling between the months of December and May. Summers are typically hot and dry, with average high temperatures exceeding for three months. Winters are typically cool to cold and somewhat damper, with overnight lows routinely dropping below freezing. Mashhad enjoys on average just above 2900 hours of sunshine per year.
Snow cover had been observed in 21.1 days annually, with only 3.8 days in which the snow depth exceeds .
[
The highest recorded temperature was on 6 July 1998 and the lowest recorded temperature was on 3 February 1972.
]
Demography
Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 2,410,800 in 621,697 households. The following census in 2011 counted 2,766,258 people in 804,391 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 3,001,184 people in 914,146 households.
Ethnic groups
The vast majority of Mashhadi people are ethnic Persians
Persians ( ), or the Persian people (), are an Iranian ethnic group from West Asia that came from an earlier group called the Proto-Iranians, which likely split from the Indo-Iranians in 1800 BCE from either Afghanistan or Central Asia. They ...
, who form the majority of the city's population. Other ethnic group
An ethnicity or ethnic group is a group of people with shared attributes, which they collectively believe to have, and long-term endogamy. Ethnicities share attributes like language, culture, common sets of ancestry, traditions, society, re ...
s include Kurdish
Kurdish may refer to:
*Kurds or Kurdish people
*Kurdish language
** Northern Kurdish (Kurmanji)
**Central Kurdish (Sorani)
**Southern Kurdish
** Laki Kurdish
*Kurdish alphabets
*Kurdistan, the land of the Kurdish people which includes:
**Southern ...
and Turkmen
Turkmen, Türkmen, Turkoman, or Turkman may refer to:
Peoples Historical ethnonym
* Turkoman (ethnonym), ethnonym used for the Oghuz Turks during the Middle Ages
Ethnic groups
* Turkmen in Anatolia and the Levant (Seljuk and Ottoman-Turkish desc ...
people who have emigrated recently to the city from the North Khorasan province. There is also a significant community of non-Arabic speakers of Arabian
The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world.
Geographically, the ...
descent who have retained a distinct Arabian culture, cuisine and religious practices.
There are also over 20 million pilgrims who visit the city every year.
Religion
Today, the holy shrine and its museum hold extensive cultural and artistic treasuries of Iran, in particular manuscript books and paintings. Several theological
Theology is the study of religious belief from a religious perspective, with a focus on the nature of divinity. It is taught as an academic discipline, typically in universities and seminaries. It occupies itself with the unique content of an ...
schools are associated with the shrine of the Eighth Imam
Imam (; , '; : , ') is an Islamic leadership position. For Sunni Islam, Sunni Muslims, Imam is most commonly used as the title of a prayer leader of a mosque. In this context, imams may lead Salah, Islamic prayers, serve as community leaders, ...
.
The second-largest holy city in the world, Mashhad attracts more than 20 million tourists and pilgrims every year, many of whom come to pay homage to the Imam Reza shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
(the eighth Shi'ite
Shia Islam is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that Muhammad designated Ali ibn Abi Talib () as both his political successor (caliph) and as the spiritual leader of the Muslim community (imam). However, his right is understood to ...
Imam). It has been a magnet for travellers since medieval times. Thus, even as those who complete the pilgrimage to Mecca receive the title of ''Haji'', those who make the pilgrimage to Mashhad—and especially to the Imam Reza shrine—are known as ''Mashtee'', a term employed also of its inhabitants. As an important problem, the duration when new passengers stay in Mashhad has been considerably reduced to 2 days and they prefer to finish their trip immediately after doing pilgrimage and shopping in the markets. There are about 3000–5000 unauthorized residential units in Mashhad, which, as a unique statistic worldwide, has caused various problems in the city.
Although mainly inhabited by Muslims, there were in the past some religious minorities in Mashhad. They were mainly Jews, who were forcibly converted to Islam
Reversion to Islam, also known within Islam as reversion, is adopting Islam as a religion or faith. Conversion requires a formal statement of the '' shahādah'', the credo of Islam, whereby the prospective convert must state that "there is none w ...
in 1839 after the Allahdad pogrom
A pogrom is a violent riot incited with the aim of Massacre, massacring or expelling an ethnic or religious group, particularly Jews. The term entered the English language from Russian to describe late 19th- and early 20th-century Anti-Jewis ...
took place for Mashhadi Jews in 1839. They became known as Jadid al-Islam ("Newcomers in Islam"). On the outside, they adapted to the Islamic way of life, but often secretly kept their faith and traditions.
Economy
Mashhad is Iran's second largest automobile production hub. The city's economy is based mainly on dry fruits, salted nuts, saffron, Iranian sweets like gaz and sohaan, precious stones. According to the writings and documents, the oldest existing carpet attributed to the city belongs to the reign of Shah Abbas (Abbas I of Persia
Abbas I (; 27 January 1571 – 19 January 1629), commonly known as Abbas the Great (), was the fifth Safavid shah of Iran from 1588 to 1629. The third son of Shah Mohammad Khodabanda, he is generally considered one of the most important rulers i ...
). Also, there is a type of carpet, classified as Mashhad Turkbâf, which, as its name suggests, is woven by hand with Turkish knots by craftsmen who emigrated from Tabriz
Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...
to Mashhad in the nineteenth century. Among other major industries in the city are the nutrition, clothing, leather, textiles, chemical, steel, metallic, and non-metallic mineral industries, construction materials factories, & the handicraft industry.
With more than 55% of all the hotels in Iran, Mashhad is the hub of tourism in the country. Religious shrines are the most powerful attractions for foreign travelers; as of 2015 every year, 20 to 30 million pilgrims from Iran and more than 2 million pilgrims and tourists from elsewhere around the world came to Mashhad.
Unemployment, poverty, drug addiction, and theft are the most important social problems of the city.
The divorce rate Divorce demography is the study of divorce statistics in a population. There are three ratios used for divorce rate calculations: crude divorce rate, refined divorce rate, and divorce-to-marriage ratio. Each of these calculations has weaknesses and ...
in Mashhad had increased by 35 percent by 2014. Khorasan and Mashhad ranked the second in violence across the country in 2013.
Astan Quds Razavi
At the same time, the city has kept its character as a goal of pilgrimage, dominated by the strength of the economic and political authority of the Astan Quds Razavi, the administration of the Shrine waqf, probably the most important in the Muslim world and the largest active bonyad
Bonyads ( "Foundation") are charitable trusts in Iran that play a major role in Iran's economy. They control an estimated 20% of Iran's GDP, and are second only to the oil industry in manufacturing, trading, and real estate development in Iran ...
in Iran. The Astan Quds Razavi is a major player in the economy of the city of Mashhad.[Christopher de Bellaigue, ''The Struggle for Iran'', New York Review of Books, 2007, p.15] The land occupied by the shrine has grown fourfold since 1979 according to the head of the foundation's international relations department. The Shrine of Imam Reza is vaster than Vatican City. The foundation owns most of the real estate in Mashhad and rents out shop space to bazaaris and hoteliers. The main resource of the institution is endowments, estimated to have annual revenue of $210 billion.[Iran: Order Out of Chaos](_blank)
Ahmad Marvi is the current Custodian of Astan Quds Razavi.
Padideh Shandiz
Padideh Shandiz International Tourism Development Company, an Iranian private joint-stock holding company, behaves like a public company by selling stocks despite being a joint-stock in the field of restaurants, tourism and construction, with a football club ( Padideh F.C.; formerly named Azadegan League
The Azadegan League (, ''Lig-e Âzâdegân''), also known as League 1 (, ''Lig-e Yek''), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from its foundation in 1991 until 2001, when t ...
club Mes Sarcheshmeh). In January 2015, the company was accused of a "fraud" worth $34.3 billion, which is one eighth of Iran budget.
Credit institutions
Several credit institutions have been established in Mashhad, including Samenolhojaj (), Samenola'emmeh () and Melal (formerly Askariye, ). The depositors of the first institution have faced problem in receiving cash from the institution.
Others
The city's International Exhibition Center is the second most active exhibition center after Tehran, which due to proximity to Central Asian countries hosts dozens of international exhibitions each year. Companies such as Smart-innovators in Mashhad are pioneers in electrical and computer technology.
Language
The language mainly spoken in Mashhad is Persian
Persian may refer to:
* People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language
** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples
** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
with a variating Mashhadi accent, which can at times, prove itself as a sort of dialect. The Mashhadi Persian dialect is somewhat different from the standard Persian dialect in some of its tones and stresses.
Culture
Religious seminaries
Long a center of secular and religious learning, Mashhad has been a center for the Islamic art
Islamic art is a part of Islamic culture and encompasses the visual arts produced since the 7th century CE by people who lived within territories inhabited or ruled by Muslims, Muslim populations. Referring to characteristic traditions across ...
s and sciences, as well as piety and pilgrimage. Mashhad was an educational centre, with a considerable number of Islamic schools (madrasas, the majority of them, however, dating from the later Safavid period. Mashhad Hawza (Persian: حوزه علمیه مشهد) is one of the largest seminaries of traditional Islamic school of higher learning in Mashhad, which was headed by Abbas Vaez-Tabasi
Abbas Vaez Tabasi (; 25 June 1935 – 4 March 2016) was an influential Iranian cleric who held memberships at different institutions. He was Grand Imam and Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi board from 1979 until his death in 2016.
Early life
Vae ...
(who was Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi board from 1979) after the revolution, and in which Iranian politician and clerics such as Ali Khamenei
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (; born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third President of Iran, president from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei's tenure ...
, Ahmad Alamolhoda
Sayyid Ahmad Alamolhoda (also Alam Olhoda or Alam al-Hoda; ; born September 1, 1944) is an Iranian Shia Islamic cleric who has been described as "senior" and "ultra conservative" and "hardline." His rank has been given both as Hojjatoleslam and A ...
, Abolghasem Khazali
Ayatollah Abolghasem Khazali Boroujerdi (, 21 March 1925 – 16 September 2015) was a hardline Iranian politician, fundamentalist Shi'i cleric and a founding member of Haghani school with close ties with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Saeed Jalili. ...
, Mohammad Reyshahri
Mohammad Reyshahri (), also known as Mohammad Mohammadi-Nik (29 October 1946 – 21 March 2022), was an Iranian politician, cleric, judge and religious scholar, who notably served as Chief Judge of the Revolutionary Military Tribunal (1979–1984 ...
, Morteza Motahhari
Morteza Motahhari (; 31 January 1919 – 1 May 1979) was an Iranian Twelver Shia scholar, philosopher, lecturer. Motahhari is considered to have an important influence on the ideologies of the Islamic Republic, among others. He was a co-found ...
, Abbas Vaez-Tabasi
Abbas Vaez Tabasi (; 25 June 1935 – 4 March 2016) was an influential Iranian cleric who held memberships at different institutions. He was Grand Imam and Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi board from 1979 until his death in 2016.
