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Lipar Wetland: Iran’s rare pink lake you must visit

February 23, 2026About Iran, Iran 1, News, News 4islam

Most lakes and oceans around the world share familiar shades of blue and green. But in southeastern Iran, visitors encounter something rare — a naturally pink wetland.

Located near the coastal city of Chabahar, the Lipar Wetland stands out as one of Iran’s most unique natural attractions. Its soft pink color has turned it into a growing destination for domestic and international travelers.

Instead of asking why lakes are blue, visitors here often ask: How can water turn pink? And when is the best time to see it?

The name “Lipar” refers to the plain where the wetland is formed. In the local Baluchi language, Lipar describes the meeting point of river water and sea water, which is exactly how this wetland was created.

Lipar is a saline wetland located on an alluvial plain with an approximate area of 14 square kilometers. Its formation is influenced by rainfall, seasonal floods, and marine conditions. Human infrastructure, including the coastal road between Chabahar and Gawater, has also affected its current structure.

Importantly, the wetland is not permanently filled with water. Its existence depends heavily on monsoon rains and environmental conditions.

Lipar Wetland: Iran’s rare pink lake you must visit

Why is the Lipar Wetland’s water pink?

The Pink Wetland of Chabahar gets its color from natural biological processes.

The pink hue is primarily caused by the presence of phytoplankton and ecological interactions within the water. Around 90% of the plankton species in the wetland are plant-based microorganisms.

Several factors contribute to the color:

High concentrations of organic and mineral materials carried by rivers

Seasonal marine currents influenced by monsoon winds

Rapid growth of phytoplankton populations

Plankton levels increase from mid-June to September and typically reach their peak around December. During these periods, the pink color becomes more visible.

The water is saline, which supports this ecological process.

Lipar Wetland: Iran’s rare pink lake you must visit

When is the best time to visit Lipar Wetland?

Lipar Wetland is most visually striking during:

February

March

April

September

October

In these months, water levels and plankton density combine to produce the clearest pink appearance.

Summer is generally not ideal due to high temperatures and reduced water levels.

In favorable rainfall years, the wetland may retain sufficient water for approximately three to four months at best.

Therefore, the optimal visiting window is from mid-winter through spring — when both water presence and color intensity align.

Lipar Wetland: Iran’s rare pink lake you must visit

How to reach Lipar Wetland

Address:

Near the village of Ramin, 15 km east of Chabahar, along the coastal road between Chabahar and Gawater

Province: Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

Access is typically through Ramin Village, connected via the coastal highway.

The contrast between pink water and blue sky at the Lipar Wetland creates a surreal visual effect — a scene that once seemed possible only in imagination or animated films. Today, travelers no longer need to visit fantasy worlds to see such colors.

Travel to southeastern Iran offers access to rare ecological phenomena combined with nearby attractions such as mini-mountain formations and other natural sites in the Chabahar region. Exploring Lipar Wetland means experiencing one of the world’s few naturally pink aquatic ecosystems — hidden yet accessible.

MNA

Iran closely monitoring US actions, ready for any scenario

February 23, 2026News, News 6islam

TEHRAN, Feb. 23 (MNA) – President Masoud Pezeshkian says that the Islamic Republic of Iran is closely monitoring any movements by the United States and is prepared for any scenario that might happen.

Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated that while recent negotiations with the United States have included practical proposal exchanges and encouraging signals, Tehran continues to closely monitor the actions of the American side.

In a post written in English on the social media platform X, Pezeshkian reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to regional peace and stability, while emphasizing preparedness for all possible scenarios.

“Iran is committed to peace and stability in the region. Recent negotiations involved the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals. However, we continue to closely monitor U.S. actions and have made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario,” Pezeshkian wrote.

According to an announcement by the foreign minister of Oman, Tehran and Washington are set to hold the third round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva, the capital of Switzerland, on Thursday.

Pezeshkian’s remarks highlight Tehran’s dual-track approach of engaging in diplomacy while maintaining vigilance regarding Washington’s conduct.

