Photos: Iranians mark new year by tomb of Cyrus the Great

Happy Nowruz to All!

Anahita: Ancient Persian Goddess and Zoroastrian Yazata

Ayatollah Khamenei delivers New Year's message

Iran Marks New Year Holiday

Obama, Netanyahu Issue Warnings to Iran and Assad

Iranian prisoners given furloughs for Norooz

Spain - Nowruz Festival Persian-Flemish-Kurdish Music & Dance

Oops: The U.S. Secret Service almost accidentally shot Iran's president

UN head praises Nowruz as unifying force

Photos: Chaharshanbeh-Suri Celebrations In Tehran - Part II - Chaharshanbeh-Suri is an old tradition of Iranians practiced on the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year before the arrival of the new year Nowruz. Chaharshanbeh Suri is celebrated by jumping over bon fires while reciting short verses wishing their problems to be over and they gain the brilliance of fire. This is a purification rite and is a very popular aspect of Nowruz celebrations. 03/20/13

Photos: Haftsin in villages of North Khorasan - These photos show the people in the villages of North Khorassan in northeastersn Iran with their Haftsin spreads welcoming the arrival of Nowruz. A major part of the New Year rituals is setting a special table called Haftsin with seven specific items present. In the ancient times each of the items corresponded to one of the seven creations and the seven holly immortals protecting them. 03/20/13

Photos: Chaharshanbeh-Suri Celebrations In Tehran - Part I - People celebrated Chaharshanbeh-Suri on on Tuesday night across Iran. These photos show the people in the capital city Tehran enjoying this festive occasion. Chaharshanbeh-Suri is an old tradition of Iranians practiced on the last Tuesday of the Iranian calendar year before the arrival of the new year Nowruz. 03/20/13

Obama Makes First Visit to Israel as President - JERUSALEM - U.S. President Barack Obama arrived to a full ceremonial welcome at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport Wednesday and declared that America's alliance with Israel is "eternal and forever." 03/20/13

Iran: Rafsanjani's Daughter Released From Evin Prison - Political prisoner Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter of the head of Iran's Expediency Council, has been released after six months in Evin Prison. ILNA reports that Faezeh Hashemi was released on Tuesday March 19 at the end of her jail term, as her lawyer had previously announced. 03/20/13

PAF Presents: SHURKA BAZAAR in New York - following Persian Parade - On April 14, 2013, in honor of Persian Parade's 10th year anniversary, Shurka Bazaar will transform Madison Avenue, alongside Madison Square Park, into an urban oasis. A Persian Bazaar of ancient times. 03/20/13

Khamenei Mobilizes Loyalists to Swing Iran's Election - Iran's supreme leader may have helped Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to win two presidential elections, but he is now bent on stopping his turbulent protege from levering his own man into the job. -Reuters 03/20/13

Photos: City of Mashhad Welcomes Iranian New Year - The city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran is welcoming the new year Norouz with eye-catching decorations in the streets. Symbols of Norouz and other artworks greet the pedestrians who sometimes pose with them and grab a snapshot of these festive days. 03/19/13

Video: President Obama Sends Nowruz Message to the Iranian People - President Obama sends best wishes to the Iranian people as they celebrate their new year Nowruz. In his video message, the President speaks directly to the people and leaders of Iran about the opportunity to begin a new relationship between our two countries. 03/19/13

Photos: Sarbedaran Ritual Welcoming Iranian New Year - In the city of Sabzevar in northeastern Iran, an interesting traditional ritual is performed in the last days of the year before the new year (Norouz) arrives. In this ritual known as Sarbedaran, men move in a circle performing various moves with their hands and wooden sticks. 03/19/13

The Ayatollahs Who Supported Ahmadinejad Gone Vocal: Ahmadinejad May End Up In Evin Prison - The verbal attacks of Iran's principlists - ruling hardliners - against president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad take on new colors and excuses by the day: Former supports of the president are complaining for various reasons; his behavior in Venezuela; his 8-year record; his remarks on the economy of the country; etc. 03/19/13