Early life
Vae ...
, and Madmoud Halabi (the founder of Hojjatieh
Anjoman-e Hojjatieh, also called The Hojjatie Society (, also spelled ''hojjatiya''), is a traditionalist Iranian Shi'i lay religious organization. It was founded by Mashhad-based cleric Mahmoud Halabi in the 1950s to counter pioneers of the Bah ...
and Mohammad Hadi Abd-e Khodaee learned Islamic studies). The number of seminary schools in Mashhad is now thirty nine and there are an estimated 2,300 seminarians in the city.
The Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM, , ''Danushgah-e Ferdusi-ye Mashhad'') is a public university in Mashhad, the capital city of the Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan Province, Razavi Khorasan. FUM is named after Ferdowsi, Abul-Qâsem Ferdow ...
, named after the Iranian poet, is located here. The Madrassa
Madrasa (, also , ; Arabic: مدرسة , ), sometimes romanized as madrasah or madrassa, is the Arabic word for any type of educational institution, secular or religious (of any religion), whether for elementary education or higher learning. ...
of Ayatollah Al-Khoei, originally built in the seventeenth century, is the city's traditional centre for religious learning. The Razavi University of Islamic Sciences, founded in 1984, stands at the centre of town, within the shrine complex.
Mashhad is also home to one of the oldest libraries of the Middle-East called the Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi
The Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi is a renowned library in Mashad, Iran. Established before 1457, it holds over 1.1 million volumes. It is an international center for Islamic research, containing numerous manuscripts and rare works of ant ...
with a history of over six centuries. There are some six million historical documents in the foundation's central library. A museum is also home to over 70,000 manuscripts from various historical eras.
The Astan Quds Razavi Central Museum, which is part of the Astan-e Quds Razavi Complex, contains Islamic art
Islamic art is a part of Islamic culture and encompasses the visual arts produced since the 7th century CE by people who lived within territories inhabited or ruled by Muslims, Muslim populations. Referring to characteristic traditions across ...
and historical artifacts. In 1976, a new edifice was designed and constructed by the Iranian architect Dariush Borbor
Dariush Borbor (, born April 28, 1934), is an Iranian-French architect, urban planner, designer, sculptor, painter, researcher, and writer. In 1963, Borbor established his own firm under the name of Borbor Consulting Architects, Engineers, City ...
to house the museum and the manuscripts.
In 1569 (977 H), 'Imad al-Din Mas'ud Shirazi, a physician at the Mashhad hospital, wrote the earliest Islamic treatise on syphilis
Syphilis () is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium ''Treponema pallidum'' subspecies ''pallidum''. The signs and symptoms depend on the stage it presents: primary, secondary, latent syphilis, latent or tertiary. The prim ...
, one influenced by European medical thought. Kashmar rug is a type of Persian rug indigenous to this region.
During recent years, Mashhad has been a clerical base to monitor the affairs and decisions of state. In 2015, Mashhad's clerics publicly criticized the performance of concert in Mashhad, which led to the order of cancellation of concerts in the city by Ali Jannati
Ali Jannati (, born 1949) is an Iranian politician and former diplomat who served as counselor to the head of Iranian presidential administration, in the second cabinet of Hassan Rouhani. He was minister of culture from 15 August 2013 until his ...
, the minister of culture
A culture minister or a heritage minister is a common cabinet position in governments. The culture minister is typically responsible for cultural policy, which often includes arts policy (direct and indirect support to artists and arts organiza ...
, and then his resignation on 19 October 2016.
Newspapers
There are three influential newspapers in Mashhad, Khorasan (خراسان), Qods (قدس) and Shahrara (شهرآرا), which have been considered "conservative newspapers". They are three Mashhad-based daily published by and representing the views of their current and old owners: Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs
The Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs ( ''Bonyad Shahid va Omur-e Ithargaran'') is an Iranian foundation that receives its funding directly from the national budget. Saeed Ohadi is the current director of the organization. The Foundati ...
, Astan Quds Razavi
Astan Quds Razavi () is a bonyad based at Mashhad, Iran. It is the administrative organization which manages the Imam Reza shrine and various institutions which belong to the organization.
The administrative apparatus of Astan Quds Razavi is con ...
and Mashhad Municipality, respectively.
Capital of Islamic culture
The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO, formerly ISESCO) is a specialized organization that operates under the aegis of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and i ...
named Mashhad 2017's "cultural capital of the Muslim world" in Asia. Several international events, especially entrepreneurs networking event entitled Entrepreneurs Show 2017, was organized by CODE International in collaboration with Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Khorasan Science and Technology Park, and city district government of Mashhad.
Main sites
Apart from Imam Reza shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
, there are a number of parks, the tombs of historical celebrities in nearby Tus and Nishapur
Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District (Nishapur County), Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
Ni ...
, the tomb of Nader Shah
Nader Shah Afshar (; 6 August 1698 or 22 October 1688 – 20 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, ruling as shah of Iran (Persia) from 1736 to 1747, when he was a ...
and Koohsangi park. The Koohestan Park-e-Shadi Complex includes a zoo, where wild animals are kept. It is also home to the Mashhad Airbase (formerly Imam Reza airbase), jointly a military installation housing Mirage
A mirage is a naturally-occurring optical phenomenon in which light rays bend via refraction to produce a displaced image of distant objects or the sky. The word comes to English via the French ''(se) mirer'', from the Latin ''mirari'', mean ...
aircraft, and a civilian international airport. Khurshid castle, Vakil Abad Park, Miniature Park, Professor Bazima Science Park, Astan Quds Razavi Museum, Keshti Dome, Harunieh Dome, Bird Garden, Anthropology Museum or Mehdi Qolibek Bath, Mellat Park, Naderi Museum and Bread Museum They are other sightseeing centers of Mashhad.
Some points of interest lie outside the city: the tomb of Khajeh Morad, along the road to Tehran; the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi
Reza Abbasi (), also known as Aqa Reza ( – 1635), was the leading Persian miniature, Persian miniaturist of the Isfahan School during the later Safavid period, spending most of his career working for Shah Abbas I. He is considered to be the l ...
; and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt, a distance of from Mashhad along the road to Neishabur
Nishapur or Neyshabur (, also ) is a city in the Central District of Nishapur County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
Nishapur is the second most populous city of the province in t ...
(the three were all disciples of Imam Reza
Ali al-Rida (, 1 January 766 – 6 June 818), also known as Abū al-Ḥasan al-Thānī, was a descendant of the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad, and the eighth Twelve Imams, imam in Twelver Shi'ism, Twelver Shia Is ...
).
Among other sights are the tomb of the poet Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
in Tus, distance, and the summer resorts at Torghabeh
Torqabeh () is a city in Torqabeh District of Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.
Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population wa ...
, Torogh, Akhlamad, Zoshk
Zoshk (, also Romanized as Zoshg) is a village in Shandiz Rural District, Shandiz District, Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is ...
, and Shandiz
Shandiz () is a city in, and the capital of, Shandiz District of Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran.
Demographics Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 6,402 in 1,706 househ ...
. The Shah Public Bath, built during the Safavid
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly called Safavid Iran, Safavid Persia or the Safavid Empire, was one of the largest and longest-lasting Iranian empires. It was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often considered the begi ...
era in 1648, is an example of the architecture of that period.
Transportation
Airport
Mashhad is served by the Mashhad International Airport
Mashhad International Airport () is an international airport located in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The airbase serves jointly as a civilian airport and a military airbase.
Overview
Mashhad international airport is the Iran's second-busies ...
, which handles domestic flights to Iranian cities and international flights, mostly to neighbouring Arab countries
The Arab world ( '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, comprises a large group of countries, mainly located in West Asia and North Africa. While the majority of people in ...
. The airbase serves jointly as a civilian airport and a military airbase. During the June 2025 Israeli strikes on Iran
June is the sixth and current month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars—the latter the most widely used calendar in the world. Its length is 30 days. June succeeds May and precedes July. This month marks the start of summe ...
, it was reported on 15 June that the Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force (IAF; , commonly known as , ''Kheil HaAvir'', "Air Corps") operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Indep ...
bombed an aerial refueling plane at the airport.
The airport is the country's second-busiest after Tehran Mehrabad Airport and above Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport
Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport () is the international airport of Tehran, the capital of Iran. It is located 2 kilometers (1 mi) of Vahnabad and southwest of Tehran and is named for Ruhollah Khomeini, Iran's first supreme lea ...
.
As of 2015 it was connected to 57 destinations and had frequent flights to 30 cities within Iran and 27 destinations in the Central Asia, the Middle East, East Asia and Europe.
The airport had a US$45.7 Million vast expansion project which finished by opening a new Haj Terminal with 10,000 m area on 24 May 2010 and followed by opening a new international terminal with 30000 m2 area with a new parking building, a new storage and cargo terminal, new safety and fire fighting buildings and upgrades to taxiways and equipment. Another US$26.5 Million development project for construction of a new hangar for aircraft repair facilities and expansion of the west side of the domestic terminal was underway using a BOT contract with companies in the private sector.
Rail
Mashhad railway station has Local
Local may refer to:
Geography and transportation
* Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand
* Local, Missouri, a community in the United States
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Local'' (comics), a limited series comic book by Bria ...
, Regional
In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as areas, zones, lands or territories, are portions of the Earth's surface that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and ...
, InterRegio
The InterRegio, often shortened to IR, is a train categories in Europe, train category for mainly domestic train services in use in some European countries, with Swiss Federal Railways operating the most dense network. InterRegio trains are semi ...
, and InterRegio-Express services. The station is owned by IRI Railways and has daily services from most parts of the country, plus two suburban services. The building was designed by Heydar Ghiai
Heydar-Gholi Khan Ghiaï- Chamlou (; 23 October 1922 – 6 September 1985)Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
-Mashhad, Mashhad-Bafq
Bafq () is a city in the Central District of Bafq County, Yazd province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaij ...
(running south), and Mashhad-Sarakhs
Sarakhs () is a city in the Central District (Sarakhs County), Central District of Sarakhs County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Sarakhs was once a stopping po ...
at the border with Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest and the Caspian Sea to the west. Ash ...
. Some freight trains continue from Sarakhs towards Uzbekistan
, image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg
, image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg
, symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem
, national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
and to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan, officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a landlocked country primarily in Central Asia, with a European Kazakhstan, small portion in Eastern Europe. It borders Russia to the Kazakhstan–Russia border, north and west, China to th ...
, but have to change bogies because of the difference in Rail gauge
In rail transport, track gauge is the distance between the two rails of a railway track. All vehicles on a rail network must have wheelsets that are compatible with the track gauge. Since many different track gauges exist worldwide, gauge dif ...
