North Khorasan province

North Khorasan province, with Bojnord as its capital, sits in the northeast of Iran. It is one of the country’s 31 provinces. The province was established in 2004, when the former Khorasan—once Iran’s largest province—was divided into three separate entities: Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan. This division was approved by Iran’s parliament on 18 May 2004 and by the Council of Guardians on 29 May 2004, taking effect on 29 September 2004. In 2014, North Khorasan was placed within Region 5.

The broader region of Greater Khorasan has seen many dynasties and governments rise and fall. Over time, various groups—Persians, Arabs, Turks, Kurds, and Turkmens—have repeatedly reshaped the area. Ancient Iranian geographers split Iran into eight parts, with Greater Khorasan being the largest. Among the province’s cities, Esfarayen was a key settlement for Aryan tribes entering Iran. The Parthian Empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years, and during that era, Esfarayen was an important village of Nishapur.

Under the Sasanians, the province was governed by a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) known as “Padgoosban,” along with four margraves, each commanding one of the province’s four sections. In 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The Abbasid clan held the territory until 820, after which the Iranian Taherid clan ruled from 896, followed by the Samanid dynasty in 900. During the Muslim conquest of Persia, Khorasan was split into four parts, each named after its largest city: Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh. Mahmud of Ghazni conquered Khorasan in 994, and in 1037 Tuğrul Beg, the first Seljuq ruler, took Nishapur. Mahmud Qaznavi fought back against invaders several times, and eventually the Qaznavi Turks defeated Sultan Sanjar. In 1157, the Khwarazmids conquered Khorasan, and in 1220 it was annexed by the Mongols under Genghis Khan. After his death in 1226, Khorasan passed to his son Tolui, then to Tolui’s son Hulegu, the first emperor of the Mongolic Ilkhanate of Persia. In the 14th century, the Sarbedaran movement raised a flag of independence in Sabzevar, and in 1368 Khorasan fell to Tamerlane. Uzbek tribes occupied it in 1507, and after Nader Shah’s death in 1747, the Afghans took control. In 1824, Herat became independent for several years when the Afghan Empire split between the Durranis and Barakzais. The Persians besieged the city in 1837, but the British helped the Afghans repel them. In 1856, the Persians invaded again and briefly recaptured Herat, leading directly to the Anglo-Persian War. Hostilities ended in 1857 with the Treaty of Paris, and Persian troops withdrew from Herat. Afghanistan reconquered Herat in 1863 under Dost Muhammad Khan, two weeks before his death.

Today, North Khorasan is one of Iran’s most ethnically diverse provinces. Most residents are Shia Muslims, including Khorasani Kurds, Persians, and Khorasani Turks, though a small Sunni minority, mostly Turkmen, also exists. A sizeable Lur population once lived here, but most have returned to western Iran, leaving no trace in the province today. There was also a large Arab community that settled during the Arab invasion, but by 1875 they had intermarried so extensively with Persians and Turks that they became indistinguishable, abandoning their language and culture for local ones.

According to the 2006 National Census, the province had 791,930 people in 198,626 households. By 2011, the population was 867,727 in 240,885 households. The 2016 census recorded 863,092 people in 254,747 households. Over 56% of the population—484,346 people—lived in cities as of 2016.

The province offers many historical and natural attractions, including mineral water springs, small lakes, recreational areas, caves, protected regions, and hiking spots. Most historical relics date from the Qajar era, as earthquakes have repeatedly destroyed older structures. The Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran lists 1,179 sites of historical and cultural significance across all three Khorasan provinces. Popular attractions include Besh Qardash (five brothers) and Baba-Aman springs, as well as the Jameh Mosque of Jajarm.

Higher education institutions in the province include the University of Bojnurd, Islamic Azad University of Bojnurd, Eshragh Institute of Higher Education (Bojnurd), Islamic Azad University of Shiravan, Hakiman Institute of Higher Education (Bojnurd), and Khorasan University of Medical Science (Bojnurd).