culture of Tehran

{{See also|Architecture of Tehran}}

The oldest surviving architectural monuments of Tehran are from the Qajari and Pahlavi eras. Although, considering the area of Greater Tehran, monuments dating back to the Seljuk era remain as well; notably the Toqrol Tower in Ray. There are also remains of Rashkan Castle, dating back to the ancient Parthian Empire, of which some artifacts are housed at the National Museum;{{cite book|title=Ancien Rey|last=Karimian|first=Hossein|chapter=Anjomane Asare Melli}} and the Bahram fire temple, which remains since the Sassanian Empire.

Tehran only had a small population until the late 18th century, but began to take a more considerable role in Iranian society after it was chosen as the capital city. Despite the regular occurrence of earthquakes during the Qajar period and after, some historic buildings have remained from that era.{{Cite web|url=http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Iran/Tehran-Capital-City-of-Iran/128|title=Tehran Capital City of Iran|website=Kwintessential.co.uk|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-date=2007-10-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017070645/http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Iran/Tehran-Capital-City-of-Iran/128|url-status=dead}}

Tehran is Iran's primate city, and is considered to have the most modernized infrastructure in the country. However, the gentrification of old neighborhoods and the demolition of buildings of cultural significance has caused concerns.{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0408/iran.html|title=The Style of Tehran – Library of Congress|last=Urschel|first=Donna|publisher=Loc.gov|access-date=2012-05-21}}

File:Azadi Tower at night III.jpg|Azadi Tower

File:02 hasan abad Sq..jpg|Hasanabad Square

File:Tehran City Theater 1.jpg|A view of the building of the City Theater of Tehran

File:Ministerstv spravedlnosti 1.jpg|The Courthouse of Tehran

File:Iranian Foreign Affaire Ministry.jpg|Police House,
the National Garden

File:Tehran_from_Qeytariyeh.jpg in February 2010]]

Previously a low-rise city due to seismic activity in the region, modern high rise developments in Tehran have been built in recent decades in order to service its growing population. There have been no major quakes in Tehran since 1830.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/19/women-blame-earthquakes-iran-cleric|title=Women to blame for earthquakes, says Iran cleric|date=2010-04-19|work=The Guardian}}

Tehran's International Tower is the tallest residential building in Iran. It is a 54-story building located in the northern district of Yusef Abad.

The Azadi Tower, a memorial built under the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty, has long been the most famous symbol of Tehran. Originally constructed in commemoration of the 2,500th year of the foundation of the Imperial State of Iran, it combines elements of the architecture of the Achaemenid and Sassanid eras with post-classical Iranian architecture. The Milad Tower, which is the sixth tallest tower{{cite web|url=http://www.nbn.ir/viewer.php?id=15|title=Milad Tower, a perfect product for a perfect project|date=n.d.|publisher=NBN (Nasl Bartar Novin)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091117010931/http://www.nbn.ir/viewer.php?id=15|archive-date=November 17, 2009|access-date=2009-09-10|url-status=dead}} and the 24th-tallest freestanding structure in the world,Andrew Burke, Mark Elliott. Iran (Lonely Planet Country Guide). p. 114. Lonely Planet Publications, 5th Edition, 2008. {{ISBN|978-1-74104-293-1}}. is the city's other famous landmark tower. Leila Araghian's Tabiat Bridge, the largest pedestrian overpass in Tehran, was completed in 2014 and is also considered a landmark.{{Cite web|url=http://www.archdaily.com/566387/tabiat-pedestrian-bridge-diba-tensile-architecture|title=Tabiat Pedestrian Bridge / Diba Tensile Architecture|date=November 17, 2014|publisher=ArchDaily}}

File:RudakiHall.jpg, Tehran]]

Under the reign of the Qajars, Tehran was home to the royal theater of Tekye Dowlat, located to the southeast of the Golestan Palace, in which traditional and religious performances were observed. It was eventually destroyed and replaced with a bank building in 1947, following the reforms under the reign of Reza Shah.