. Cargo and passenger rail services are provided or operated by RAJA Rail Transportation Co., Joopar Co., and Fadak Trains Co. A new service from Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a Boundaries between the continents, transcontinental and landlocked country at the boundary of West Asia and Eastern Europe. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and is bounded by ...
, to Mashhad, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...
, was launched in December 2016.
Railway & Subway
Mashhad Urban Railway Corporation (MURCO) is constructing metro
Metro may refer to:
Geography
* Metro City (Indonesia), a city in Indonesia
* A metropolitan area, the populated region including and surrounding an urban center
Public transport
* Rapid transit, a passenger railway in an urban area with high ...
and light rail
Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...
system for the city of Mashhad which includes four lines with length. Mashhad Urban Railway Operation Company (MUROC) is responsible for the operation of the lines. The LRT line has been operational since 21 February 2011 with length and 22 stations[
] and is connected to Mashhad International Airport
Mashhad International Airport () is an international airport located in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The airbase serves jointly as a civilian airport and a military airbase.
Overview
Mashhad international airport is the Iran's second-busies ...
from early 2016. The total length of line 1 is 24 kilometers and has 24 stations. the current headway in peak hours is 4.5 minutes.
The second line which is a metro line with 14.5 km length and 13 stations. line 2 construction was planned to finish in early 2020. The first phase of line 2 with 8 kilometers and 7 stations is started on 21 February 2017. On 20 March two stations were added to the network in test operational mode and the first interchange station was added to the network. On 7 May 2018, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took part in the inauguration ceremony of the first Mashhad Urban Railway interchange station, "Shariati", which connects line 1 and 2. in 27 July shahid Kaveh station operation began and the length of the operational part of line 2 reached to 13.5 kilometers. On 18 November 2019 Alandasht station Began operative. Currently, line 2 operates every day with 13.5 km and 11 stations from 6 am to 10 pm, and the current headway is 10 minutes. Currently Mashhad Urban Railway Operation Company (MUROC) operates 2 lines with 37.5 kilometers length and 35 stations. Tunnel excavation of line 3 has begun and more than 14 kilometers of tunnel excavation is done using two Tunnel Boring Machines and operation of the first phase of line 3 was expected to start in 2021. Tunnel Excavation of line 4 was going to start in summer 2019.
Road
Road 95 links Mashhad south to Torbat-e Heydarieh
Torbat-e Heydarieh () is a city in the Central District (Torbat-e Heydarieh County), Central District of Torbat-e Heydarieh County, Razavi Khorasan province, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the di ...
and Birjand
Birjand (; ) is a city in the Central District of Birjand County, South Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The city is known for its saffron, barberry, jujube, and handmade carpet exports.
...
. Road 44 goes west towards Shahrud
The Shahrud (, from , DMG ''šāh-rūd'' or ''šāh-i-rūd'') was a short-necked lute, illustrated in the '' Surname-i Hümayun'', resembling an oud or barbat, but being much larger. The larger size gave the instrument added resonance and a de ...
and Tehran
Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
. Road 22 travels northwest towards Bojnurd. Ashgabat
Ashgabat (Turkmen language, Turkmen: ''Aşgabat'') is the capital city, capital and largest city of Turkmenistan. It lies between the Karakum Desert and the Kopet Dag, Kopetdag mountain range in Central Asia, approximately 50 km (30 ...
in Turkmenistan is 220 km away and is accessible via Road 22 (AH78 Asian Highway 78 (AH78) is a road in the Asian Highway Network running 1110 km (690 miles) from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to Kerman, Iran. The route is as follows:
Turkmenistan
* Ashgabat - Chovdoan Pass Iran
* : Bajgiran - Quchan - Sabzevar
* : Sab ...
).
Bus
Mashhad operates a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system designed to improve traffic flow and mobility within the city. These lines provide direct transport to the Imam Reza Shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
.
Government and politics
Astan Quds
Astan Quds which controls the shrine- the tourism driver- is a wealthy tax exempt religious/political organization. It is recommended to reduce poverty in city a Bazaar be opened by poor people in a courtyard.
Members of Parliament
Mashhad's current members of parliament are described as politicians with fundamentalist conservative tendencies, who are mostly the members of Front of Islamic Revolution Stability
The Front of Islamic Revolution Stability (, also translated Persevering Front, Endurance Front and Steadfast Front) is an Iranian principlist political group described as " extreme end of the fundamentalist camp" and "Iran’s most right-wing p ...
, an Iranian principlist political group. They were elected to the Parliament on 26 February 2016.
Members of Assembly of Experts
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi
Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi (, 15 August 1948 – 24 December 2018) was an Iranian-Iraqi Twelver Shia cleric and conservative politician who was the Chairman of the Expediency Discernment Council from 14 August 2017 until his death on 24 December ...
and Ahmad Alamolhoda
Sayyid Ahmad Alamolhoda (also Alam Olhoda or Alam al-Hoda; ; born September 1, 1944) is an Iranian Shia Islamic cleric who has been described as "senior" and "ultra conservative" and "hardline." His rank has been given both as Hojjatoleslam and A ...
are two members of the Iranian Assembly of Experts from Mashhad. Hashemi Shahroudi is currently First Vice-chairman of the Iranian Assembly of Experts
The Assembly of Experts (), also translated as the Assembly of Experts of the Leadership or as the Council of Experts, is the deliberative body empowered to appoint the Supreme Leader of Iran. All directly elected members must first be vetted ...
. He was the Head of Iran's Judiciary from 1999 until 2009 who upon accepting his position, appointed Saeed Mortazavi
Saeed Mortazavi (, born 26 November 1967) is an Iranian conservative politician, former judge and former prosecutor. He was the prosecutor of the Islamic Revolutionary Court, and Prosecutor General of Tehran, a position he held from 2003 to 2009 ...
, a well known fundamentalist and controversial figure during President Mahmud Ahmadinejad's reelection, prosecutor general of Iran. He was supported by Mashhad's reformists as the candidate of the Fifth Assembly on 26 February 2016.
City Council and mayor
In 2013, an Iranian principlist political group, Front of Islamic Revolution Stability
The Front of Islamic Revolution Stability (, also translated Persevering Front, Endurance Front and Steadfast Front) is an Iranian principlist political group described as " extreme end of the fundamentalist camp" and "Iran’s most right-wing p ...
(which is partly made up of former ministers of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (born Mahmoud Sabbaghian on 28 October 1956) is an Iranian Iranian principlists, principlist and Iranian nationalism, nationalist politician who served as the sixth president of Iran from 2005 to 2013. He is currently a mem ...
and Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi), gained a landslide victory in Mashhad City Council, which on 23 September 2013, elected Seyed Sowlat Mortazavi
Sowlat Mortazavi (, born 5 May 1955) is an Iranian conservative politician and was Minister of Cooperatives, Labour and Social Welfare of Iran. He is formerly Vice President of Iran for Executive Affairs and also former Supervisor of Presiden ...
as mayor, who was former governor of the province of South Khorasan and the city of Birjand. The municipality's budget amounted to 9600 billion Toman in 2015.
Universities and colleges
Universities
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad – International Campus
Golbahar University of Science and New Technology
Imam Reza International University
Islamic Azad University of Khorasan – Golbahar International Campus
Islamic Azad University of Mashhad
Khayyam University
*
Payame Noor University of Mashhad
Razavi University of Islamic Sciences
*
Sama Technical and Vocational Training Center (Islamic Azad University of Mashhad)
* Sport Sciences Research Institute of Iran
Colleges
Al Mustafa International University
*
Arman Razavi Girls Institute of Higher Education
Asrar Institute of Higher Education
Attar Institute of Higher Education
Bahar Institute of Higher Education
Binalood Institute of Higher Education
Cultural Heritage, Hand Crafts, and Tourism Higher Education Center (University of Science and Technology)
Eqbal Lahoori Institute of Higher Education
*
Hakim Toos Institute of Higher Education
Hekmat Razavi Institute of Higher Education
Iranian Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research, Mashhad Branch (Jahad Daneshgahi of Mashhad)
Jahad Keshavarzi Higher Education Center of Khorasan Razavi (Shahid Hashemi Nejad)
Kavian Institute of Higher Education
Kharazmi Azad Institute of Higher Education of Khorasan
Khavaran Institute of Higher Education
Kheradgarayan Motahar Institute of higher education
Khorasan Institute of Higher Education
Khorasan Razavi Judiciary Center (University of Science and Technology)
Khorasan Razavi Municipalities' Institute of Research, Education, and Consultation of (University of Science and Technology)
Mashhad Aviation Industry Center (University of Science and Technology)
Mashhad Aviation Training Center (University of Science and Technology)
Mashhad Culture and Art Center 1 (University of Science and Technology)
Mashhad Koran Reciters Society
Mashhad Prisons Organization Center (University of Science and Technology)
Mashhad Tax center (University of Science and Technology)
Navvab Higher Clerical School
Part Tyre Center (University of Science and Technology)
Red Crescent Society of Khorasan Razavi (University of Science and Technology)
Salman Institute of Higher Education
Samen Teacher Training Center of Mashhad (Farhangian University)
Samen Training Center of Mashhad (Technical and Vocational University)
Sanabad Golbahar Institute of Higher Education
Shahid Beheshti Teacher Training College (Farhangian University)
Shahid Hashemi Nejad Teacher Training College (Farhangian University)
*
*
Shandiz Institute of Higher Education
Khorasan Razavi Taavon Center (University of Science and Technology)
Tabaran Institute of Higher Education
Toos Institute of Higher Education
Toos Porcelain Center (University of Science and Technology)
*
Khorasan Water and Electricity Industry Center (University of Science and Technology)
Workers' House; Mashhad Branch (University of Science and Technology)
Sports
Major sport teams
Other sports
City was host to 2009 Junior World Championships in sitting volleyball
Sitting volleyball is a form of volleyball for athletes with a disability organized by World ParaVolley. As opposed to standing volleyball, sitting volleyball players must sit on the floor to play.
History
Sitting volleyball was invented in t ...
where Iran's junior team won gold.
Wrestling
Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
is a sport in this city. Pahlevani and zoorkhaneh rituals
Pahlevani and zourkhaneh rituals is the name inscribed by UNESCO for Warzesh-e pahlavāni (, "heroic sport") or Warzeŝe Bāstāni (; , "ancient sport"), a traditional system of athletics and a form of martial arts originally used to train wa ...
have a special place in Mashhad and is one of the most important zoorkhaneh in Iran in Mashhad.
Mashhad cycling track was introduced in 2011 as the most equipped cycling track in Iran; Car racing track, motorcycle track and motocross track, three skating rinks, ski track and equestrian track in Mashhad are other sports tracks in Mashhad. The first golf course in Iran is located in the Samen complex of Mashhad.