MNA

Ramadan offers great opportunity to raise awareness on environmental protection

February 23, 2026News, News 3islam

TEHRAN – Highlighting the need to strengthen self-improvement, increase social responsibility and contentment, the fasting month of Ramadan provides a great opportunity to raise public awareness, build a more sustainable culture, and take effective steps towards environmental protection.

The holy month educates people about the significance of conserving natural resources such as water and food. Reducing energy and resource consumption within this month can serve as a model for a more sustainable behavior throughout the year, IRIB reported.

Ramadan offers the chance to practice simplicity and contentment in life, an approach that lowers consumerism and helps abandon wastefulness. Reducing food and other resources’ waste will benefit the environment.

Ramadan enables individuals to empathize with those in need, developing a sense of responsibility that can be expanded to include the environment as well. The month can promote participation in charitable activities committed to conserving nature; for example, planting trees or cleaning up a neighborhood.

The Holly Quran has repeatedly referred to the environment as a sign of God’s power and wisdom. The month opens up the door to reflect more on these verses, which can change the attitude of people towards the environment and encourage them to respect nature.

The month provides the chance to rethink one’s lifestyle and kick unhealthy habits. The changes involve reducing plastic consumption, utilizing renewable energies, minimizing environmental pollutants, and encouraging people to use public transportation or ride their bikes.

Moreover, mosques and religious centers can hold educational programs on the importance of protecting environment including soil, water, and air, during the month.

Tehran Times

Ramadan unites Muslims worldwide with unique traditions

February 23, 2026Art & Culture, Art & Culture 1, News, News 2islam

Ramadan is a month that unites Muslims from all over the world by observing religious rituals with unique traditions that may be different but have the same purposes.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and the month in which Muslims believe the Quran was revealed. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to sunset. Muslims believe that the Quran was sent down to the lowest heaven during this month, thus being prepared for gradual revelation by Jibraeel (Gabriel) to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). The first day of the next month, Shawwal, is spent in celebration and is observed as the “Festival of Breaking Fast” or Eid al-Fitr.

Roughly two billion people from different cultural backgrounds celebrate the month in their own way. Ramadan is more than fasting and praying; it is a time to get together and uphold traditions and customs.

In addition to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Morocco, Indonesia, Pakistan, India, Iran, the UAE, and other Muslim countries, many individuals in non-Muslim countries also participate in Ramadan traditions. Ramadan is celebrated in the UK, Canada, the US, and some other European countries.

Although they have the same religious practices during the month, fasting and worshiping, but the rituals vary from country to country.

Ramadan Lantern / Egypt

During Ramadan, Egyptians decorate the streets with lanterns to illuminate the entire city during the holy month. These lanterns symbolize unity and joy.

The origins of the Ramadan lantern history trace back to Egypt during the Fatimid era, specifically in 358 AH (around 969 AD), when Caliph Al-Mu’izz li-Din Allah entered Cairo for the first time on the fifth day of Ramadan. He arrived in the city after sunset. So people welcomed him with candles placed in wooden frames that prevented them from going out. Later, these wooden frames evolved into lanterns decorated with colourful glasses.

Suhoor drummer /Turkey

Like many other Middle Eastern countries, more than 20,000 drummers roam the streets of Turkey to wake Muslims up for the morning prayer and suhoor (pre-dawn meal) before sunrise. Drummers in Turkey wear traditional Ottoman attire, red hats, and vests.

Recently, Turkish authorities have introduced a membership card for drummers to instil a sense of pride in them and encourage the younger generation to keep this long-standing tradition alive in the country.

Children recite poems / the UAE

Haq Al Laila is a tradition observed on the 13th, 14th, and 15th of Ramadan in the UAE. Children put on colorful clothes and go from door to door to sing songs and receive sweets. The song means give sweet to us, may God reward you, and you visit His house in Mecca.

