Grand Bazaar, Tehran

History

Trade and early markets in Tehran

It is hard to say exactly when the bazaar first appeared, but in the centuries after the Muslim conquest of Iran between 632 and 654 CE, travelers reported the growth of commerce in the area now occupied by the current bazaar.

Research indicates that a portion of today's bazaar predated the growth of the village of Tehran by the Safavid era, although it was during and after this period that the bazaar began to grow gradually. Western travelers reported that, by 1660 CE and beyond, the bazaar area had still been largely open and only partially covered.

Development

Much of the bazaar itself was constructed much later. However, under the reign of Reza Shah, as Tehran began to grow and reform exponentially in the early 20th century, the changes brought by this rapid development saw much of the bazaar disappear. The old sections of the bazaar are generally similar in their architectural style, while the parts added in the 20th century often look different. Critics say that little consideration had been given to the construction of these new sections.

''Bazaari''

Main article: Bazaari

The bazaar is viewed as a force of conservatism in the Iranian society, providing strong links between the clergy and the middle class traders. The 1979 Iranian Revolution received strong backing from these forces, and the Grand Bazaar of Tehran was a center for pro-revolutionary feeling and finance.

There were several reasons why the bazaar class worked hard to help advance the revolution. The government of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi was anathema to the bazaaris, who seemed set to lose out as the country was being industrialized, and they feared that they would be left behind and their status in society would be reduced. Similarly, another concern for the bazaar class, not just in Tehran but throughout Iran, was that these traditional economic forces did not benefit from the 1974–1978 oil boom, and were thus even more inclined to aid the revolution. As such, the Grand Bazaar of Tehran was a hotbed of support for the revolution, which positioned itself opposite to the monarchy.

The Grand Bazaar continues largely to support the establishment, particularly as conservative political forces often adopt a low tax, laissez-faire approach to the bazaaris. However, the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, including strikes, initially broke out on 29 December 2025 in the Grand Bazaar, at first because of the collapse of the rial, but quickly evolving into a broader movement demanding an end to the current regime. Bazaar de Teherán, Teherán, Irán, 2016-09-17, DD 45.jpg|Entrance to the bazaar Grand Bazaar, Tehran 14.jpg|Stained glass inside the bazaar Mezquita Shah, Teherán, Irán, 2016-09-17, DD 47.jpg|Shah Mosque is located next to the bazaar Bazaar Tehran 3.jpg|The Shah Mosque's entrance to the bazaar Bazaar de Teherán, Teherán, Irán, 2016-09-17, DD 55.jpg|Inside a corridor at the bazaar بازار تهران 20.jpg|Ceilings of a corridor at the bazaar Tehran farsh bazar.jpg|Carpet shops inside the bazaar 2011 Grand Bazaar Tehran 5984717290 by Kamyar Adl.jpg|An underwear shop inside the bazaar Tehran Bazaar 2002.jpg|Saray Roshan Tehran Bazaar protests 2018-06-25 06.jpg|The bazaar during an economic protest strike in 2018 Bazar de Téhéran, entrée.jpg|North entrance File:Bazar de Téhéran (5).jpg|Tapestry shop inside the bazaar

References

References

1. (28 December 2025). link
2. link. [[Deutsche Welle]] Persian
3. (31 December 2025). "'We want the mullahs gone': economic crisis sparks biggest protests in Iran since 2022". The Guardian.