Before the 1979 Revolution, the Iranian national stage had become the most famous performing scene for known international artists and troupes in the Middle East,{{Cite book|title=The History of Ballet in Iran|author=Kiann, Nima|date=2015|publisher=Reichert Verlag|place=Wiesbaden, Germany}} with the Roudaki Hall of Tehran constructed to function as the national stage for opera and ballet. The hall was inaugurated in October 1967, named after prominent Persian poet Rudaki. It is home to the Tehran Symphony Orchestra, the Tehran Opera Orchestra, and the Iranian National Ballet Company.

The City Theater of Tehran, one of Iran's biggest theater complexes which contains several performance halls, was opened in 1972. It was built at the initiative and presidency of empress Farah Pahlavi, and was designed by architect Ali Sardar Afkhami, constructed within five years.

The annual events of Fajr Theater Festival and Tehran Puppet Theater Festival take place in Tehran.

File:Bagh-e_Ferdows_Tajrish.jpg houses Iran's Cinema Museum.]]

The first movie theater of Tehran was established by Mirza Sahhafbashi in 1904.{{Cite web|url=http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=1414606616|title=The history of Iranian cinema|author=Mehrabi, Massoud.|access-date=2017-06-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623113213/http://www.massoudmehrabi.com/articles.asp?id=1414606616|archive-date=2018-06-23|url-status=dead}} Until the early 1930s, there were 15 theaters in Tehran Province and 11 in other provinces.{{Cite web|url=http://www.horschamp.qc.ca/new_offscreen/preiran.html|title=Iranian Cinema: Before the Revolution|date=November 1999|website=offscreen.com}}

In present-day Tehran, most of the movie theaters are located downtown. The complexes of Kourosh Cinema, Mellat Gallery and Cineplex, Azadi Cinema, and Cinema Farhang are among the most popular cinema complexes in Tehran.

Several film festivals are held in Tehran, including Fajr Film Festival, Children and Youth Film Festival, House of Cinema Festival, Mobile Film and Photo Festival, Nahal Festival, Roshd Film Festival, Tehran Animation Festival, Tehran Short Film Festival, and Urban Film Festival.

File:Googoosh singing, 1969.jpg performing in 1969]]

Tehran is also one of the most important cities in Asia for the recorded music industry. Tehran is home to two professional orchestras, including the Tehran Symphony Orchestra and Iran's National Orchestra. There are also several concert halls in the city. Many popular singers started their work in Tehran, including Dariush, Ebi, Leila Forouhar, Googoosh, Hayedeh and Mahasti.{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiofarda.com/a/fa15-googoosh-singer-cinema-iran-persian-new-year/27635072.html|title=گوگوش: اول بازیگرم بعد خواننده!|website=رادیو فردا|language=fa|access-date=2019-09-16}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.irna.ir/news/83361890/%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%DA%A9%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA-%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%87-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D9%88-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%AF-%DA%86%D8%B4%D9%85-%D8%A2%D8%B0%D8%B1|title=برنامه کنسرت های پایتخت در هفته پیش رو ؛ خاطره‌بازی به یاد چشم‌آذر|website=Irna|access-date=2019-09-16}}

There are several artistic, historic and scientific museums in Tehran, including the National Museum of Iran, and the Carpet Museum. There is also the Museum of Contemporary Art, which hosts works of artists such as Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso and Van Gogh. The Iranian Imperial Crown Jewels, are also on display at Tehran's National Jewelry Museum.

Football and volleyball are the city's most popular sports, while aerobics,{{Cite web|url=https://www.yjc.ir/fa/news/5175190/%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%E2%80%8C-%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%87-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AA-%DA%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA|title=ورزش‌ مورد علاقه زنان پایتخت چیست؟|website=www.yjc.ir|access-date=2019-09-16}} basketball, futsal, physical exercise, pilates and wrestling are also major parts of the city's sporting culture.

12 ski resorts operate in Iran, the most famous being Tochal, Dizin, and Shemshak, all within one to three hours from the city of Tehran.

