As the largest Shiite Muslim power, Iran also hosts a steady stream of religious pilgrims, many from neighbouring Iraq, to its ancient shrine cities of Mashhad and Qom.

Iran witnessed around 850,000 foreign tourist entrances for the period of initial two months of this
year, which shows more than 50 percent progress year on year, said the country’s tourism ministry.

The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for the global travel and tourism market in 2020 and 2021 as countries around the world implemented lockdowns and travel bans to curb the number of infections.

In a statement on Sunday, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani advised Iranian nationals to avoid unnecessary trips to France amid the current critical situation in the European country.