Will Iran give up its nuclear ambitions? As its leaders try to hammer out a deal with the United States and five other leading world powers, CNN gets rare access to the Islamic state. It's the holy month of Ramadan, which means Muslims fast all day and feast at night. In Tehran, Iranians flock to markets after dark to break their fast.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
Nuts, fresh berries and other fruits are in high demand at this souk, or bazaar, after sunset when the Ramadan fast ends.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
Market stalls heave with fresh fruit in Tehran, aiming to satisfy observant Muslims who have been fasting all day.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
While the shops are full of fruit, other Iranian industries have it harder because of decades of international sanctions. At the Modern Technic factory in Tehran, workers mold auto parts by hand or with only basic machinery.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
Despite its name, the Modern Technic factory is much less automated than most modern auto plants. Most of the machinery is Iranian-made or comes from Russia.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
The Modern Technic auto parts factory still uses equipment made in the Soviet Union because sanctions make it difficult to get new machinery.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led Iran for a decade after the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Today, Iran has a shrine to honor him in Tehran.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
There's space for hundreds of worshippers inside the shrine to Khomeini, with copies of the Quran laid out for each of them.
Frederik Pleitgen / CNN
The caretakers of the shrine are known as khodam.
Thomas Evans / CNN
The dome of the shrine over Khomeini's mausoleum. The exterior of the newly constructed dome is still under scaffolding, the final golden tiles being laid.
Thomas Evans / CNN
Children play in the shrine while their mothers pray or pay their respects to the late ayatollah.
Thomas Evans / CNN
The heart of the shrine is the tomb of Khomeini, who died in 1989 but is still revered by his followers.