Eating food prepared by neighbors / Thailand

In Thailand, women leave their houses before they break their fast (iftar). They sit in front of one of their homes and have iftar together. The men do not eat the food their wives have made. Instead, they eat the foods prepared by other men’s wives.

Dawn caller / Morocco

Dressed in traditional gandora, hat, and simple pair of slippers, a dawn caller walks through the streets, gently beating his drum and calling out to wake people up to eat before dawn. He is chosen by people because of his honesty. The tradition dates back to the 7th century when a companion of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) would roam in the street at dawn singing melodious prayers.

Bathing to purify / Indonesia

Before the beginning of Ramadan, Muslims in Indonesia hold a ritual called ‘Padusan’, which means bathing in natural pools to purify themselves physically and spiritually.

Canon firing / Syria, Lebanon, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Known as Madfa al iftar, the tradition started 200 years ago when the Ottoman ruler Khosh Qadam occupied Egypt. At that time, Qadam accidentally blasted a cannon while testing it during sunset. The sound echoed throughout Cairo, and many civilians thought it was a new way to announce the end of Ramadan. Later, Syria and Lebanon started to observe the tradition.

What makes the tradition unique for Bosnia and Herzegovina is that they fire cannons before breaking fast. They do not use war canons but traditional ones that are 100 years old.

Mheibes game / Iraq

In Iraq, after breaking the fast, people gather to play a traditional game of deception called Mheibes. The men’s game involves two teams of about 40 to 250 players who take turns hiding rings.

Traditional songs / Albania

For more than a century, members of Albania’s Muslim community, which dates back to the Ottoman Empire, have celebrated the beginning and end of Ramadan with their traditional songs. Every day during Ramadan, they gather in the streets to play the lodra, a homemade double-ended cylinder drum covered in sheep or goatskin. To celebrate the start of iftar, Muslim families often invite them into their homes to play traditional ballads.

Special name for newborns / Chechnya

One of the most distinctive Ramadan traditions in Chechnya is the use of special names for newborns born during the holy month. If it’s a boy, the name will be “Ramadan,” and if it’s a girl, the name will be “Marha.”

Seheriwala / India

People in India play a type of drum called seheriwala. The tradition dates back to the Mughal Empire. They walk in the street chanting the names of God and Prophet Mohammad.

Foods and pastries / Iran

A variety of foods and pastries are served during the month of Ramadan in Iran.

Although there is no prescribed food for the meals, Iranians have some unique cuisines, such as Zoolbia Bamieh – a crispy Persian doughnut, made of deep-fried dough drunk in tasty syrup; Halim – a very popular food made of barley, shredded meat (beef, lamb, chicken or turkey) and spices; Ash Reshteh – a traditional Persian stew made of vegetables, fried onion, meat, nuts, beans, and Persian noodle; and Sholezard – an Iranian traditional saffron rice pudding dessert.

Tehran Times

Russia Opens Cultural Center in Tehran

February 19, 2026News, News 6islam

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Russian Cultural Center in Tehran was officially inaugurated on Tuesday in the presence of Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev and senior Iranian officials.

The Russian energy minister, Iran’s ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali, and a deputy of Iran’s minister of culture were among those present at the inauguration ceremony.

Earlier, the Russian Energy Ministry had announced in a press statement following a meeting between Tsivilev and Jalali that the two countries intend to sign several agreements in the fields of trade and economic cooperation as part of the programs of the joint intergovernmental commission.

“Russia and Iran are mutually interested in advancing joint infrastructure projects, including in the fuel and energy sector, ensuring energy security, and strengthening technological sovereignty for both nations,” Tsivilev said during an address at a ceremonial reception hosted by the embassy of Iran in Moscow on February 10.

The Russian energy minister has announced that the 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission is scheduled for spring 2025 in Moscow, where efforts to bolster trade and economic partnership between Russia and Iran will continue.