Gallery
File:Vakilabad Highway.jpg, Mashhad at night
File:RezaShrine.jpg, Imam Reza shrine
The Imam Reza shrine (; ) is a Shi'ite shrine, imamzadeh and mausoleum complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The shrine contains the grave of Ali al-Rida, who is regarded as the eighth Imam in Shia Islam. Als ...
File:Ferdowsi tomb4.jpg, Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
Tomb
File:Tomb of Nader Shah - Mashhad 3.jpg, Tomb of Nader Shah Afshar
File:Koohsagi1.jpg, Koohsangi
File:OLOOM1.JPG, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM, , ''Danushgah-e Ferdusi-ye Mashhad'') is a public university in Mashhad, the capital city of the Iranian province of Razavi Khorasan Province, Razavi Khorasan. FUM is named after Ferdowsi, Abul-Qâsem Ferdow ...
File:Rail Sq.jpg, Mashhad Railway Station
File:Prodows Building 1.jpg, Ferdowsi Museum
File:الماس شرق - panoramio.jpg, Almas Shargh (East Diamond) Shopping Center
File:Ferdowsi's self-narration at the end of his life.jpg, Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
's self-narration at the end of his life
File:Homa Watch of Mashhad.jpg, Homa Watch
File:Statue Sq. of Mashhad (3).jpg, Former Statue Sq. element
File:Mashhad Arman Mal (10).jpg, Mashhad Arman Mall
File:(((پدیده شاندیز))) - panoramio.jpg, Padideh Shandiz Tourism Center
File:Mashhad Arman Mal (14).jpg, Mashhad Arman Mall
File:The replica of Radkan calendar structure.jpg, The replica of Radkan calendar structure
File:Tombstone of Nader and Ferdowsi, at the the Mashhad 70s.jpg, Tombstone of Nader and Ferdowsi
File:Mellat park.jpg, Mellat Park
File:Kang, Razavi Khorasan Iran (1).jpg, Kang countryside
File:کوهستان پارک مشهد.jpg, Koohestan Park
File:Shashlik.jpg, Sheshlik, one of the Iranian tasty foods in Mashhad
File:SaffMHD.jpg, Mashhad is the major trade center of saffron
Saffron () is a spice derived from the flower of '' Crocus sativus'', commonly known as the "saffron crocus". The vivid crimson stigma and styles, called threads, are collected and dried for use mainly as a seasoning and colouring agent ...
in Iran.
File:Sheepskin (Poostin) industry of Mashhad and Shandezh.jpg, Sheepskin (Poostin) industry of Mashhad and Shandezh
File:Stone carving art of Mashhad.jpg, Stone carving art
File:Stone and gem (Sang & GoharSang) industry of Mashhad.jpg, Stone and gem (Sang & GoharSang) industry
File:Mashhad Metro (7).jpg, A Masterpiece in Mashhad metro station
File:Negare (Statues)(7).jpg, Fereydoon Seddiqi's prominent stone motifs
File:Zal & Simorgh (1).jpg, Zaal & Simorgh Story
File:(Shah - Emam) Reza 1.jpg, Emam Reza Historic Hospital
File:Stmesropchurch.jpg, St. Mesrop Armenian church in Mashhad
File:Haruniyeh.JPG, Haruniyeh Dome in Tous
File:Arg Structure.jpg, Arg Structure
File:Malekshouse.jpg, Malek's House in Mashhad
File:خانه ی تاریخی داروغه.JPG, Daroogheh Historical House
File:Mashhad Firefighter's Parade 02.jpg, Mashhad Firefighter
A firefighter (or fire fighter or fireman) is a first responder trained in specific emergency response such as firefighting, primarily to control and extinguish fires and respond to emergencies such as hazardous material incidents, medical in ...
's Parade
File:Mashhad Firefighter's Parade 05.jpg, Mashhad Firefighter
A firefighter (or fire fighter or fireman) is a first responder trained in specific emergency response such as firefighting, primarily to control and extinguish fires and respond to emergencies such as hazardous material incidents, medical in ...
's Parade
File:00 Traffic playground in Mashhad Iran 3.jpg, Bike lane
Bike lanes (US) or cycle lanes (UK) are types of bikeways (cycleways) with lanes on the roadway for cyclists only. In the United Kingdom, an on-road cycle-lane can be firmly restricted to cycles (marked with a solid white line, entry by motor ...
of Mashhad
File:Mashhad Airport by Tasnimnews 05.jpg, Mashhad Airport Terminal
File:Mashhad Airport by Tasnimnews 13.jpg, Mashhad Intl. Airport
File:MShHD RailPort (1).jpg, Old picture of Mashhad Railway Station
File:کوهسنگی مشهد.jpg, TV Square
File:Mashhad entrance at the end of Nouroz holidays 07.jpg, Imam Hossein Square and Kalaat Road
File:UrbanRailwayMSHD.jpg, Mashhad Urban Railway
Mashhad Urban Railway (, the literal translation of the name from Persian) is a rapid transit system in Mashhad, Iran. It is the second oldest rapid transit system in Iran. The system has been known by a number of terms, including "light rail" ...
File:Mashhad Metro 2020-05-26 16.jpg, Mashhad Metro
File:Ferdowsi St.jpg, Ferdowsi Sq.
File:Streets of 1970s Mashhad.jpg
File:AltonTower-14.jpg, Alton Tower
File:TousMuseum2.jpg, Tous Museum near Mashhad
File:Shandiz2.jpg, Shandiz
Shandiz () is a city in, and the capital of, Shandiz District of Torqabeh and Shandiz County, Razavi Khorasan province, Iran.
Demographics Population
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 6,402 in 1,706 househ ...
, a tourist town near Mashhad
File:IranianHandicrafts.JPG, Some Iranian Handicraft
A handicraft is a traditional main sector of craft making and applies to a wide range of creative and design activities that are related to making things with one's hands and skill, including work with textiles, moldable and rigid material ...
s (metalwork) in Torghabeh
File:Mashhadcountryside.jpg, Mashhad's countryside
File:Pistols - Afsharid Empire.JPG, Pistol
A pistol is a type of handgun, characterised by a gun barrel, barrel with an integral chamber (firearms), chamber. The word "pistol" derives from the Middle French ''pistolet'' (), meaning a small gun or knife, and first appeared in the Englis ...
s from Afsharid Empire
The Guarded Domains of Iran, commonly referred to as Afsharid Iran or the Afsharid Empire, was an Iranian empire established by the Turkoman Afshar tribe in Iran's north-eastern province of Khorasan, establishing the Afsharid dynasty that w ...
era at Naderi Museum
File:Mashhad Metro Shariati Station 2.jpg, Mashhad Metro (LRT
Light rail (or light rail transit, abbreviated to LRT) is a form of passenger urban rail transit that uses rolling stock derived from tram technology National Conference of the Transportation Research Board while also having some features from ...
) Station
File:Mashhad Metro (Basij Station).jpg, Mashhad Metro entrance and urban design
File:آرامگاه خواجه ربیع (3).jpg, Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym
Al-Rabi ibn Khuthaym al-Thawri (d.ca 682) was a pupil of Abdullah ibn Masud and a famous '' tabi'i'' ascetic of Kufa. Constantly ill with a form of palsy, in later generations he became a symbol of endurance in the face of suffering. He emphasiz ...
(Khajeh Rabie Tomb)
File:Mashad masjed khiyaboon.jpg, A mosque in Mashhad
File:Goharshad2.jpg, Goharshad Mosque
The Goharshad Mosque (; ) is a grand Sunni Friday mosque (''jāmeh'') that is part of the Imam Reza Shrine complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. Construction of the mosque commenced in 1418 CE, during the Ti ...
, Abbasid Ivan in Atiq yard
File:Goharshad-mosque-mashhad-IRAN.jpg, Goharshad Mosque
The Goharshad Mosque (; ) is a grand Sunni Friday mosque (''jāmeh'') that is part of the Imam Reza Shrine complex, located in Mashhad, in the province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. Construction of the mosque commenced in 1418 CE, during the Ti ...
File:Kang, Razavi Khorasan Iran (7).jpg, Kang countryside
File:Mashhad entrance at the end of Nouroz holidays 08.jpg
File:Mashhad entrance at the end of Nouroz holidays 03.jpg
File:Mashhad entrance at the end of Nouroz holidays 05.jpg
File:Mashhad entrance at the end of Nouroz holidays 01.jpg
File:Koore-Rastegar (3).jpg, Oven of Rastgar Moqaddam
File:Mashhad Solar Power Plant (3).jpg, Mashhad Solar Power Plant
File:Mashhad Farabi Hospital.jpg, Mashhad Farabi
thumbnail, 200px, Postage stamp of the USSR, issued on the 1100th anniversary of the birth of Al-Farabi (1975)
Abu Nasr Muhammad al-Farabi (; – 14 December 950–12 January 951), known in the Latin West as Alpharabius, was an early Islamic ...
Hospital
File:Tulips in Mellat park of Mashhad 2020-04-10 04.jpg, Tulips in Mellat Park
File:پارک ملت(به یاد عکس گذشته)دNation Park - panoramio.jpg, Mellat Park
File:Night shot of MellatPark.jpg, Night shot of Mellat Park
File:Mashhad Metro 2020-05-26 11.jpg, Metro boarding card charging area
File:Mashhad botanic garden 20190520 05.jpg, Mashhad Botanic Garden
File:Mashhad botanic garden 20190520 02.jpg
File:Mashhad DSC00409.JPG, Almas Shargh Shopping Center
File:Shetab1400.jpg, Mashhad Electric bus
An electric bus is a bus that is propelled using electric motors, as opposed to a conventional internal combustion engine. Electric buses can store the needed electrical energy on board, or be fed mains electricity continuously from an external ...
named Shetab
File:00 Traffic playground in Mashhad Iran.jpg, Traffic playground to learn kids traffic rules
File:Snow in Mashhad - 17 December 2012 11.jpg, Snow in Mashhad, December 2012
Mashhad as capital of Iran and independent Khorasan
The following Shahanshah
Shāh (; ) is a royal title meaning "king" in the Persian language.Yarshater, Ehsa, ''Iranian Studies'', vol. XXII, no. 1 (1989) Though chiefly associated with the List of monarchs of Iran, monarchs of Iran, it was also used to refer to the ...
s had Mashhad as their capital:
* Kianid Dynasty
* Malek Mahmoud Sistani 1722–1726
* Afsharid dynasty
The Afsharid dynasty () was an Iran, Iranian dynasty founded by Nader Shah () of the Qirqlu clan of the Turkoman (ethnonym), Turkoman Afshar people, Afshar tribe, ruling over the Afsharid Empire.
List of Afsharid monarchs
Family tree
...
* Nader Shah
Nader Shah Afshar (; 6 August 1698 or 22 October 1688 – 20 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian history, ruling as shah of Iran (Persia) from 1736 to 1747, when he was a ...