Ahmadinejad removes heads of Tehran University, Teachers Training University - "Unfortunately, and according to precisely acquired information, in two important universities, the University of Tehran, which is the mother of the countryˈs universities and the proudest among them...the general atmosphere is managed differently, which is somewhat contrary to the general direction of the nation and beneath the dignity of the universities and the university faculties." 03/19/13

Iranian reformist group joins chorus to enlist Khatami to run for President - The Coordination Council of the Reformist Front has issued a statement calling on former president Mohammad Khatami to run in the 2013 presidential election. The statement, published in ISNA and ILNA, states that the reformists have reached a consensus in choosing Mohammad Khatami as their candidate for the presidential race. 03/19/13

New York - Persian Arts Festival Celebrate Norooz 2013 - NYC's Persian Arts Festival, Inc. (PAF), an organization devoted to providing a platform for Persian artists and visionaries, joins forces with Le Poisson Rouge and other Persian cultural organizations to present a New Year extravaganza featuring Persian fusion from three of the city's top-tiered bands. 03/19/13

Six Powers Detail Nuclear Proposals To Iran - The European Union says six world powers have given Iran more details of their proposals to end a standoff over Tehran's nuclear program. The proposals were outlined in talks in Istanbul on March 18. 03/19/13

NOWRUZ and CHAHARSHANBEH SURI - Nowruz, "New Day", is the holiest and most joyful festival of the Zoroastrian year and the most important national festival for all Iranians. Its celebration is recorded from the Achaemenian period around 500 BCE. Nowruz first appears in Pahlavi texts from the Sasanian period, as nog roz. It is a celebration of spring equinox, when the sun begins to regain strength and there is a renewal of growth in nature. -Massoume Price 03/18/13

Photos: Gilan Rural Heritage Museum Welcomes Norooz - Guilan Museum of Rural Heritage is holding special programs to welcome the Iranian New Year Norooz. The new year begins precisely with the beginning of spring on vernal equinox, which will be on March 20th this year. 03/18/13

Photos: Colored Egg Festival at Tehran's Water-Fire Park - Painted Eggs - symbolizing Humans and Fertility - is one of the Nowruz seven "Haft Chin" items which still decorate today's "Haft Sin" tables - a major traditional table setting of Nowruz. 03/18/13

Iran's skyrocketing real estate prices - Since autumn 2011, real estate prices in Iran's major cities, and especially in Tehran, have skyrocketed, turning developers into overnight millionaires. Part of the increase is due to a rise in the price of housing materials and land, which was triggered by the cut in fuel subsidies and the sharp drop in the exchange rate for the rial in relation to foreign currency. 03/18/13

Consequences of Lying to Government Officials and Agents - There have been some recent important federal and criminal cases involving Iranians with respect to violation of OFAC regulations and certain white-collar crimes which compel all of us to be aware of our individual and community rights and ways to avoid such acts which might be innocent or volitional. -Jamshid S. Irani, Esq 03/18/13

Expert nuclear negotiators begin Iran talks in Istanbul - Iranian media report that nuclear negotiations with the G5+1 at the expert level began on Monday March 18 in Istanbul, with both sides discussing the proposed packages. 03/18/13

Yesterday: Iraq. Tomorrow: Iran? - It was 10 years ago this week that George Bush launched his ill-fated war of choice in Iraq. The anniversary comes as politicians in Washington and Israel continue to discuss the option of military action against Iran. The parallels with a decade ago are striking. -David Cortright, TIME 03/18/13

Iran in talks with Britain to resume consular activities - The Iranian government is holding talks with Britain about the resumption of consular activities between the two countries, the Iranian deputy foreign minister for consular and expatriates' affairs, Hassan Qashqavi, said on Sunday. 03/18/13

