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Why is Mashhad the second-largest city in Iran after Tehran?

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Mashhad: shrine of ʿAlī al-Riḍā — Mashhad Shrine of the imam ʿAlī al-Riḍā, Mashhad, Iran.

Mashhad is the second-largest city in Iran after Tehran primarily due to its status as a major religious, economic, and political hub.12

The city’s prominence is fundamentally tied to the shrine of Ali al-Rida, the eighth imam of Twelver Shi'i Islam. As the only place in Iran where an imam is entombed, Mashhad attracts tens of millions of pilgrims annually, which serves as a cornerstone of its religious and economic life. The charitable trust (bonyad) that administers the shrine is one of the wealthiest and largest institutions in the country, further cementing the city's influence.12

Additionally, Mashhad serves as a vital center for trade with neighboring countries to the east and has developed significant infrastructure, including a large airport and extensive rail connections, to support its role as a regional hub. Its historical development as a stronghold of the clerical-bazaar nexus has also allowed it to maintain a powerful position in Iranian politics throughout the modern era.132