Tehran Virtual Book Fair bridges cultural gap with free postage
A top Iranian book fair official said free postal delivery for online purchases, costing as much as the state book subsidy itself, guarantees readers in remote provinces equal access to the country’s biggest literary event, calling it a deliberate push toward balanced cultural development.
Ebrahim Heydari, deputy director of the 7th Tehran Virtual Book Fair and managing director of Iran Book and Literature House, told state news agency IRNA that the virtual fair’s free shipping policy ensures buyers in Sistan and Baluchestan, Kurdestan, North Khorasan, Azarbaijan and other far-flung regions benefit from the same discounts as residents of the capital.
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“The postal subsidy almost matches the book subsidy,” Heydari said. He explained that each Iranian national can receive free postal delivery for up to 1,500,000 rials (less than $1) worth of books, with no weight restrictions on parcels. The first postal package is entirely free for both the buyer and the publisher, while the publisher covers 30 percent of the cost for a second package.
Organizers opted for an online format due to what he described as a “semi-ceasefire” situation gripping the country, which made a physical gathering unfeasible. He said the decision followed broad consultations with publishers, booksellers and senior cultural authorities.
Heydari framed the virtual fair as a symbol of cultural resilience, arguing that it demonstrates how everyday life continues despite external pressures and wartime conditions. “This event carries the message that contrary to slogans and images sometimes presented by foreign media, Iranians are moving forward with their work properly,” he said.
The official also detailed the fair’s discount structure. Buyers receive a 25-percent reduction on new books published within the past five years, consisting of a 15-percent publisher discount and a 10-percent state subsidy capped at 20 million rials (almost $33) per person.
He noted that the cultural deputy’s budget allocates more than half of its annual funds to the book fair, underscoring the event’s priority in Iran’s cultural policy.
Heydari added that a separate subsidized online sale for booksellers would follow roughly 40 days after the fair wraps up. That scheme will cover all books regardless of publication year, allowing bookshops across the country to clear older stock.
He recalled that last year’s similar post-fair program generated about 300 billion rials ($0.5 million) in sales, double the volume of previous years in terms of both revenue and copies sold.