Tasnim News Agency

Iran declares Thursday as first day of holy month of Ramadan

February 19, 2026About Iran, Iran 1, News, News 5islam

Iran’s Estehlal or Moon Sighting Headquarters said Wednesday that the moon was sighted on the evening of Wednesday, therefore, Thursday is the start of the holy fasting.

The Estehlal of Moon Sighting Headquarters of Iran, which operates under the office of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, said that the moon was sighted tonight, meaning that Thursday will be the start of Ramadan.

The holy month of Ramadan began in some Muslim countries on Wednesday, while others, including Iran and Iraq, have declared Thursday as its first day.

Muslims fast from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather for prayers, charity, and communal meals to mark the blessed month.

MNA

Exquisite handwritten Quran in Islamic world printed in Nastaliq script

February 19, 2026About Iran, Art & Culture, Art & Culture 2, Newsislam

TEHRAN – The first complete Holy Quran in Nastaliq script, following the style of Master Uthman Taha and approved by the Dar al-Quran Organization, has been published.

The Acting Director of South Khorasan Public Libraries Directorate General Ali Zohouri has announced the news of one of the most exquisite handwritten Qurans in the Islamic world, Mehr reported.

“This Quran, which is the result of more than 10 years of calligraphy by the distinguished master Parviz Nikbin, received approval from the Dar al-Quran Organization after four years of editing and diacritic placement. It has successfully been published as the first complete Quran in Nastaliq, a script known as the ‘Bride of Persian Scripts’,” he added.

“For years, this Quran lacked financial backing and could not be printed. However, following the explicit instructions and support of South Khorasan Governor Seyyed Mohammad Reza Hashemi, we reached an agreement with the CEO of Mehr Iran Bank to allocate the printing costs,” Zohouri stated.

He noted that the publisher of this spiritual and artistic work is Chahar Derakht Publications, which was highly persistent and hardworking in this endeavor.

Zohouri expressed hope that with the support of the respected governor and the head of the provincial public library association, this special Quran will be unveiled in the month of the revelation of the Quran (Ramadan).

Nastaliq is one of the main calligraphic styles used to write Persian and Arabic scripts and is used for significant Indo-Iranian languages (namely all of the Iranic and some of the Indo-Aryan), predominantly Persian, Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi, Urdu, Sindhi, Saraiki, Kashmiri, and Punjabi. It is also often used for Ottoman Turkish, but rarely for Arabic (particularly in Iraq).

Nastaliq developed in Iran from the combination of naskh and ta’liq, beginning in the 13th century, and remains widely used in Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and other countries for written poetry and as a form of art.

Tehran Times

Trade between Iran, Qatar turns positive as exports rise 34% in 10 months

February 19, 2026News, News 3islam

TEHRAN – Iran’s trade balance with Qatar swung into surplus in the first 10 months of the Iranian year 1404 (March 2025-January 2026), driven by a sharp rise in exports and a decline in imports, a senior trade official said.

Abdolamir Rabihavi, director general for West Asia at the Trade Promotion Organization of Iran (TPO), citing the latest customs data from Iran and Qatar, said non-oil exports to Qatar increased significantly in both volume and value compared with the same period a year earlier.

Iran exported around 580,000 tons of goods worth more than $122 million to Qatar during the period, up from 432,000 tons valued at $113 million in the corresponding period of 1403.

Exports rose about 34 percent by weight and eight percent by value year-on-year, he said. The bulk of shipments consisted of agricultural products, food items, construction materials and selected mineral goods.

Key export items included eggs, tomatoes, watermelons, industrial milk powder, floor coverings, dried fruits, cement, clinker and building stones, reflecting Iran’s role in supplying part of Qatar’s import demand.

In contrast, Iran’s imports from Qatar declined markedly. Imports totaled about 101,000 tons worth roughly $111 million in the 10-month period, compared with 145,000 tons valued at $175 million a year earlier.

That represented a 30 percent drop in volume and a 37 percent fall in value, Rabihavi said. Imported goods mainly comprised industrial raw materials, animal feed, machinery parts and chemical products, with Qatar often acting as a re-export hub for certain items.