* Adil Shah
Ali-qoli Khan (), commonly known by his regnal title Adel Shah (also spelled Adil; , "the Just King") was the second shah of Afsharid Iran, ruling from 1747 to 1748. He was the nephew and successor of Nader Shah (), the founder of the Afsharid d ...
* Ebrahim Afshar
Ebrahim Shah (; – after June/July 1749) was the Afsharid shah of parts of Iran from 1748 to 1749.
Born Mohammad-Ali , he was the second son of Ebrahim Khan Afshar, the younger brother of the first Afsharid ruler Nader Shah (). In 1739, Moham ...
* Shahrukh Afshar
Shahrokh Mirza (; 1734–1796), better known by his dynastic title of Shahrokh Shah (), was the Afsharid king (shah) of the western part of Khorasan (corresponding to the present-day Khorasan Province) from 1748 to 1796, with a two-month i ...
* Nadir Mirza of Khorasan
Nader Mirza Afshar (Persian: نادرمیرزا افشار) was the great-grandson of Nader Shah, the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran. He was the fourth son of Shahrokh Shah of Khorasan.
Biography
In 1785, Shahrokh Shah appointed Nade ...
* Safavid dynasty
The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from Safavid Iran, 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of History of Iran, modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder em ...
* Soleyman II
Mir Sayyed Muhammad Marashi (June 1714May 1763), better known by his dynastic name of Suleiman II (), was a Safavid pretender who managed to briefly become ruler of some parts of Iran from 1749 to 1750. He was in charge of the affairs of the I ...
* Autonomous Government of Khorasan
The Autonomous Government of Khorasan was a short-lived military state set up in Iran. It was formally established on the April 2, 1921, and collapsed a few months later, on October 6, 1921. Their capital was Mashhad.
State information
*Es ...
* Colonel Mohammad Taghi Khan Pessyan
Notable people from Mashhad and Toos
Artists
File:Statue of Ferdowsi in Tus, Iran 3 (cropped).jpg, Abolghasem Ferdowsi Pazh, author of one of the world's longest epic poems created by a single poet, and the greatest epic of Persian speaking countries
Music
File:Mohamdreza Shajarian.jpg, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master (''Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
( Siyavash Bidgani), singer-songwriter. He received the Picasso Award, UNESCO Mozart Medal, and National Order of Merit (France) National Order of Merit may refer to:
* National Order of Merit (Algeria)
* National Order of Merit (Bhutan)
* National Order of Merit (Brazil)
* National Order of Merit (Ecuador)
* Ordre national du Mérite (France)
* National Order of Merit ...
.
File:Darya Dadvar.jpg, Darya Dadvar, soprano soloist and composer
File:25BAND_by_Pouria_Afkhami_aka_pixoos_ADEL_and_TAMIN.png, Tamin and A-del in 25 (Toos) band
Cinema
File:Ovanes Ohanian.jpg, Ovanes Ohanian, Director
File:Young Amir Ghavidel.jpg, Amir Ghavidel, Art Director
File:Mehdi Sabbaghzadeh.jpg, Mehdi Sabbagh zade, Director, screenwriter and producer
File:Kourosh Ahari.jpg, Kourosh Ahari, Director, screenwriter and producer
File:Mohammad Motie 20100924 06.jpg, Mohammad Motie, actor
File:Reza Kianian 2019.jpg, Reza Kianian
Reza Kianian (, born June 19, 1951, in Tehran) is an Iranian actor. He has received various accolades, including two Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award and two Iran Cinema Celebration Awards.
Early life
Kianian is the second child of a family of ...
, actor
File:Anoushirvan Arjmand.jpg, Anoushirvan Arjmand, actor
File:Reza Attaran 13970619000020636721371289673248 15159 (cropped).jpg, Reza Attaran
Reza Attaran ( Persian: رضا عطاران; born 10 May 1968) is an Iranian actor, director, screenwriter and singer. He has received various accolades, including three Crystal Simorgh, six Hafez Awards, an Iran Cinema Celebration Award and ...
, actor
File:Borzou Arjmand at his father funeral ceremony.jpg, Borzoo Arjmand, actor
File:Mitra-Hajjar.jpg, Mitra Hajjar
Mitra Hajjar (; born February 4, 1977) is an Iranian actress
An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of th ...
, actress
File:Sareh Bayat 1 (cropped).jpg, Sare Bayaat, actress
File:Hamed Behdad 2020.jpg, Hamed Behdad
Hamed Behdad (; born November 17, 1973) is an Iranian actor and singer. He has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award, an Iran Cinema Celebration Award and two Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Awards. H ...
, actor
File:Hamid Reza Sadr.jpg, Hamid Reza Sadr
Hamid Reza Sadr (; 19 April 1956 – 16 July 2021) was an Iranian football and film critic, journalist, author, university professor, historian, and economist. Sadr earned a Ph.D. in urban planning after studying at both the University of Tehran ...
, film and football critic and journalist
File:Pori 5.jpg, Homayun, actor
File:Mohammad.shiri.jpg, Mohammad Shiri, actor
File:Dariush Arjmand 1399040210415056720639584.jpg, Dariyush Arjmand, actor
File:Raziyani.jpg, Hassan Raziani, actor
File:ایران درودی- Iran Darroudi.jpg, Iran Darroodi, Surreal painter
File:رضا رفیع.jpg, Reza Rafi', poet
* 25band
25band () is an Iranian music band originating from Mashhad, Iran. The band was formed in 2010 by Tamin (Tahmineh تهمینه) along with A-del (Adel عادل) as the vocalists. The name 25band means Tus, the city that the couple are from. 2 (T ...
, both singers born in Mashhad; Pop Group formed in 2010
* Abdi Behravanfar
Abdi Behravanfar ( Persian : عبدی بهروانفر, born in Mashhad, Khorasan, 1975) is an Iranian singer and songwriter. He is founder of the MUD band, based in Mashhad. He plays the guitar, harmonica and dotar (Persian folk lute). He l ...
, born June 1975 in Mashhad; an Iranian singer, guitar player and singer-songwriter
* Ali "Dubfire" Shirazinia, born 19 April 1971; musician/dj (co-founder of Deep Dish)
* Amir Ghavidel, March 1947 – November 2009; an Iranian director and script writer
* Anoushirvan Arjmand, Iranian actor
* Dariush Arjmand
Dariush Arjmand (; born 27 July 1944 in Mashhad, Iran) is an Iranian actor.
A son of a military father and a housewife mother, he was born in Mashhad and grew up in Mashhad. He started performing in plays at the age of 12. At the age of 26, he st ...
, Iranian actor
* Hamed Behdad
Hamed Behdad (; born November 17, 1973) is an Iranian actor and singer. He has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award, an Iran Cinema Celebration Award and two Iran's Film Critics and Writers Association Awards. H ...
, born 17 November 1973 in Mashhad; Iranian actor
* Hamid Motebassem, born 1958 in Mashhad; Iranian musician and tar and setar player
* Homayoun Shajarian
Homayoun Shajarian (, born 21 May 1975) is an Iranian singer. Homayoun is the son of Iranian singer Mohammad-Reza Shajarian, He learned singing from his father and started his musical career in the 1990s.
Early life
Shajarian was born in Te ...
, Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master (''Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
's son, born 21 May 1975; renowned Persian classical music vocalist, as well as a Tombak and Kamancheh player
* Iran Darroudi, born 2 September 1936 in Mashhad; Iranian artist
* Javad Jalali
Javad Jalali () (born 30 May 1977 in Mashhad) is a photographer and a member of the Iranian Alliance of Motion Picture Guilds. His photograph of the movie '' Farewell Baghdad'' is now kept in the Iranian Artists Forum in Tehran, Iran. He also h ...
, born 30 May 1977 in Mashhad; Iranian photographer and cinematographer
* Mahdi Bemani Naeini
Mahdi Bemani Naeini (also spelt Mehdi Bemani, Mehdi Bemani Naeini, , born November 3, 1968) is an Iranian film director, cinematographer, TV news producer and photographer.
Early life
Bemani was born into an Iranian middle-class family in Mashad ...
, born 3 November 1968; Iranian film director, cinematographer, TV cameraman and photographer
* Marshall Manesh
Marshall Manesh (born August 16, 1950) is an Iranian-American actor.
Biography
Manesh's debut film was ''True Lies'', directed by James Cameron. He has appeared in more than 100 feature films, in television projects, and in more than 40 com ...
, born 16 August 1950 in Mashhad; Iranian-American actor
* Mitra Hajjar
Mitra Hajjar (; born February 4, 1977) is an Iranian actress
An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of th ...
, born 4 February 1977; Iranian actress
* Mohammad-Reza Shajarian
Mohammad-Reza Shajarian (; , 23 September 1940 – 8 October 2020) was an Iranian singer and master (''Ostad'') of Persian traditional music. He was also known for his skills in Persian calligraphy and humanitarian activities. Shajarian started ...
, born 23 September 1940 in Mashhad; internationally and critically acclaimed Persian traditional singer, composer and Master (Ostad) of Persian music
* Mohsen Namjoo
Mohsen Namjoo () is an Iranian singer-songwriter, composer, and musician. His style of music is influenced by blues and rock as well as Iranian folk music.
Early life and education
Namjoo was born on 4 March 1976 in Torbat-e Jam, a small town ...
, born 1976 in Torbat-e-Jaam; Iranian singer-songwriter, author, musician and setar player
* Navid Negahban
Navid Negahban () is an Iranian-American actor. He has appeared on '' 24'', ''Homeland'', '' Mistresses'', and as Amahl Farouk / Shadow King in the second and third seasons of FX's '' Legion''. He has also starred as the Sultan in the live-ac ...
, born 2 June 1968 in Mashhad; Iranian-American actor
* Noureddin Zarrinkelk
Noureddin Zarrinkelk ( Persian: نورالدین زرینکلک; b. 9 April 1937, in Mashhad), also spelled Zarrin-Kelk, also known as Noori or Nouri, is an Iranian animator, concept artist, editor, graphic designer, illustrator, layout artist ...
, born 1937 in Mashhad; renowned Iranian animator, concept artist, editor, graphic designer, illustrator, layout artist, photographer, script writer and sculptor
* Ovanes Ohanian
Ovanes Ohanian (, ; October 1896 – September 1960) was an Armenian-Iranian filmmaker, inventor, founder, doctor, scientist with PhD in medicine, film, science and languages. He established the first film school in the history of Iran. His ...
, ?–1961 Tehran; Armenian-Iranian filmmaker who established the first film school in Iran
* Pouran Jinchi, born 1959 in Mashhad; Iranian-American artist
* Rafi Pitts
Rafi Pitts (, born 1967) is an Iranian film director.
Life and career
Pitts was born in Mashad, Iran. Rafi spent his childhood in Tehran, where he lived in a basement flat underneath a post-production studio. He came to England (his father is En ...