Tochal's resort is the world's fifth highest ski resort at over {{convert|3730|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} above sea level at its highest point. It is also the world's nearest ski resort to a capital city. The resort was opened in 1976, shortly before the 1979 Revolution. It is equipped with an {{convert|8|km|mi|0|-long|adj=mid}} gondola lift that covers a huge vertical distance.{{Cite web|url=http://www.tochal.org/en/telecabin_introduction.asp|title=Lines of Telecabin|website=tochal.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121200006/http://www.tochal.org/en/telecabin_introduction.asp|archive-date=2008-11-21|url-status=dead}} There are two parallel chair ski lifts in Tochal that reach {{convert|3900|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} high near Tochal's peak (at {{convert|4000|m|ft|/|abbr=on|disp=x}}), rising higher than the gondola's 7th station, which is higher than any of the European ski resorts. From the Tochal peak, there are views of the Alborz range, including the {{convert|5610|m|ft|0|-high|adj=mid}} Mount Damavand, a dormant volcano.

Tehran is the site of the national stadium of Azadi, the biggest stadium by capacity in West Asia, where many of the top matches of Iran's Premier League are held. The stadium is a part of the Azadi Sport Complex, which was originally built to host the 7th Asian Games in September 1974. This was the first time the Asian Games were hosted in West Asia. Tehran played host to 3,010 athletes from 25 countries/NOCs, which was at the time the highest number of participants since the inception of the Games.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ocasia.org/7AG.asp|title=TEHRAN 1974|website=Olympic Council of Asia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060711210717/http://www.ocasia.org/7AG.asp|archive-date=2006-07-11|url-status=dead}} That followed hosting the 6th AFC Asian Cup in June 1976, and then the first West Asian Games in November 1997. The success of the games led to the creation of the West Asian Games Federation (WAGF), and the intention of hosting the games every two years.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/westasiagames.html|title=West Asian Games|author=Stokkermans, Karel|date=January 22, 2015}} The city had also hosted the final of the 1968 AFC Asian Cup. Several FIVB Volleyball World League courses have also been hosted in Tehran.

File:نمایی از ورزشگاه ۱۲ هزار نفری.JPG|Azadi Indoor Stadium

File:Azadi automobile Circuit 6.jpg|Azadi automobile Circuit

File:Azadi Motorcylce Circuit 2019-08-10 05.jpg|Azadi motorcycle circuit

File:2014 Iran national track cycling championships-13.jpg|Azadi Velodrome

File:شقایق در حال انجام تمرینات تناسب اندام.jpg|An Iranian woman doing physical exercise in a gym in Tehran

File:Streetball in Tehran Ab-o-Atash Park 004.jpg|Streetball in Ab-o-Atash Park

File:Dizin, Iran.jpeg|Dizin, Iran's largest ski resort, is located near Tehran.

File:Esteghlal Edges Past Persepolis 3-2 to Claim Tehran Derby-33.jpg, a football match between Esteghlal and Persepolis. This match was declared as the most important derby in Asia and 22nd most important derby in the world in June 2008 by World Soccer magazine.{{cite web|url=http://www.nnseek.com/e/rec.sport.soccer/world_soccers_50_greatest_derbies_130039448t.html|title=World Soccers' 50 Greatest Derbies|publisher=nnseek.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210164315/http://www.nnseek.com/e/rec.sport.soccer/world_soccers_50_greatest_derbies_130039448t.html|archive-date=2011-02-10|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=719260|title=Worlds Greatest Derbies|publisher=bigsoccer.com}}]]

The first football club of Tehran, named Iran Club, was founded in 1920 and dissolved within two years in 1923. Today, Tehran's oldest existing football club is Rah Ahan, which was founded in 1937. Persepolis and Esteghlal, which are the city's biggest clubs and two of the biggest clubs in Asia, compete in the Tehran derby. Tehran is also home to the football club of Ararat, a popular Armenian football team based at the Ararat Stadium.