Ancient Persian Ruler Influenced Thomas Jefferson, U.S. Democracy - The discovery of the Cyrus Cylinder was a hundred years in the future when Thomas Jefferson and other founders of the United States adopted the progressive ideas of the ancient Persian ruler Cyrus the Great. They knew of Cyrus through classical Greek writers and Biblical accounts. -Lea Terhune, IIP 03/17/13

Iran Launches Indigenous Destroyer In Caspian Sea - The Jamaran-2 destroyer was launched in the Caspian Sea waters Sunday in the northern port city of Bandar Anzali in Gilan province in the presence of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi 03/17/13

Iranian government regulates dating sites - The Iranian government has announced regulation guidelines for online dating, announcing that people can now legally set up dating websites on the internet after getting the necessary licence. 03/17/13

Iranian reformist figures arrested, no reason given - Opposition websites report that a group of top reformist figures has been arrested by Iranian authorities. The Kaleme website reports that former lawmaker Hossein Loghmanian and four other reformist activists were arrested en route from Hamedan to meet former president Mohammad Khatami in Tehran. 03/17/13

Iranian distributor seeking to premiere Asghar Farhadi's "Past" - The Iranian film distribution company Filmiran is seeking to premiere Asghar Farhadi's "The Past" in Iran. The 11-million Euro picture is his first project that is being shot outside of his native Iran. The French company, Memento Films Production, is the producer of the film. 03/17/13

Iranian-Jewish Dialogue on the Cyrus Cylinder - The Center for World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution (CRDC), Federation of Zoroastrian Associations of North America (FEZANA), and National Iranian American Council (NIAC) invite you to a shared panel and celebration in honor of the presence in Washington of the Cyrus Cylinder and its significance for the peaceful interaction of civilizations based on universal human rights and human dignity. 03/16/13

EU's Ashton Urges Push On Iran, Sees 'Possible' Serbia-Kosovo Breakthrough - European Union foreign-policy chief Catherine Ashton has called on Western negotiators to be "determined and creative" in their discussions with Tehran on Iran's nuclear program. Speaking on March 16 at the German Marshall Fund's Brussels Forum, Ashton said negotiators had to do more to build a level of "communication" and "trust" with the Iranian side. 03/16/13

In A Historic Declaration, UN Condemns Violence Against Women - Muslim and Western countries have approved a new United Nations declaration aimed at combatting violence against women and girls. The nonbinding declaration, adopted by consensus by the UN Commission on the Status of Women, says that violence against females cannot be justified or ignored by any "custom, tradition, or religious consideration." 03/16/13

US Cyber Command to Take Offensive - The U.S. Department of Defense has made a rare acknowledgement that it is developing offensive cyber capabilities. In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee this past week, Gen. Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Agency, said 13 cyber warfare "teams" would be ready by 2015. -Matthew Hilburn, VOA 03/16/13

The Steadfast Front: Prime Suspect In Attacks Against Iran's Parliament Speaker - Over a month has passed since the day when Majlis chief's speech in Qom was disrupted by protesters. Now a website belonging to the principlists has posted a video clip that accuses the Steadfast Front to be the principal attackers on Larijani's speech. -Arash Bahmani, Rooz 03/16/13

The Senate's 10-Year Iraq War Anniversary Gift: War With Iran - When we mark the grim 10-year anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq next Tuesday, most Americans will be reflecting on the enormous human, economic, and geopolitical costs that the disastrous war and occupation inflicted. What they won't be doing is hoping for an anniversary gift from the people who got us into that war. -Jamal Abdi 03/16/13

Persian New Year: Norooz or Nowruz? - As we approach the Persian New Year, which coincides with the Spring Equinox, the debate on the spelling of the name is refreshed once again. The good news is that in 2010, the United Nations, U.S. Senate and House of Representatives approved resolutions to commemorate the Persian New Year. The bad news is that the spelling that was adopted is phonetically incorrect. 03/15/13

