   mashhad ( ; ) is the second most populous city in iran and is the capital of razavi khorasan province. it is located in the north east of the country close to the borders of afghanistan and turkmenistan. its population is 3,131,586 . it was a major oasis along the ancient silk road connecting with merv in the east. mashhad is the hometown of some of the most significant iranian literary figures and artists such as mehdi akhavan-sales, the famous contemporary poet and mohammad-reza shajarian, the tra
Cities_in_Iran Cities_in_Razavi_Khorasan_Province Former_capitals_of_Iran Holy_cities Iranian_provincial_capitals Mashhad Populated_places_along_the_Silk_Road Shia_holy_cities