Tehran's major clubs:

Smaller clubs based in Tehran:

{{See also|Iranian cuisine}}

There are many high-end restaurants and cafes in Tehran, both modern and classic, serving both Iranian and cosmopolitan cuisine. Pizzerias, sandwich bars, and kebab shops make up the majority of food shops in Tehran.{{Cite web|url=http://thecitylane.com/where-to-eat-in-tehran-food-guide|title=Tehran Food Guide|date=July 27, 2015|publisher=The City Lane}}

File:Darband, Teherán, Irán, 2016-09-18, DD 16.jpg|A restaurant in Darband

File:Milad Tower Revolving Restaurant In August 2019.jpg|Milad Tower Revolving Restaurant

File:Pizza Capri, Tehran.jpg|A pizzeria in Kamyab Street, Tehran

File:Seryna Jappanese Restaurant 瀬里奈 - panoramio.jpg|A Japanese restaurant in Tehran

File:Cafe parking Mirdamad Blvd Tehran.jpg|The Parking Café/Restaurant

File:2008 museum garden cafe Tehran 2789830499.jpg|Shemroon Cafe, in Tehran's Iranian Art Museum

The city has produced many notable Iranian design houses and clothing companies. Fashion events are also held in some areas of the city.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilna.ir/بخش-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%D9%86%DA%AF-%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1-6/697899-%D8%B4%D8%B4%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%A2%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF|title=ششمین نمایشگاه ایران مد از فردا آغاز می‌شود|website=خبرگزاری ایلنا|language=fa|access-date=2019-09-16}} Many famous Iranian models were born in Tehran, including Nazanin Afshin-Jam, Cameron Alborzian, Sahar Biniaz, Elnaaz Norouzi, Shermine Shahrivar and Sadaf Taherian.

File:Nowruz 2018 Egg Painting Festival, Tehran (13961225000677636568346383240676 20064).jpg at Milad Tower]]

Iran's official New Year begins with Nowruz, an ancient Iranian tradition celebrated annually on the vernal equinox. It is enjoyed by people adhering to different religions, but is considered a holiday for the Zoroastrians. It was registered on the UNESCO's list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009,{{cite web|url=http://www.unesco.org/culture/ich/en/proclamation-of-masterpieces-00103|title=Proclamation of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (2001–2005) – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO|date=2000|access-date=29 November 2015|newspaper=Unesco.org}} described as the Persian New Year,{{cite web|url=https://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/march_2010/norouz_persian_new_year.aspx|title=Norouz Persian New Year|date=25 March 2010|publisher=British Museum|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306060954/https://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/march_2010/norouz_persian_new_year.aspx|archive-date=6 March 2010|access-date=6 April 2010}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.un.org/spanish/aboutun/organs/ga/55/verbatim/a55pv94e.pdf|title=General Assembly Fifty-fifth session 94th plenary meeting Friday, 9 March 2001, 10 a.m. New York|date=9 March 2001|access-date=6 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060805065511/http://www.un.org/spanish/aboutun/organs/ga/55/verbatim/a55pv94e.pdf|archive-date=5 August 2006|publisher=United Nations General Assembly|df=dmy}}{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100317/wl_time/08599197278600|title=Nowrooz, a Persian New Year Celebration, Erupts in Iran – Yahoo!News|date=16 March 2010|publisher=News.yahoo.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322222922/http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20100317/wl_time/08599197278600|archive-date=22 March 2010|access-date=6 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/19/us-mulls-persian-new-year-outreach-to-iran/|title=US mulls Persian New Year outreach|date=19 March 2010|work=Washington Times|access-date=6 April 2010}} Tehran Municipality organizes festivals during Nowruz. During Nowruz, many tourists visit the city and Nowruz is one of the best times for visiting Tehran.{{Cite web|url=https://www.isna.ir/news/98010701874/نوروز-در-تهران-پرسه-بزنید-جدول|title=نوروز در" تهران" پرسه بزنید+جدول|date=2019-03-27|website=ایسنا|language=fa|access-date=2019-09-16}} Also, Tehran hotels offer discounts during Nowruz.