, born 1967 in Mashhad; internationally acclaimed Iranian film director
* Reza Attaran
Reza Attaran ( Persian: رضا عطاران; born 10 May 1968) is an Iranian actor, director, screenwriter and singer. He has received various accolades, including three Crystal Simorgh, six Hafez Awards, an Iran Cinema Celebration Award and ...
, born 31 March 1968 in Mashhad; Iranian actor and director
* Reza Kianian
Reza Kianian (, born June 19, 1951, in Tehran) is an Iranian actor. He has received various accolades, including two Crystal Simorgh, a Hafez Award and two Iran Cinema Celebration Awards.
Early life
Kianian is the second child of a family of ...
, born 17 July 1951 in Mashhad; Iranian actor
* Shahin Ebrahimzadeh-Pezeshki
Shahin Ebrahimzadeh-Pezeshki (; born c. 1958), is an Iranian textile art historian, needleworker and textile artist, researcher, curator, educator, and author. Her focus is on the study of Persian traditional costumes and Iran’s tribal costume ...
, born 1958 in Mashhad; Persian textile and costume art historian, historian of tribal costumes, textile artist, author, researcher and curator
* Hamed Soltani
Hamed Soltani (; born in Mashhad) is an Iranian producer, television presenter, and director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The D ...
born Mashhad, Iran is an Iranian producer, television presenter
A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...
, and director
Director may refer to:
Literature
* ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine
* ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker
* ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty
Music
* Director (band), an Irish rock band
* ''D ...
.
Entrepreneurs
File:AnoushehAnsari.jpg, Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari (; ; born September 12, 1966) is an Iranian-American engineer, space tourist, and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and chairwoman of Prodea Systems, and her previous business accomplishments include serving as co-founder and ch ...
Iranian-American
Iranian-Americans, also known as Persian-Americans, are United States citizens or nationals who are of Iranian ancestry, or who hold Iranian citizenship.
Most Iranian-Americans arrived in the United States after 1979, as a result of the Irani ...
engineer, co-founder
An organizational founder is a person who has undertaken some or all of the formational work needed to create a new organization, whether it is a business, a charitable organization, a governing body, a school, a group of entertainers, or any oth ...
and chairman of Prodea Systems, co-founder and CEO of Telecom Technologies, Inc. (TTI), sponsor of the Ansari X Prize
The Ansari X Prize was a space competition in which the X Prize Foundation offered a US$10,000,000 () prize for the first non-government organization to launch a reusable crewed spacecraft into space twice within two weeks. It was modeled af ...
* Anousheh Ansari
Anousheh Ansari (; ; born September 12, 1966) is an Iranian-American engineer, space tourist, and entrepreneur. She is the co-founder and chairwoman of Prodea Systems, and her previous business accomplishments include serving as co-founder and ch ...
, born 12 September 1966; the Iranian-American co-founder and chairman of Prodea Systems, Inc., and a spaceflight participant with the Russian space program
* Hossein Sabet, Iranian businessman and Persian carpet dealer who owns Sabet International Trading Co.
* Mahmoud Khayami
Mahmoud Khayami, CBE, KSS, GCFO (7 January 1930 – 28 February 2020) was an Iranian industrialist and philanthropist.
Life
Mahmoud Khayami was born in 1930 in Mashhad, Persia where he attended elementary and high school. In 1951 he transfe ...
, born 1930 in Mashhad, Iran; Iranian born industrialist and philanthropist, of French nationality
Sports
File:Heshmat Mohajerani.jpg, Heshmat Mohajerani
Heshmatollah Mohajerani (, born 13 December 1939) is a retired Iranian association football midfielder and manager.
Early life and playing career
Mohajerani was born to Asadoolah Mohajerani and Leila Nassiri in a family of six siblings. Afte ...
, footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
and former football manager
File:Maryam Sedarati 1974.jpg, Maryam Sedaarati, athlete
File:Rasoul Khadem 2016 Summer Olympics.jpg, Rasoul Khadem
Rasoul Khadem Azghadi (, born March 18, 1972) is a former Iranian wrestler who has won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was also the 1994 and 1995 world champion and 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 ...
, wrestling
Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves di ...
coach
File:Javad Mahjoub.jpg, Javad Mahjoob
File:Khodadad Azizi 03.jpg, Khodadad Azizi
Khodadad Azizi (; born 22 June 1971) is an Iranian football coach and former player who played as a striker.
Early life
He lived in the Piranshahr neighborhood of Mashhad. As a child, he played soccer with mismatched pair of shoes and at the ...
File:Reza Ghoochannejhad in 2014.jpg, Reza Ghoochannejhad
Reza Ghoochannejhad Nournia (; born 20 September 1987) is an Iranian-Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is also known as Gucci in Belgium and Netherlands. Having played for the Netherlands at youth level, he switche ...
Frahad Zarif-2014.jpg, Farhad Zarif
Farhad Zarif (; born 3 March 1983 in Mashhad) is an Iranian professional volleyball player who plays for Paykan Tehran. He was previously on the Iranian national team.
Honours
National team
* Asian Championship
**Gold medal (2): 2011, 2013
* ...
, volleyball player
* Abbas Chamanyan
Abbas Chamanian (born May 10, 1963) is an Iranian football coach who is AFC certified and currently head coach of Iran national under-17 football team. He is also a university lecturer who teaches Physical Education courses at Ferdowsi Univers ...
, born 10 May 1963 in Mashhad, Iranian football coach, manager and former player
* Abbas Golmakani, World's wrestling champion during the 1950s
* Abolfazl Safavi, Iran professional football player for Aboumoslem team in Takhte Jamshid League. He was later executed in prison by the Iranian regime in 1982 for his affiliation with Iranian opposition, the MEK.
* Ali Baghbanbashi
Ali Baghbanbashi (; 6 September 1924 – 28 October 2021) was an Iranian long-distance runner who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics and in the 1956 Summer Olympics, and also in the 1951 Asian Games and 1958 Asian Games. He was ...
, athlete
* Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht
* Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht (; born 30 June 1980) is an Iranian football coach and former player.
He has played for Aboomoslem, Esteghlal, Al-Wasl, Persepolis, Steel Azin, Saba Qom, Paykan, Damash Gilan, Khoneh Be Khoneh, and the Iran nat ...
, born 30 June 1980 in Mashhad; Iranian professional football player
* Amir Ghaseminejad, born 11 September 1985 in Mashhad, judoka
* Amir Reza Khadem
Amir Reza Khadem Azghadi (, born 10 February 1970) is an Iranian wrestler who won Olympic bronze medals in 1992 and 1996. He finished fourth at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and he won the 1991 World Championships, He also won a bronze medal at the ...
, born 10 February 1970 in Mashhad, wrestler
* Amir Tavakkolian born 1971 in Mashhad, wrestler
* Farbod Farman, basketballer
* Farhad Zarif
Farhad Zarif (; born 3 March 1983 in Mashhad) is an Iranian professional volleyball player who plays for Paykan Tehran. He was previously on the Iranian national team.
Honours
National team
* Asian Championship
**Gold medal (2): 2011, 2013
* ...
, born 3 March 1983, volleyballer
* Ghodrat Bahadori
Ghodrat Bahadori (; born 4 February 1990) is an Iranian professional futsal coach and player. He is currently a member of Crop Alvand FSC, Crop in the Iranian Futsal Super League.
Honours
Country
* FIFA Futsal World Cup
** Third place (1): ...
, born 4 February 1990, Iranian futsaler/indoor soccer player
* Hamed Afagh
Hamed Afagh Eslamieh (; born February 1, 1983) is a professional Iranian basketball player who plays for Shahrdari Arak of the Iranian Super League and also for the Iranian national basketball team. He is in height.
Honours
National team
* ...
, born 1 February 1983, basketballer
* Hamid Reza Mobarez, born 18 February 1981, swimmer
* Heshmat Mohajerani
Heshmatollah Mohajerani (, born 13 December 1939) is a retired Iranian association football midfielder and manager.
Early life and playing career
Mohajerani was born to Asadoolah Mohajerani and Leila Nassiri in a family of six siblings. Afte ...
, born January 1936 in Mashhad, Iran; Iranian football coach, manager and former player
* Hossein Badamaki
Hossein Badamaki (, born 13 September 1981) is a retired Iranian Footballer who plays for Aboumoslem and Persepolis among other clubs in Persian Gulf Pro League.
Club career
He was influential in the IPL 2005/06 season, scoring 10 goals f ...
, born 13 September 1981, Iranian professional football player
* Hossein Tayyebi
Hossein Tayyebi Bidgoli (; born 29 September 1988) is an Iranian professional futsal player who plays for Palma and the Iran national futsal team. His first match with Iran was in 2009 at the age of 20. He was ranked Top Goalscorer at the 2014 ...
, Iranian futsaler/indoor soccer player
* Javad Mahjoub
Javad Mahjoub (, born 26 May 1991) is an Iranian judoka. Mahjoub was the 2013 Asian champion in his weight class.
He competed for Iran at the following tournaments:
* 2010 Asian Games, 7th
* 2012 Asian Judo Championships, Silver Medal
* 2012 W ...
, judoka
* Khodadad Azizi
Khodadad Azizi (; born 22 June 1971) is an Iranian football coach and former player who played as a striker.
Early life
He lived in the Piranshahr neighborhood of Mashhad. As a child, he played soccer with mismatched pair of shoes and at the ...
, born 22 June 1971 in Mashhad, Iran; retired professional football striker
* Kia Zolgharnain
Kia Zolgharnain (born November 10, 1965) is an Iranian-American soccer coach and former player. As a player, Zolgharnain was a forward who led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring during the 1986–1987 season. He coaches youth so ...
, born 10 November 1965, Iranian-American former futsaler/indoor soccer player Kourosh Khani, racing driver
* Mahdi Javid
Mahdi Javid (; born 3 May 1987) is an Iranian professional futsal player. He is currently a member of Mes Sungun in the Iranian Futsal Super League. He was named the best player of the Asian Clubs Cup in 2018 by the AFC Futsal Club Championship ...
, born 3 May 1987, Iranian futsaler/indoor soccer player
* Majid Khodaei, born 26 August 1978, wrestler
* Maryam Sedarati, born 1 June 1950, athlete. Iran record holder in women high jump for three decades.
* Masoud Haji Akhondzadeh
Masoud Haji Akhondzade (, born 29 April 1978, in Mashhad) is an Iranian judoka.
Haji Akhondzade finished in joint fifth place in the extra-lightweight (60 kg) division at the 2004 Summer Olympics, having lost the bronze medal match to Ch ...