Heavy security on call for Iranian election - The Tehran Governor said on Wednesday March 13 that 99 Basij battalions and 15,000 police officers are prepared to keep the peace during the presidential election in June. The last presidential election in 2009 led to mass street protests, when millions of protesters demonstrated peacefully in the streets to challenge the legitimacy of the vote count. 03/15/13

Photos: Iran's Army successfully test-fires short-range missiles - The Ground Forces of the Iranian Army have successfully test-fired two short-range missiles during a day-long military exercise in the central city of Kashan. The Thursday maneuver was aimed at maintaining the preparedness and enhancing the defensive capabilities of the forces' rocket-launching and missile units. 03/15/13

Pentagon: Iranian Warplane Moves Against US Drone in the Persian Gulf - The Pentagon says an Iranian warplane approached an unarmed U.S. military surveillance drone earlier this week over international waters in the Persian Gulf. 03/15/13

Photos: Deprived Village of Golgah - The village of golgah is located in Maneh and Samalghan region in North Khorasan province of Iran. Life in this village hasn't moved forward into the 21st century, and the people living in this village are still deprived of basic necessities such as drinking water. The local river is the source of the water which is hauled to the village in pots and pans. 03/14/13

Iranian actresses file complaints against conservative filmmaker for calling them prostitutes like Angelina Jolie - Last September, conservative Iranian filmmaker called Iranian cinema "A whorehouse." Farajollah Salahshour, a filmmaker with close ties to hardline circles in Iran, said Iranian actresses are on par with Angelina Jolie, and that Iranian cinema needs an international prostitute to continue its activities. 03/14/13

Museums Celebrate Norooz Across the United States - On March 7, 2013, over 500 Iranians from across the U.S. gathered at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for the Seventh Annual NoRuz at the MET. The annual fundraiser raises money for the restoration and collection of art for their Iranian and Central Asian Art galleries, which house one of the most expansive collections of Iranian art in the world. 03/14/13

"The Backdoor to War with Iran" - Wilkerson Attacks Senate Resolution - Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Resolution S.RES.65 sends the message to Iran that the US objective is regime change, not a negotiated settlement to nuclear question 03/14/13

The Promise of Almaty - Could the Almaty talks have been the turning point the international community has so long been yearning for? "Useful" and "realistic" are two words not generally used when characterizing Iranian nuclear negotiations, yet that's exactly how American and Iranian officials labeled the Almaty talks that concluded on February 27th. -Omid Irani 03/14/13

UN's Iran Rights Rapporteur Says Sanctions Could Worsen Situation - The United Nations special rapporteur for human rights in Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, says his work has had a positive impact on the rights situation in the Islamic republic. Shaheed, who earlier this week presented his latest report to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, told RFE/RL in an interview that the lives of several Iranians who were sentenced to death were spared because of his efforts. 03/14/13

Drug shortage to force closure of Iranian operating rooms - The head of the Anesthesia and Special Care Association of Iran has warned that a number of operating rooms in various Iranian hospitals are facing closure due to a shortage of anesthesia. Mohammad Mehdi Ghiamat said: "With the approach of the New Year holidays, only emergency cases can be taken to operating rooms, and the situation for other patients will remain unclear." 03/13/13

Cyrus Cylinder: Ancient Persia Foreshadowed Modern Values - The Cyrus Cylinder has left its British Museum repository for its first U.S. tour, beginning at the Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington. "The Cyrus Cylinder and Ancient Persia" showcases this 2,600-year-old archeological treasure amid other artifacts from the Achaemenid Empire (550-331 B.C.) founded by the Persian ruler Cyrus the Great. -Lea Terhune, IIP 03/13/13

Iran: UN expert raises alarm over increased degree of seriousness of human rights violations - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ahmed Shaheed, today expressed alarm with numerous allegations and reports he continue to receive about the current human rights situation in Iran, "which require to be addressed urgently." 03/13/13