As a result, Iran posted a trade surplus of around $11 million with Qatar in the first 10 months of 1404, reversing a deficit of approximately $62 million recorded in the same period last year.

Rabihavi added that a significant portion of indirect trade between Tehran and Doha is conducted through third countries such as Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Trade in goods such as iron and steel billets and bitumen routed via these channels is estimated at around $200 million, pointing to further untapped potential in bilateral trade relations.

Tehran Times

Iranian delegation to attend Korea Chem, Korea Pharm & Bio

February 19, 2026News, News 2islam

TEHRAN – Iranian knowledge-based companies will set up their pavilions at the 18th Korea International Exhibition for Chemical Processing, Fine and Specialty Chemicals (KOREA CHEM) and the 16th Korea International Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Exhibition (KOREA PHARM & BIO), which are scheduled to be held from March 31 to April 3 in Seoul, South Korea.

The exhibitions will provide a great opportunity for knowledge-based companies to become familiar with the latest technologies in the nanotechnology sector.

Korea Chem exhibition zones include Petrochemical and Fluid Handling (crushers, mixers, pumps, valves, filters, dryers, conveyors, compressors, and deodorization systems)

Process Equipment and Chemical Plants (reactors, evaporators, condensers, storage tanks, heat exchangers, sterilizers, and disinfection systems)

Plant Engineering and System Design (factory automation, process integration, and system engineering)

Materials and Components (corrosion-resistant stainless steel, titanium parts, ceramics, fluororesins, synthetic rubbers)

Industry Applications (battery slurry, semiconductor fluid control, ultrapure water systems, high-performance coatings, resource recycling)

Fine and Specialty Chemicals (biochemicals, pharmaceuticals, dyes, pigments, surfactants, adhesives, fragrances, agrochemicals, coatings)

Safety and Environmental Solutions (environmental systems, safety monitoring, industry associations, research institutes, and media)

Korea Pharm & Bio is South Korea’s leading exhibition and conference dedicated to the pharmaceutical and bio-health industry.

As the industry undergoes rapid transformation, driven by digitalization, precision medicine, and global collaboration, the event provides the essential platform to explore the latest innovations and connect with key players across the entire value chain.

The exhibition is structured around different main axes such as Pharmaceuticals, Ingredients (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, Finished Dosage, Intermediates, Functional Ingredients, Fine Chemicals, Natural Extracts), Biopharmaceuticals (Biosimilars, Bio Services and Biotechnology, Bio Cluster), Contract Services and Outsourcing ( Contract Manufacturing and Service, Pre-Clinical Bioequivalence Test), Health Ingredients Natural Ingredients(Functional Ingredients, Health Supplements, Additives), and Smart Healthcare (Personalized Medicine, Digital Therapeutics, Next Generation Diagnosis and Prevention, Telemedicine Platform, Advanced Genetic Research, High-tech Imaging Diagnosis).

Tehran, Soul to beef up sci-tech co-op

In November 2025, Farhad Yazdandoost, an official with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, and Kim Junpyo, South Korea’s ambassador to Iran, discussed ways to promote scientific and technological collaboration between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to expand ties in key sectors, including the establishment of a digital museum of science and technology in cooperation with Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), IRNA reported.

The officials also highlighted the need to launch Persian and Korean language and literature chairs in top universities in each country, as seen at Seoul National University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea, and Shiraz University and Isfahan University in Iran.

Exchanging professors and students, as well as granting annual scholarships to post-graduate students, were among other measures to boost scientific interactions.

The two sides have also agreed to develop a strategic plan in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to train specialized human resources to meet the needs of the labor market.

The officials provided a draft of a memorandum of understanding to be signed in the near future.

Tehran Times

Warships can be sent to the seabed, Leader warns in response to Trump’s threats

February 18, 2026News, News 1, Supreme Leader of Iranislam

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution has responded to repeated US military threats against Iran, saying that the weapons that can sink the American carriers are “more dangerous” than the warships.