, born 29 April 1978, judoka
* Mohammad Khadem, 7 September 1935 – 24 November 2020, wrestler
* Mohammad Mansouri, Iranian professional football player
* Mohsen Torki
Mohsen Torky () is an Iranian former football referee who had been refereeing in Iran's Pro League for seasons and has been on the international list from 2003 to 2013. He was the first Iranian referee to officiate the Tehran derby after 14 year ...
, Iranian football referee
* Rasoul Khadem
Rasoul Khadem Azghadi (, born March 18, 1972) is a former Iranian wrestler who has won a bronze medal in the 1992 Summer Olympics and a gold medal in the 1996 Summer Olympics. He was also the 1994 and 1995 world champion and 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 ...
, born 17 February 1972 in Mashhad; wrestler
* Reza Enayati, born 23 September 1976, Iranian professional football player
* Reza Ghoochannejhad
Reza Ghoochannejhad Nournia (; born 20 September 1987) is an Iranian-Dutch former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is also known as Gucci in Belgium and Netherlands. Having played for the Netherlands at youth level, he switche ...
, born 20 September 1987, Iranian-Dutch professional football player
* Rouzbeh Arghavan
Rouzbeh Arghavan (), born May 18, 1988) is a professional Iranian basketball player who currently plays for Shahrdari Gorgan BC, and the Iranian national team. He plays at the center position, and is the second tallest player of Iran's national ...
, born 18 May 1988, basketballer
Religious and political figures
* Abbas Vaez-Tabasi
Abbas Vaez Tabasi (; 25 June 1935 – 4 March 2016) was an influential Iranian cleric who held memberships at different institutions. He was Grand Imam and Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi board from 1979 until his death in 2016.
Early life
Vae ...
, 25 June 1935 – 4 March 2016; Grand Imam and Chairman of the Astan Quds Razavi
Astan Quds Razavi () is a bonyad based at Mashhad, Iran. It is the administrative organization which manages the Imam Reza shrine and various institutions which belong to the organization.
The administrative apparatus of Astan Quds Razavi is con ...
board
* Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli
Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli (; born 1959) is an Iranian conservative politician who serves as ambassador of Iran to China in Government of Masoud Pezeshkian since 21 May 2025. He was also Minister of Interior in Hassan Rouhani's government and the ...
, born 1959 in Shirvan; Interior Minister of President Hassan Rouhani
Hassan Rouhani (; born Hassan Fereydoun, 12 November 1948) is an Iranian peoples, Iranian politician who served as the seventh president of Iran from 2013 to 2021. He is also a sharia lawyer ("Wakil"), academic, former diplomat and Islamic cl ...
* Abu Muslim Khorasani
Abu Muslim Abd al-Rahman ibn Muslim al-Khurasani (; ; 718/19 or 723/27 – 755) was a Persian general who led the Abbasid Revolution that toppled the Umayyad dynasty, leading to the establishment of the Abbasid Caliphate.
Little is known ab ...
, –755; Abu Muslim Abd al-Rahman ibn Muslim al-Khorasani, Abbasid general of Persian origin
* Al-Ghazali
Al-Ghazali ( – 19 December 1111), archaically Latinized as Algazelus, was a Shafi'i Sunni Muslim scholar and polymath. He is known as one of the most prominent and influential jurisconsults, legal theoreticians, muftis, philosophers, the ...
, 1058–1111; Islamic theologian, jurist, philosopher, cosmologist, psychologist and mystic of Persian origin
* Al-Hurr al-Aamili
Muḥammad bin al-Ḥasan bin ʿAlī bin al-Ḥusayn al-Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī al-Mashgharī (; 1033/1624 - 1104/1693), commonly known as Al-Ḥurr Al-ʿĀmilī (), was a prominent Akhbari Twelver Shia muhaddith. He is best known for his comprehensive ...
, Shia scholar and muhaddith
* Ali al-Sistani
Ali al-Husayni al-Sistani (; born 4 August 1930) is an Islamic scholar and the dean of the Hawza of Najaf in Iraq. A Grand Ayatollah, Sistani is considered one of the leading religious leaders of Twelver Shia Muslims. After the invasion of ...
, born approximately August 4, 1930; Twelver Shi'a marja residing in Iraq since 1951
* Ebrahim Raisi
Ebrahim Raisolsadati (14 December 1960 – 19 May 2024), better known as Ebrahim Raisi, was an Iranian politician who served as the eighth president of Iran from 2021 until 2024 Varzaqan helicopter crash, his death in a helicopter crash in 202 ...
, (1960-2024
The year saw the list of ongoing armed conflicts, continuation of major armed conflicts, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Myanmar civil war (2021–present), Myanmar civil war, the Sudanese civil war (2023–present), Sudane ...
), 8th President of Iran
The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran () is the head of government of the Iran, Islamic Republic of Iran and the second highest-ranking official, after the Supreme Leader of Iran, supreme leader. The 1980 Iranian presidential election, fi ...
* Goharshad Begum, Persian noble and wife of Shāh Rukh, the emperor of the Timurid dynasty of Herāt
* Hadi Khamenei
Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Hadi Khamenei (; born 26 January 1948) is an Iranian reformist politician, mujtahid and linguist.(14 February 1999Reformist Kin of Iran Leader is Attacked by Militants''The New York Times'' He is a key member of the reform ...
, b. 1947; mid-ranking cleric who is a member of the reformist Association of Combatant Clerics
* Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi
Seyed Hassan Ghazizadeh Hashemi (; born 21 March 1959) is an ophthalmologist and full professor at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, as well as the head and founder of the Noor Ophthalmology Complex.
During his career, Hashemi has initiate ...
, born 21 March 1959 in Fariman
Fariman () is a city in the Central District of Fariman County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west ...
; Minister of Health and Medical Education of President Hassan Rouhani
Hassan Rouhani (; born Hassan Fereydoun, 12 November 1948) is an Iranian peoples, Iranian politician who served as the seventh president of Iran from 2013 to 2021. He is also a sharia lawyer ("Wakil"), academic, former diplomat and Islamic cl ...
* Hassan Rahimpour Azghadi
Hassan Rahimpour-Azghadi (, born 1964/1965) is an Iranian conservative public speaker, conspiracy theorist and ideologue. He has been a member of Iran's Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution since 2003. Early life and career
Rahimpour-Azgh ...
, Conservative political strategist and television personality in the Islamic Republic of Iran
* Hossein Vahid Khorasani
Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Hossein Wahid Khorasani (; born Mohammad-Hossein Molla-Saleh (Persian: ); 1 January 1921) is an Iranian author and Shia marja'.
He is the current head of the Qom Seminary. Khorasani is considered to be the most learne ...
, born in 1921; Iranian Twelver Shi'a Marja
* Mohammad-Ali Abtahi, born January 27, 1958; former Vice President of Iran and a close associate of former reformist President Khatami
* Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (, born 23 August 1961) is an Iranian Iranian Principlists, conservative politician, former military officer, and current List of Speakers of the Parliament of Iran, Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, Parli ...
, born 23 August 1961 in Torghabeh, near Mashhad; the former Mayor of Tehran and current Speaker of Parliament
* Mohammad-Kazem Khorasani
Marja', Ayatullah Sheikh Muhammad Kazim Khurasani (; 1839 – 12 December 1911), commonly known as Akhund Khurasani () was a Shia Islam, Shia jurist and political activist.
He is known for using his position as a Marja', Marja as legitimizing ...
, 1839–1911; Twelver Shi'a Marja, Persian (Iranian) politician, philosopher and reformer
* Morteza Motahhari
Morteza Motahhari (; 31 January 1919 – 1 May 1979) was an Iranian Twelver Shia scholar, philosopher, lecturer. Motahhari is considered to have an important influence on the ideologies of the Islamic Republic, among others. He was a co-found ...
, 31 January 1919 in Fariman
Fariman () is a city in the Central District of Fariman County, Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west ...
– 1 May 1979; an Iranian cleric, philosopher, lecturer and politician
* Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī (1201 – 1274), also known as Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī (; ) or simply as (al-)Tusi, was a Persians, Persian polymath, architect, Early Islamic philosophy, philosopher, Islamic medicine, phy ...
, born February 1201 in Tūs, Khorasan – 26 June 1274 in al-Kāżimiyyah, near Baghdad; Persian of the Ismaili and subsequently Twelver Shī'ah Islamic belief
* Nizam al-Mulk
Abū ʿAlī Ḥasan ibn ʿAlī Ṭūsī () (1018 – 1092), better known by his honorific title of Niẓām al-Mulk (), was a Persian Sunni scholar, jurist, political philosopher and vizier of the Seljuk Empire. Rising from a low position w ...
, 1018 – 14 October 1092; celebrated Persian scholar and vizier of the Seljuq Empire
* Saeed Jalili
Saeed Jalili (; born 6 September 1965) is an Iranian politician and diplomat, who was secretary of the Supreme National Security Council from 2007 to 2013. He is currently a member of the Expediency Discernment Council, and is the former nucl ...
, born 1965 in Mashhad; Iranian politician and the former present secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council
* Seyed Hassan Firuzabadi
Sayyid Hassan Aghaee Firouzabadi (; 3 February 1951 – 3 September 2021) was an Iranian Officer (armed forces), military officer. He served as the General Staff of Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Chief-of-Staff of the Iranian Arme ...
, current major general, Islamic Republic of Iran
* Seyyed Ali Khamenei
Ali Hosseini Khamenei (; born 19 April 1939) is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He previously served as the third President of Iran, president from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei's tenure ...
, born 17 July 1939; former president and current supreme leader of Iran
* Shahrukh (Timurid dynasty), August 20, 1377 – March 12, 1447; ruler of the eastern portion of the empire established by the Central Asian warlord Timur (Tamerlane)
* Shaykh Tusi
Shaykh Tusi (), full name ''Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn al-Hasan al-Tusi'' (), known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifah () was a Persian scholar of the Twelver school of Shia Islam. He is the author of two of the Four Books of hadith; namely, '' Tahdhib al-Ahka ...
, 385–460 A.H.; prominent Persian scholar of the Shi'a Twelver Islamic belief
* Sheikh Ali Tehrani, brother-in-law of Seyyed Ali Khamenei, currently living in Iran. He is one of the oppositions of current Iranian government.
Pahlavic politicians
File:Abdolhossein Teymourtash.jpg, Abdol-Hoseyn Teymoortash, influential Iranian statesman who served as the first minister of court of the Pahlavi dynasty
File:Manuchehr Eghbal.jpg, Manouchehr Eghbal
Manouchehr Eghbal (; September 1909 – 25 November 1977) was an Iranian physician and royalist politician. He was the Prime Minister of Iran from 1957 to 1960.
Early life and education
Eghbal was born in Mashhad in September 1909, and his famil ...
, 65th Prime Minister of Iran
The prime minister of Iran was a political post that had existed in Iran (Persia) during much of the 20th century. It began in 1906 during the Qajar dynasty and into the start of the Pahlavi dynasty in 1923 and into the 1979 Iranian Revolution ...