Iran Targets Means Of Bypassing Online Censorship - Iran has stepped up its already tough Internet censorship policy by blocking the most popular antifiltering tool used by Iranians to access blocked websites. Beginning last week, Iranian authorities began blocking virtual private networks (VPNs), which an estimated 30 percent of the country's Internet users employ to get around state censorship. -Golnaz Esfandiari, RFE 03/13/13

Call To Action: OURstory: Addressing the Middle East in the Classroom - Iranian parents and students can take action on a local level to help shape their school district's curriculum focusing on the Middle East. Through IAAB's "OURstory Campaign," members will address their local school districts' shortcomings regarding teaching about the Middle East. Click below to learn more and become a part of this campaign. 03/13/13

Iran's Maghreb daily shut down by press board - Iran's Press Supervisory Board has suspended the publishing licence of Maghreb daily alleging that the newspaper has violated legal limitations imposed on the press. Maghreb was introduced into the news kiosks last September and has held a critical stance toward state policies. It was shut down once in December for similar charges. 03/12/13

Ancient Symbol of Human Rights Visits US - An ancient clay cylinder credited with containing the world's first declaration of human and religious rights, is touring the United States. Dating from the sixth century BCE, and smaller than an American football, the artifact is inscribed with proclamations from King Cyrus the Great of ancient Persia, present-day Iran, who ruled almost 2,600 years ago. 03/12/13

Iran's National Internet launched, restrictions put on VPN use - In an interview with Radio Zamaneh, telecommunications and internet expert Moahmoud Tajalimehr speaks about the Iranian government's efforts to block VPN use as a part of its more general plan to create a closed internet space referred to as the "national Internet." 03/12/13

Photos: Ground broken for Pakistan section of IP gas pipeline - Construction of the Pakistan section of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline officially started on Monday. The project was launched during a ceremony on the Iran-Pakistan border attended by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari. 03/12/13

The Cyrus Cylinder: Its Significance for Today - The Cyrus Cylinder has traveled to the United States for the first time, and it will tour five major metropolitan centers, starting March 9th at the Smithsonian Institution's Arthur M. Sackler Gallery in Washington, D.C., traveling afterwards to Houston, New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Despite its antiquity, the cylinder may still have a significant role to play on the international stage today. -Farhang Jahanpour 03/11/13

Photos: Iran hosts National Nowruz Welcoming Festival - Iran has held Nowruz Welcoming Celebration during a ceremony in the capital city of Tehran on Sunday to mark upcoming spring and Iranian New Year. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi along with a number of officials attended the national celebration held at Tehran's Summit Conference Hall. 03/11/13

The First Iranian-Armenian Earth Scientist to be Honored by the Geological Society of America - The special session honors the 40 years of Dr. Manuel Berberian's research which has contributed significantly to our understanding of the geologic evolution and active tectonics of Southwest Asia. This multidisciplinary session is expected to bring together an international group of researchers, ranging from veteran experts to students, to present and identify frontier avenues of research involving the geology, geophysics, and active tectonics of Southwest Asia. 03/11/13

Iranian President Under Fire For Hugging Chavez's Mother - Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad offers his condolences to Elena Frias, mother of Venezuela's late President Hugo Chavez, during the funeral service at the Military Academy in Caracas on March 8. The photo was released to the media by the press office of the Venezuelan presidency. 03/10/13

Photos: Volunteers cook 220 Kilograms of Samanoo for Norouz! - Every year, two weeks before the arrival of the Iranian New Year Norouz, a group of devoted people gather at the Alroghieh Mosque in the southern city of Shiraz and cook a large amount of samanoo for distribution among the needy in the city. This year the volunteers cooked 220 kilograms of samanoo! 03/9/13

Crying wolf over Iran's nuclear program - After producing his comic diagram during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly last September, drawing a red line in order to stop Iran's alleged imminent nuclear bomb, the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for immediate action against Iran before it was too late. -Farhang Jahanpour 03/8/13

