Razavi Khorasan province

Razavi Khorasan is a province in northeastern Iran, one of the country's 31 provinces. Its capital, Mashhad, is Iran's second-largest city. The province was created in 2004 when the former Khorasan province was split into three; it was assigned to Region 5 in 2014, with Mashhad serving as the secretariat. The name "Razavi" refers to Ali al-Rida, the eighth Imam of Twelver Shia Islam, who died in Tus in 818 and is buried in Mashhad.

The broader region of Greater Khorasan has seen many dynasties and governments rise and fall. Arab, Turk, Kurdish, and Turkmen tribes repeatedly reshaped the area. Ancient Iranian geographers divided Iran into eight parts, with Greater Khorasan being the largest and most prosperous. Esfarayen was an early settlement for Aryan tribes after their arrival. The Parthian Empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. Under the Sassanids, a Spahbod (Lieutenant General) called Padgošban governed the province, assisted by four margraves. During the Muslim conquest of Persia, Khorasan was split into four sections named after the cities Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh. The Rashidun Caliphate conquered it in 651, and it remained under Abbasid rule until 820, followed by the Iranian Tahirid dynasty until 873 and the Samanid dynasty in 900. Khorasan was Iran's largest province until it was divided on 29 September 2004 into Razavi Khorasan, North Khorasan, and South Khorasan, a decision approved by parliament on 18 May 2004 and by the Council of Guardians on 29 May 2004.

According to the 2006 census, the population was 5,515,980 in 1,426,187 households. By 2011, it had grown to 5,994,402 in 1,716,314 households, and by 2016, it reached 6,434,501 in 1,938,703 households. The largest ethnic group is Persians, with significant communities of Khorasani Kurds, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens, and Khorasani Baloch. In 2016, the Muslim population was 6,409,180, mostly Shia, with the shrine of the eighth Imam in Mashhad. A notable Sunni population lives in the province, forming majorities in cities like Torbat-e-Jam and Taybad. The 2016 census also recorded 7,159 Christians, 961 Zoroastrians, 135 Jews, 1,073 followers of other faiths, and 15,993 people who did not state a religion.

As of 2016, over 72% of the province's population—4,700,924 people—lived in cities. After Mashhad, the most populous cities are Nishapur, Sabzevar, and Torbat-e Heydarieh.

Archaeological sites include the Kohandezh hills in Nishapur, where an American team excavated between 1935 and 1940, uncovering objects later shared with the Shah's government. The Metropolitan Museum of Art published findings on Nishapur ceramics from those digs. After 1945, the site was looted for the international market for early Islamic art; today, the Kohandezh hills show remains of those excavations. Shadiyakh was a major palace in old Nishapur until the 7th century, becoming more important afterward, but was completely ruined in the 13th century. It was home to figures like Farid al-Din Attar, whose tomb is there.

The province has many natural attractions, including mineral springs, lakes, recreational areas, caves, protected regions, and hiking spots. It also contains numerous religious sites, such as the shrine of Imam Reza, Goharshad Mosque, and many mausoleums and Imamzadehs. The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1,179 sites of historical and cultural significance across all three Khorasan provinces. Popular attractions in Razavi Khorasan include in Mashhad: the Imam Reza Shrine, Goharshad Mosque, the Tomb of Nader Shah, the Tomb of Khajeh Rabie, the Tomb of Ferdowsi, and the Haruniyeh Dome. In Nishapur: the Mausoleum of Attar of Nishapur, the Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám, the Tomb of Kamal-ol-molk, the Tomb of Heydar Yaghma, Shadiyakh, and the Jameh Mosque of Nishapur. In Sabzevar: the Khosrogerd Minaret, Pamenar Mosque, Jameh Mosque of Sabzevar, the Tomb of Hadi Sabzevari, and the Tomb of Boghrat. In Kashmar: the Arg of Kashmar, the Tomb of Hassan Modarres, Imamzadeh Seyed Morteza, Imamzadeh Hamzeh, Imamzadeh Mohammad, the Grave of Pir Quzhd, the Jameh Mosque of Kashmar, Haj Soltan Religious School, and Haji Jalal.