War is Still Alive

Mustafa Salari died fighting in the Iran-Iraq war and his body was never returned to his family. Salari’s father made this small room for his son, open to the public for prayer and contemplation. Salari’s mother often visits the site, crying alone for hours.

FB 3: In recent years, the bodies of about 7,000 Iranian martyrs have been found and have been buried under the name of “Unknown Martyr.” At present, the bodies of an estimated 5,000 other Iranian fighters are still in the Iraqi territories. Corpses are found and sent to Iran every few months

After exchanging the bodies of over 80 Iranian soldiers whose corpses had been recently found recently, the remains are carried from the border towards Me'raj Shohada, where families and mothers of the martyrs welcome the bodies.

Anbar Jaberi (72) holds her son’s clothes and cries. His body has still not been found. Like many other mothers whose sons’ bodies have not been returned from the war, she wonders if he is dead or somehow still alive.

Iranian mothers have been waiting for the return of their sons’ bodies for more than 30 years. They keep photos, clothes and letters as reminders of their sons. These mementoes help bring solace to the mothers who do not want their sons to be forgotten.

Shalamcheh is a border area between Iran and Iraq and one of the first regions that was attacked by Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi dictator, and was destroyed during the Iran-Iraq War. The war began in September 1980, when Hussein’s forces invaded western Iran along the countries’ joint border. Thousands of soldiers were killed in this region and the bodies of many Iranians killed there have not been found yet. Some two million Iranians travel to Shalamcheh every year to honor the dead, whom they consider to be martyrs. Iranians believe that martyrs' blood is holy

A war veteran tells stories of the Iran-Iraq War to people visiting the former battlegrounds.

Nearly two million people travel to the former battle zones each year. The people of Iran believe that these areas are holy because of the blood of the Iranian soldiers, considered martyrs, who were killed in the war. Many who come are families of the dead who travel to those sites to pray and mourn for the fallen.

Nearly two million people travel to the former battle zones each year. The people of Iran believe that these areas are holy because of the blood of the Iranian soldiers, considered martyrs, who were killed in the war. Many who come are families of the dead who travel to those sites to pray and mourn for the fallen.

Iranians believe that those who died in the war are martyrs who are holy beings who can help the lives of those on earth. On weekends, and on important holy days, people go to the cemeteries where martyrs are buried to pray and ask for help. Here, a member of a martyr’s family sleeps on his grave.

Mothers’ photos of sons they lost during the war. The bodies of thousands of soldiers who fought in the Iran-Iraq War have not been found. These mementoes help bring solace to the mothers who do not want their sons to be forgotten.

The graves of Iranian civilians who were killed by Iraq's chemical bombs. On July 22, 1988, five days after Iran formally accepted United Nations Security Council resolution 598, which had been passed a year earlier with a call for an immediate cease fire, the Iranian village of Zardeh was attacked by Iraqi chemical bombs. In the attack 275 people died and 1,146 were injured or suffered from toxic effects of inhalation.

Reza Reyhani, 57-year-old. As a boy, he was a minesweeper during the war, working to clear mine fields in Iran, a practice that was widely criticized in the West. He is ill and cannot speak or move today because of the chemical effects on his nervous system of his service during the war.

Reza Reyhani, 57-year-old. As a boy, he was a minesweeper during the war, working to clear mine fields in Iran, a practice that was widely criticized in the West. He is ill and cannot speak or move today because of the chemical effects on his nervous system of his service during the war.

The anti-chemical mask of an Iranian soldier killed during the war.

Children play in front of a building in Khorramshahr which remains damaged 30 years after the end of the war. Khorramshahr, an important commercial Iranian port before the war began, was the site of a major battle in the war, which was so brutal that Khorramshahr became known to many Iranians as “City of Blood.” More than 80 percent of the city was destroyed during the conflict. The port has been partly rebuilt but many buildings around the city still bear the scars of the war.

Nearly two million people travel to the former battle zones each year. The people of Iran believe that these areas are holy because of the blood of the Iranian soldiers, considered martyrs, who were killed in the war. Many who come are families of the dead who travel to those sites to pray and mourn for the fallen.

An Iranian mother, still waiting for the body of her son, who fought in the war, to be found and returned to her. In her arms, she holds another son, who is unable to walk because of a long illness.

Ezzat (64), cries as the body of her son, killed during the war, is returned after more than 30 years after he died.

A numbered plate (and a toothbrush) helped identify the body of Hashem Khalili, who was 16-years-old, which was found on Iraq's Majnoun Island after 31 years.

The faded portrait of an unknown martyr – as soldiers who died in the Iran-Iraq War are referred to by Iranians – in largest cemetery in Iran. The graves of some 33,000 martyrs are here, along with 4,000 unidentified soldiers.

Iran is the second-most contaminated country in the world with 16 million hidden mines, contaminating an area over 42,000 square kilometers, mainly along Iran’s border towns with Iraq. Exact statistics are hard to find, but every year civilians continue to be victims of the mines. People are victims of the hidden mines in the Iran's border towns.

Shalamcheh, a town on the border with Iraq, was one of the main sites of invasion by Iraqi forces under Saddam Hussein during the Iraq-Iran war. Some 50,000 Iranians died in the fighting around the town, and there is today a war memorial in their memory. Nearly two million people travel to Shalamcheh and other battle sites every year. The people of Iran believe that these areas are holy because of the blood spilled by Iranian soldiers who died here during the war, and who are considered martyrs. Many of the visitors are the families of martyrs who come mourn and pray for their loved ones.

A young couple gets married in front of an Unknown Martyr’s grave. Iranians believe that those who died in the war are martyrs who are holy beings who can help the lives of those on earth. On weekends, and on important holy days, people go to the cemeteries where martyrs are buried to pray and ask for help.

A pregnant woman and her child at home in Khorramshahr, an important commercial Iranian port before the war began. The city was the site of a major battle during the war, which was so brutal that Khorramshahr became known to many Iranians as “City of Blood.” More than 80 percent of the city was destroyed during the conflict. The port has been partly rebuilt but many buildings around the city still bear the scars of the war.

An Iranian child wearing a t-shirt featuring WWE wrestler John Cena, poses with the life-size image of an Iranian soldier, or martyr, killed in the Iran-Iraq War.

The bodies of thousands of soldiers who fought in the Iran-Iraq War have not been found. Mothers keep mementos of their sons, including photos, letters and items of clothing, like this pair of worn shoes. These mementoes help bring solace to the mothers who do not want their sons to be forgotten.

A large painting of Ebrahim Hadi on the streets of Tehran. Ebrahim is an Iranian soldier who was killed 11 February 11, 1983, and whose body was never found. He is celebrated as a martyr of the war.

A photo of twin brothers who were killed in Iraqi airstrikes on Tehran in 1987. The bombing lasted for 50 days and caused many civilian casualties.