Photos: Paragliding in Mazandaran, Iran - Paragliding is a favorite adventure for tourists visiting the town of Galugah by the Caspian Sea in Iran's Mazandaran province. The heights at the village of Mahdirjeh offer a great point to soar about the beautiful landscape and enjoy the breathtaking scenery. 03/6/13

Perpetuation of Myth: An Exhibition by Iranian-American Artists - The Museums of Los Gatos presents Perpetuation of Myth a new exhibition at The Art Museum of Los Gatos at 4 Tait Avenue, Los Gatos, California. Perpetuation of Myth, curated by Nazanin Hedayat Munroe is on view March 7 - April 14, 2013. 03/4/13

Photos: Yazd faces water shortage as supply from Isfahan cut by protesting farmers - Outraged that precious water from their local river is being diverted, last week a group of farmers in Isfahan, Iran destroyed a pump channelling water to the city of Yazd. They've been guarding the pump day and night ever since, refusing to let the authorities fix it. Meanwhile, residents of Yazd are suffering from a severe water shortage, leading to fears of unrest there. 03/4/13

Photos: Haji Firouz in the streets of Shiraz - In Iranian culture, Haji Firouz is the traditional herald of the Nowruz season. Wearing black make-up and a red costume, Haji Firouz sings and dances through the streets with tambourines and trumpets spreading good cheer and the news of the coming New Year. 03/4/13

Hakim (Physician-Philosopher) Razi - A book by Parviz Azkaei - Zakaria Razi (865-925), the musician, alchemist and the father of modern chemistry, the philosopher and physician is the reviver of ancient Iranian world-views after the advent of Islam. For this reason, Parviz Azkaei's great comprehensive work on Razi's life, covering the history and socio-political conditions of his time as well was The Book that as an Iranian, I was craving for all my life. -Roya Monajem 03/1/13

Photos: The Historic Kharanaq Citadel - The citadel has a fascinating labyrinth of little lanes, streets, tunnels and passageways. It is designed as a maze for a very special reason: in case a thief from outside would come to this village to steal something, he would most likely get lost in it, giving time to local villagers to catch him and recover the loot the thief had taken. 02/27/13

Photos: Temple of Anahita at Kangavar - The Anahita Temple is the name of one of two archaeological sites in Iran popularly thought to have been attributed to the ancient deity Anahita. The larger and more widely known of the two is located at Kangavarin Kermanshah Province. The other is located at Bishapur. 02/25/13

Photos: Iran overpowers US freestyle wrestling team 6-1 at World Cup in Tehran - Defending World champion Iranian freestyle wrestling team in a brilliant performance on Thursday evening overpowered US free style wrestling team 6-1. Iranian team set a shining record on the first day of the international tournament and powerfully won all five teams in its pool. 02/22/13

Cyrus, Ben-Gurion and Ben-Zion - By all accounts. Cyrus was a magnanimous man and the archetype of a wise ruler. The policies that he introduced did indeed promote religious tolerance, and the right for communities to live according to their own laws and beliefs. What Cyrus promoted is a model to be emulated and not criticized. One must be grateful that Neil MacGregor delivered his TED talk, and is allowing the Cyrus Cylinder to tour the United States of America. -Abolala Soudavar 02/20/13

2013 Farhang Short Film Festival's Top 6 Nominees Selected - The Top 6 Nominees of the 5th Annual Farhang Foundation Short Film Festival have officially been announced. They are And We Pass By (Iran), Distant Words (Australia), Karbafi (Iran), Khourosh Ali Khan: Jazz Fusion in Iran (USA), Namaki (Iran), and Rostam in WonderLand - Sohrab's Blood (USA). 02/17/13

Photos: The Making of Bakhtiari Rugs - The Bakhtiari tribe, based in Chahar Mahaal and Bakhtiari, is well-known for their rugs and weavings. Bakhtiari Rugs are based on a cotton foundation (warp) with a wool weft usually taken from the herds of the producing tribe. This leads to unique carpets that differ depending on the characteristics of each tribe's wool. 02/16/13