Behesht-e Zahra (, lit. The Paradise of Zahra, from Fatima az-Zahra) is the largest cemetery in Iran. Located in the southern part of metropolitan Tehran, it is connected to the city by Tehran Metro Line 1. History In the early 1950s, all the cemeteries in Tehran were supposed to be replaced by several large new ones outside the then precincts of the capital. Behesht-e Zahra was built in late 1960s on the southern side of Tehran towards the direction of the city of Qom and opened on 29 June 1970 by mayor of Tehran, Gholamreza Nikpey. It was named by Ayatollah Ahmad Khonsari. The first person buried in Behesht-e Zahra was Mohammad-Taghi Khial on 25 July 1970. Many of the deceased soldiers of the Iran–Iraq War were buried in the martyr's section of the graveyard. Notable burials Royalties Prince Abdol-Ali Mirzā Farmānfarmāian (1935–1973) – industrialist and nobleman Badr-ol-Molouk Vālā (1895–1979) – wife of Ahmad Shah Qajar Princess Ezzosaltaneh Qājār (fa) (1891–1984) – daughter of Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar Princess Irāndokht Qājār (1915–1984) – daughter of Ahmad Shah Qajar Princess Sadigheh Pahlavi (fa) (1916–1990) – daughter of Reza Shah Prince Hamid-Rezā Pahlavi (1932–1992) – youngest son of Reza Shah Esmat Dowlatshāhi (1904–1995) – Reza Shah's wife Politicians (Pahlavi Era) Mozaffar A'lam (1882–1973) – politician Shamseddin Amir-Alaei (1900–1994) – diplomat and politician Ahmad Ārāmesh (fa) (1908–1973) – minister of labour (1946–47) Abdolrahmān Farāmarzi (1897–1972) – politician Saeid Mālek Loqmān ol-Molk (fa) (1888–1972) – minister of health (1944–48) and senator Hossein Navāb (1897–1972) – minister of foreign affairs (1952) Mohammad Sā'ed Sā'ed ol-Vozarā (1883–1973) – prime minister of Iran (1944) and (1948–50) Rezā Tajaddod (fa) (1888–1974) – politician Abdolqadir Āzād (fa) (1891–1974) – politician Aligholi Hedāyat (fa) (1898–1974) – senator Mohammad-Ali Keshavārz Sadr Bahādor ol-Molk (1902–1974) – politician Sādegh Rezāzādeh Shafagh (fa) (1895–1971) – politician and scholar Hājar Tarbiat (fa) (1906–1974) – senator Nāser Āmeri (fa) (1928–1975) – politician Mohammad-Ali Dādvar (fa) (1903–1977) – politician Ahmad Bahādori (fa) (1911–1977) – senator Jahānshāh Samsām (fa) (1911–1977) – senator Mahmoud Jalili (fa) (1912–1977) – senator Amir-Abbās Hoveydā (1919–1979) – prime minister of Iran (1965–77) and leader of Rastakhiz party Mahmoud Jafariān (1928–1979) – director-general of National Iranian Radio and Television (NIRT) Gholāmhossein Dāneshi (fa) (1936–1979) – politician Parviz Nikkhāh (1939–1979) – politician Sālār Jāff (fa) (1940–1979) – politician Najafgholi Moezzi Hesām od-Dowleh (fa) (1886–1980) – politician Habibollāh Amouzgār (fa) (1890–1980) – minister of education (1951)