“The American president [Donald Trump] repeatedly says that their military is the strongest in the world. The strongest military in the world, however, can sometimes be struck so hard that it cannot even get back on its feet,” Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday while addressing thousands of people from East Azarbaijan Province.

“They keep saying, ‘We have sent an aircraft carrier toward Iran.’ Fine—an aircraft carrier is certainly a dangerous piece of equipment. But more dangerous than the carrier is the weapon capable of sending it to the bottom of the sea,” he added.

Trump’s remarks that Washington has been unable to eliminate the Islamic Republic for the past 47 years is “quite an admission,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.

“For 47 years, America has failed to destroy the Islamic Republic,” he said, before addressing Trump and adding, “I say this: you will not be able to do so in the future either.”

The warning comes as US President Donald Trump has deployed military forces to the region, threatening to launch attacks on Iran.

US officials said on February 12 that the Pentagon was sending an additional aircraft carrier to the region, adding thousands more troops along with fighter aircraft and guided-missile destroyers.

“In case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” Trump said on Friday, referring to USS Gerald R. Ford.

The military buildup comes as Iran and the US are holding indirect talks about the nuclear issue, months after the US-Israeli aggression on Iranian soil and attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities.

Observers say Trump is using the military threat as leverage in talks to gain concessions from Tehran. However, Iranian officials have highlighted Tehran’s readiness for both diplomacy and war, warning that any attack on Iran would ignite a regional war.

On Sunday, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi warned Trump over his war rhetoric.

“Trump should know that he would be entering a confrontation that gives harsh lessons, the outcome of which would ensure that he no longer bellows threats around the world,” he said.

‘Foolish to predetermine outcome of talks’

Elsewhere in his address, Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the ongoing indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

“These remarks the US president makes—at times issuing threats, at times saying this must be done or that must not be done—show that they are seeking to dominate the Iranian nation,” he said.

“They say, ‘Let us negotiate over your nuclear energy,’ and the outcome of the negotiation should be that you no longer possess this energy,” he said, adding, “To predetermine the outcome before talks even begin is wrong and foolish.”

“This is precisely the foolish approach being taken by American presidents, certain senators, the current president, and others,” he added.

Iranian people, however, “know their Islamic and Shi’i teachings well,” the Leader said, before quoting Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), “Someone like me would never pledge allegiance to someone like Yazid.”

“In reality, the Iranian nation is saying the same: a people with this culture, this history, these lofty values, will never pledge allegiance to corrupt figures like those currently in power in the United States,” he said.

Iran in a state of mourning

Elsewhere, Ayatollah Khamenei said the nation is grieving after recent foreign-backed riots, which left thousands of people dead, stressing, “We are in mourning for the blood that was shed.”

He divided the victims into three groups. The first, he said, were security and health defenders — police, Basij, Revolutionary Guard members and others — whom he described as “among the highest martyrs.”

The second group included bystanders killed during the turmoil. “They, too, are martyrs,” he said, noting they died amid “the enemy’s sedition.”

The third group, the Leader said, were those who were misled into joining the riots. Calling them “our own children,” he said some had written to him expressing regret. Authorities, he noted, have also recognized those killed among them as martyrs.

Apart from ringleaders backed by foreign enemies, Ayatollah Khamenei said all others deserve prayers and forgiveness.

Foreign-backed armed rioters and terrorists hijacked peaceful, sporadic protests over economic grievances on January 8 and 9.

The violence, encouraged openly by the US and the Israeli regime, resulted in extensive damage to public and private property, with widespread destruction of shops, government institutions, public service facilities, and the killing of hundreds of civilians and security forces.

Iranian authorities have confirmed that American and Israeli spy agencies were directly involved, providing funding, training, and media support to rioters and armed terrorists acting on the streets.

Official Iranian records show 3,117 people were killed in the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel killed by terrorists.

Press TV