Chaharshanbe Suri is one of the most popular festivals in Tehran. On the eve of the last Wednesday of the preceding year, as a prelude to Nowruz, the ancient festival of Čāršanbe Suri celebrates Ātar ("Fire") by performing rituals such as jumping over bonfires and lighting off firecrackers and fireworks.{{cite news|url=http://financialtribune.com/articles/people/61234/call-for-safe-yearend-celebration|title=Call for Safe Yearend Celebration|date=12 March 2017|newspaper=Financial Tribune|quote=The ancient tradition has transformed over time from a simple bonfire to the use of firecrackers...}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-toward-east-sea-official-says-n779401|title=Light It Up! Iranians Celebrate Festival of Fire|date=19 March 2014|work=NBC News}}

File:Aerial photographs of District 22 Tehran (13970113000345636582831198811348 12220(.jpg in Tehran. (2018)]]

The Nowruz celebrations last by the end of the 13th day of the Iranian year (Farvardin 13, usually coincided with 1 or 2 April), celebrating the festival of Sizdebedar, during which the people traditionally go outdoors to picnic.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} On this day, Tehran's people go to the city's parks and green spaces.

Yaldā, another nationally celebrated ancient tradition,{{cite news|url=http://en.mehrnews.com/news/112907/Yalda-Iranian-celebration-of-winter-solstice|title=Yalda: Iranian celebration of winter solstice|author=Rezaian, Lachin|date=20 December 2015|publisher=Mehr News Agency}} commemorates the ancient goddess Mithra and marks the longest night of the year on the eve of the winter solstice ({{Transliteration|fa|čelle ye zemestān}}; usually falling on 20 or 21 December),{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yonOicJi5BEC|title=No More "us" and "them": Classroom Lessons and Activities to Promote Peer Respect|author=Roessing, Lesley|date=2012|isbn=978-1-61048-812-9|page=89}}{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-adv-persian-winter-solstice-20131221-story.html|title=In ancient tradition, Iranians celebrate winter solstice|author=Hamedy, Saba|date=20 December 2013|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}} during which families gather together to recite poetry and eat fruits—particularly the red fruits watermelon and pomegranate, as well as mixed nuts.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ti24AwAAQBAJ|title=Religions of Iran: From Prehistory to the Present|author=Foltz, Richard|date=2013|publisher=Oneworld Publications|isbn=978-1-78074-307-3|page=29|author-link=Foltz, Richard}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OUtoJovyjMI|title=We Are Iran: The Persian Blogs|author=Alavi, Nasrin|date=8 November 2015|publisher=Soft Skull Press|page=135}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

Mehregan is an Iranian festival that also widely referred to as the Persian Festival of Autumn.{{cite web|url=http://www.netnative.com/news/06/aug/1231.html|title=Mehrgan, Persian Festival of Autumn, at Orange County Fair & Expo Center: September 9–10, 2006|date=2006-08-21|work=Payvand News|access-date=2010-04-27|archive-date=2020-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023205259/http://www.netnative.com/news/06/aug/1231.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://persiandutch.com/2011/10/09/mehregan-perzisch-festival-van-de-herfst-amersfoort-2011/|title=Persian-Dutch Community celebrated "MEHREGAN", Persian Festival of Autumn|date=2011-09-08|work=Persian Dutch Network|access-date=2011-10-12}}Bahrami, Askar, Jashnha-ye Iranian, Tehran, 1383, p. 35.

