Jolfa

Jolfa is a border town in East Azarbaijan province, separated from the Nakhchivan(Republic of Azerbaijan) by the Aras River.

Its name means ‘weaver’ as it traditionally was an important centre for silk fabric production. About 3000 people from Jolfa immigrated to Isfahan with the order of Shah Abbas I to establish silk fabrication and export through the Persian Gulf. An area with the same name was prepared in Isfahan for these immigrants.

Based on the Turkmenchay Treaty (1828), Jolfa was divided between Iran and Russia (Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic).

Jolfa also lies within Aras Free Zone (AFZ) which is a duty-free strip of land north-west of Iran, bordering the Republic of Azerbaijan, Armenia and Nakhchivan.