Tehran’s new Holy Virgin Mary Metro Station opens on Line 6, honoring Saint Mary and reflecting religious diversity in the capital of Iran. Credit: Shayan Mehrabi / Tehran Picture Agency / CC BY 4.0
A newly opened metro station in central Tehran has been named after the Holy Virgin Mary, reflecting a rare and symbolic nod to religious inclusivity in the capital of Iran. The Holy Virgin Mary Metro Station sits at a key junction on Line 6 and is expected to ease congestion in one of the city’s busiest neighborhoods.
The station is located at the crossroads of Ostad Nejatollahi and Karimkhan Zand streets, just steps away from the Armenian Cathedral. Tehran’s city officials selected the name to acknowledge the city’s Christian population, particularly its long-standing Armenian community. The name also pays tribute to Saint Mary’s respected position in both Christianity and Islam.
Virgin Mary metro station is a tribute to shared religious heritage in Iran
The news may come as a surprise, but it merely reflects Iran’s religious diversity despite the mullah regime. Although Christians make up a small part of Iran’s population — less than 1% of its 92 million inhabitants — they are officially recognized under the constitution and allowed to practice their faith freely. Iran’s Christian communities — primarily Armenian and Assyrian — have lived in the region for thousands of years and continue to maintain churches, schools, and cultural institutions.
Saint Mary holds an important place in Islamic teachings. Known as Maryam in the Quran, she is considered one of the most honorable and pure women in Islamic belief. A full chapter of the Quran is dedicated to her story, and her status bridges religious traditions in a deeply symbolic way.
NEW:
🇮🇷 Iran opens the new “Holy Virgin Mary” metro station in Tehran.
The subway is filled with Christian symbols. pic.twitter.com/qXgS2Z2RPe
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) October 13, 2025
Officials say the decision to name the station after her is more than ceremonial. It reflects a broader message of unity and acknowledgment of the country’s diverse cultural and spiritual heritage.
Key location, major engineering effort
The station lies between two busy hubs: Haft-e Tir and Vali-Asr squares. Its location along Karimkhan Street, a popular area filled with cultural venues, bookstores, and art centers, made the design process particularly sensitive to the local urban landscape.
Construction, which began in 2015, posed major challenges due to the area’s density and underground layout. After a decade of work, the finished structure reaches a depth of 34 meters and covers around 11,000 square meters. Workers removed more than 100,000 cubic meters of earth during excavation and used large amounts of concrete and steel to complete the project.
The design includes about 6,000 square meters of stone finishes to improve both safety and aesthetics. The northern entrance features 12 escalators, with a second entrance under construction to boost passenger flow.
Boosting urban mobility and daily life
Tehran officials describe the new metro station as part of a wider effort to improve public transportation and ease daily commutes. Abdolmotahhar Mohammadkhani, a spokesperson for the municipality, said the station is meant to serve thousands of commuters traveling through central Tehran and will improve access to nearby cultural and business districts.
Beyond its technical achievements, the project symbolizes progress in public services and city planning. Despite ongoing financial challenges, Tehran Municipality says it is committed to expanding the city’s metro system. Alongside the Holy Virgin Mary Station, other developments are underway on Lines 3 and 7, forming part of a broader mid-October transit expansion.