Alongside the ancient Iranian celebrations, Islamic annual events such as Ramezān, Eid e Fetr, and Ruz e Āšurā are marked by the country's large Muslim population, Christian traditions such as Noel,{{cite news|url=http://observers.france24.com/en/20131223-iran-muslim-youth-christmas-christians|title=In Iran, Muslim youth are 'even more excited about Christmas than Christians'|date=23 December 2013|publisher=France 24}} Čelle ye Ruze, and Eid e Pāk{{cite news|url=https://www.tasnimnews.com/en/media/2017/04/17/1381730/iranian-christians-celebrate-easter|title=Iranian Christians cCelebrate Easter|date=17 April 2017|publisher=Tasnim News Agency}} are observed by the Christian communities, Jewish traditions such as Purim,{{cite magazine|author=Secunda, Shai|date=13 March 2014|title=Reading Megillah in Tehran: How Iranian Jews Celebrate Purim|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/165094/reading-megillah-in-tehran|magazine=Tablet}} Hanukā,{{cite news|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/galleries/iran-photo-of-the-day.html?displayTab=iranian-jews-observe-hanukkah|title=Iranian Jews observe Hanukkah|date=28 November 2013|access-date=6 July 2017|publisher=Al-Monitor}} and Eid e Fatir (Pesah){{cite news|url=http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/iran-jews-celebrate-passover-persian-style-1.358018|title=Iran Jews Celebrate Passover, Persian-style|date=25 April 2011|newspaper=Haaretz}}{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/1107/persian-passover/special-focuses/holiday-calendar|title=Persian Passover|author=Holzel, David|date=24 May 2013|publisher=Washington Jewish Week|access-date=16 September 2019|archive-date=31 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731023719/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/1107/persian-passover/special-focuses/holiday-calendar/|url-status=dead}} are observed by the Jewish communities, and Zoroastrian traditions such as Sade{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna35170156|title=Iranians celebrate ancient Persian fire fest|author=Dareini, Ali Akbar|date=31 January 2010|work=NBC News}} and Mehrgān are observed by the Zoroastrians.

File:Day 4 of 35th Fajr International Film Festival-6.jpg at 35th Fajr International Film Festival]]

There are many fairs and festivals in Tehran that are the best of their kind in the Middle East. Some Tehran festivals are newly established such as Tehran Auto Show.{{Cite web|url=http://www.irna.ir/en/News/82743978/|title=Tehran Auto Show 2017 kicks off|website=Islamic Republic News Agency|access-date=2019-01-04}}

{{Main|Graffiti in Tehran}}

File:Writing_on_the_City_picture_Scenes.jpg, showing graffiti in Tehran's Sa'adat Abad|alt=|left|155x155px]]

Many styles of graffiti are seen in Tehran. Some are mainly political and revolutionary slogans painted by governmental organizations,{{Cite web|url=https://www.equaltimes.org/the-fleeting-freedom-of-street-art|title=The fleeting freedom of street art in Tehran|author=Cheragh Abadi, Mehrnoush.|date=February 10, 2017|publisher=Equal Times}} and some are works of art by ordinary citizens, representing their views on both social and political issues. However, unsanctioned street art is forbidden in Iran, and such works are usually short-lived.

During the 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, many graffiti works were created by people supporting the Green Movement. They were removed from the walls by the paramilitary Basij forces.{{Cite web|url=http://observers.france24.com/content/20100302-tehran-graffiti-war-green-movement-basij-militia-spray-paint-tags|title=Tehran's graffiti war|date=March 2, 2010|publisher=France 24|access-date=September 16, 2019|archive-date=March 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110321154539/http://observers.france24.com/content/20100302-tehran-graffiti-war-green-movement-basij-militia-spray-paint-tags|url-status=dead}}

In recent years, Tehran Municipality has been using graffiti in order to beautify the city.

Several graffiti festivals have also taken place in Tehran, including the one organized by the Tehran University of Art in October 2014.{{Cite web|url=http://mediacenter.dw.de/persian/pictures/item/687955/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87_%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1_%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84_%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C/|title=دانشگاه هنر میزبان فستیوال گرافیتی|date=October 24, 2012|publisher=Deutsche Welle|language=fa|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130911080951/http://mediacenter.dw.de/persian/pictures/item/687955/%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87_%D9%87%D9%86%D8%B1_%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D9%81%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84_%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA%DB%8C/|archive-date=September 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}

{{Portal|Iran|Society}}

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Category:Culture in Tehran