File:Ali BozorgNia 1335.jpg, Ali Bozorgnia
File:Amirteymour Kalali.jpg, Amirteymour Kalali
Amirteymour Kalali (5 October 1894 – 11 February 1988)http://www.iichs.iمحمدابراهیم امیرتیمور (کلالی)/ref> (), also known as Sardar Nosrat, was a prominent Iranian statesman and aristocrat. He served as the minister o ...
, prominent statesman
* Abdolhossein Teymourtash
Abdolhossein Teymourtash (; 25 September 1883 – 3 October 1933) was an influential Iranian statesman who served as the first minister of court of the Pahlavi dynasty from 1925 to 1932, and is credited with playing a crucial role in laying the ...
, prominent Iraninan statesman and first minister of justice under the Pahlavis
* Amirteymour Kalali
Amirteymour Kalali (5 October 1894 – 11 February 1988)http://www.iichs.iمحمدابراهیم امیرتیمور (کلالی)/ref> (), also known as Sardar Nosrat, was a prominent Iranian statesman and aristocrat. He served as the minister o ...
, prominent Iraninan statesman
* Manouchehr Eghbal
Manouchehr Eghbal (; September 1909 – 25 November 1977) was an Iranian physician and royalist politician. He was the Prime Minister of Iran from 1957 to 1960.
Early life and education
Eghbal was born in Mashhad in September 1909, and his famil ...
, 14 October 1909 – 25 November 1977; a Prime Minister of Iran
Science & scientists
Stamps of Azerbaijan, 2001-593 (cropped).jpg, Nasiroddin (Mohammad) Toosi
Liebig Company Trading Card Ad 01.12.002 front.tif, Jaber Toosi
* Abū al-Wafā' Būzjānī
Abū al-Wafāʾ Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn Yaḥyā ibn Ismāʿīl ibn al-ʿAbbās al-Būzjānī or Abū al-Wafā Būzhjānī (, ; 10 June 940 – 15 July 998) was a Persian mathematician and astronomer who worked in Baghdad. He made import ...
, 10 June 940 – 1 July 998; Persian mathematician and astronomer
* Abū Ja'far al-Khāzin
Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Husayn Khazin (; 900–971), also called Al-Khazin, was an Iranian peoples, Iranian Muslim astronomer and mathematician from greater Khorasan, Khorasan. He worked on both astronomy and number theory.
Al-Khazin was one of ...
, 900–971; Persian astronomer and mathematician from Khorasan
* Jābir ibn Hayyān Jabir (Arabic: جابر ) is an Arabic surname or male given name, which means "comforter".''Behind The Name''"Jabir" Retrieved on 8 January 2016. Alternative spellings include Djābir, Jaber, Jābir, Gabir, and Geber. The name may refer to:
Giv ...
, in Tus – in Kufa; prominent polymath
A polymath or polyhistor is an individual whose knowledge spans many different subjects, known to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems. Polymaths often prefer a specific context in which to explain their knowledge, ...
, a chemist and alchemist, astronomer
An astronomer is a scientist in the field of astronomy who focuses on a specific question or field outside the scope of Earth. Astronomers observe astronomical objects, such as stars, planets, natural satellite, moons, comets and galaxy, galax ...
and astrologer
Astrology is a range of Divination, divinatory practices, recognized as pseudoscientific since the 18th century, that propose that information about human affairs and terrestrial events may be discerned by studying the apparent positions ...
, engineer
Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who Invention, invent, design, build, maintain and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials. They aim to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while ...
, geographer
A geographer is a physical scientist, social scientist or humanist whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society, including how society and nature interacts. The Greek prefix "geo" means "earth" a ...
, philosopher
Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...
, physicist
A physicist is a scientist who specializes in the field of physics, which encompasses the interactions of matter and energy at all length and time scales in the physical universe. Physicists generally are interested in the root or ultimate cau ...
and pharmacist and physician
* Nasir al-Din al-Tusi
Muḥammad ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥasan al-Ṭūsī (1201 – 1274), also known as Naṣīr al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī (; ) or simply as (al-)Tusi, was a Persians, Persian polymath, architect, Early Islamic philosophy, philosopher, Islamic medicine, phy ...
, born February 1201 in Tūs, Khorasan – 26 June 1274 in al-Kāżimiyyah near Baghdad; Persian of the Ismaili and subsequently Twelver Shī'ah Islamic belief
* Sharaf al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī
Sharaf al-Dīn al-Muẓaffar ibn Muḥammad ibn al-Muẓaffar al-Ṭūsī (; Tus, Iran – Iran) known more often as Sharaf al-Dīn al-Ṭūsī or Sharaf ad-Dīn aṭ-Ṭūsī, was an Iranian mathematician and astronomer of the Islamic Golden Ag ...
, 1135–1213; Persian mathematician and astronomer of the Islamic Golden Age (during the Middle Ages)
Writers and literati
* Abolfazl Beyhaqi
Abūʾl-Fazl Muḥammad ibn Ḥusayn Bayhaqī (; died September 21, 1077), better known as Abu'l-Fazl Bayhaqi (; also spelled Beyhaqi), was a secretary, historian and author.
Educated in the major cultural center of Nishapur, and employed at the ...
, 995–1077; a Persian historian and author
* Ali Akbar Fayyaz Ali-Akbar Fayyaz () (1898–1971, born in Mashhad) was a distinguished professor of Islamic heresiography and Persian language and literature at Tehran University and the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Fayyaz was born into a family of Shiite cleri ...
, a renowned historian of early Islam and literary critic, founder of the School of Letters and Humanities at the Ferdowsi University of Mashhad
* Abu-Mansur Daqiqi, 935/942–976/980
* Abusa'id Abolkhayr, 7 December 967 – 12 January 1049 / Muharram ul Haram 1, 357 – Sha'aban 4, 440 AH; a Persian Sufi who contributed extensively to the evolution of Sufi tradition
* Anvari
Anvari (1126–1189), full name Awhad ad-Din 'Ali ibn Mohammad Khavarani or Awhad ad-Din 'Ali ibn Mahmud () was a Persian poet.
Anvarī was born in Abivard (now in Turkmenistan) and died in Balkh, Khorāsān (now in Afghanistan).''Encyclopædi ...
, 1126–1189; one of the greatest Persian poets
* Asadi Tusi
Abu Nasr Ali ibn Ahmad Asadi Tusi (; – 1073) was a Persian poet, linguist and author. He was born at the beginning of the 11th century in Tus, Iran, in the province of Khorasan, and died in the late 1080s in Tabriz. Asadi Tusi is considered a ...
, born in Tus, Iranian province of Khorasan, died in 1072 in Tabriz, Iran; Persian poet of Iranian national epics
* Ferdowsi
Abu'l-Qâsem Ferdowsi Tusi (also Firdawsi, ; 940 – 1019/1025) was a Persians, Persian poet and the author of ''Shahnameh'' ("Book of Kings"), which is one of the world's longest epic poetry, epic poems created by a single poet, and the gre ...
, 935–1020 in Tus; a Persian poet
* Mehdi Akhavan-Sales
Mehdi Akhavān-Sāles, or Akhavān-Sāless () (March 1, 1929 in Mashhad, Iran – August 26, 1990 in Tehran, Iran), pen name Mim. Omid (, meaning ''M. Hope'') was a prominent Iranian modern poet. He is one of the pioneers of Free Verse (''New ...
, 1928, Mashhad, Iran – 1990, Tehran, Iran; a Persian poet
* Mohammad Mokhtari (writer), Iranian writer who was murdered on the outskirts of Tehran in the course of the Chain Murders of Iran
The chain murders of Iran () were a series of 1988–98 murders and disappearances of certain Iranian dissident intellectuals who had been critical of the Islamic Republic system. The murders and disappearances were carried out by Iranian gover ...
* Mohammad-Taghi Bahar
Mohammad-Taqi Bahar (; also romanised as Mohammad-Taqī Bahār; 10 December 1886 in Mashhad – 22 April 1951 in Tehran), widely known as Malek osh-Sho'arā () and Malek osh-Sho'arā Bahār ("poet laureate," literally: ''the king of poets''), ...
, 6 November 1884, Mashhad, Iran – 22 April 1951, Tehran, Iran
File:Imanian-A.jpg, Asghar Imanian, fighter pilot
File:پری امید.jpg, Pari Mohammadzade Omid, Heavy vehicle driver
Twin towns – sister cities
Mashhad is twinned with:
* Karachi
Karachi is the capital city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, province of Sindh, Pakistan. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, largest city in Pakistan and 12th List of largest cities, largest in the world, with a popul ...
, Pakistan
* Karbala
Karbala is a major city in central Iraq. It is the capital of Karbala Governorate. With an estimated population of 691,100 people in 2024, Karbala is the second largest city in central Iraq, after Baghdad. The city is located about southwest ...
, Iraq
* Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...
, Malaysia
* Lahore
Lahore ( ; ; ) is the capital and largest city of the Administrative units of Pakistan, Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan, Punjab. It is the List of cities in Pakistan by population, second-largest city in Pakistan, after Karachi, and ...
, Pakistan
* Najaf
Najaf is the capital city of the Najaf Governorate in central Iraq, about 160 km (99 mi) south of Baghdad. Its estimated population in 2024 is about 1.41 million people. It is widely considered amongst the holiest cities of Shia Islam an ...
, Iraq
* Ürümqi
Ürümqi, , is the capital of the Xinjiang, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Northwestern China. With a census population of 4 million in 2020, Ürümqi is the second-largest city in China's northwestern interior after Xi'an, also the ...
, China
Consulates
Active
* (1996–)
* (1975–)
* (1919–?,1930–?, 2014–)
* (1995–)
Former
* (1889–1975)
* (1889–1917)
* (1917–1937, 1941–1979)
* (1941–?)
* (1949–1979)
* Poland
*
*
*
*
* ()
* (1995–2009)
* (2004–2016)
See also
* The National Library of Astan Quds Razavi
* Mashadi Jewish Community
The Allahdad (, ) was an 1839 pogrom perpetrated by Muslims against the Mashhadi Jewish community in the city of Mashhad, Qajar Iran. It was characterized by the mass-killing and forced conversion of the Jews in the area to Islam. Following th ...
* Sport Sciences Research Institute of Iran
Notes
References
Sources
*
*
External links
Municipality of Mashhad
Official website (in Persian)
Astan Quds Razavi
* Mashhad Portal Official website (in Persian)
{{Iranian Architecture
Mashhad
Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad, Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. ...
Populated places in Mashhad County
Cities in Razavi Khorasan province
Iranian provincial capitals
Former capitals of Iran
Populated places along the Silk Road
Shia holy cities
Cities founded by Alexander the Great