Sosan Alley – Azerbaijan Street Tehran – Iran

Azerbaijan Street – A Historic Neighborhood in District 10, Tehran

Located in District 10 of Tehran, the capital and largest city of Iran, Azerbaijan Street has a distinct energy—a vibrant pulse that feels like a brilliant, ambitious teenager: full of dreams, movement, and life.

In 1978 (1357 in the Iranian calendar), the neighborhood’s population was primarily Azeri, but what truly defined the area was its religious and cultural diversity. Residents included Zoroastrians, Armenians, Jews, Assyrians, and Muslims—with Shia Muslims forming the majority. This coexistence created a rich and colorful social fabric.

The alleys feeding into Azerbaijan Street resemble winding streams, unpredictable in their width—sometimes wide, sometimes narrow. These paths form a secret network of shortcuts that only long-time residents know. One popular shortcut could take locals from the intersection of Azerbaijan Street and South Rudaki Street (Salsabil Street) to South Khosh Street and Veterinary Street in mere minutes—essentially linking Eqbal Hospital to Lalehgar Clinic.
I clearly remember my oldest sister, at age 16 in 1978, making that walk in under five minutes.

Sosan Alley – A Hidden Gem

Our family home was located in one of the most strategic and memorable spots in the area: Sosan Alley.

To reach it, you’d enter Hedayati Alley from Azerbaijan Street, then turn into Sosan. Though physically narrow, this alley played an important role in the local urban layout—it was a crucial shortcut between Salsabil Street and Khosh Street.

Sosan Alley is shaped like the letter “L”, turning 90 degrees to the right. The longer leg is about 20 meters, and the shorter leg is approximately 10 meters long. On the southern side of the 20-meter segment, there were four houses with their front doors opening directly into the alley. Assuming each home was about 5 meters wide, the math checks out.

On the northern side, three houses bordered the alley with their backyards. At the western end, a standalone building marked the alley’s boundary. Like a narrow stream brushing past a stone, Sosan Alley flowed into a broader street, continuing the journey of movement through the neighborhood.

Our Neighbors

From east to west, the first home belonged to a family whose mother’s name was Sar. Next came the Sanati family, known for their serious and disciplined manner.
The third house was ours, and the fourth belonged to a kind elderly lady, Haj Khanom, who lived with her warm and loyal housekeeper, Leila Khanom.

Childhood and Early Years in the House

I was not born in this house; we moved here when I was about two years old. However, I spent my entire childhood here, from age two until I was ten.

Description of the House

The house faced south and featured a green wooden front door. It was a three-story building with a courtyard that included a stone basin and a 10-year-old climbing vine growing along the neighbor’s wall at the end of the yard.

At the far end of the courtyard, next to the vine-covered wall, there was a small bathroom. For many years, the ceiling of this bathroom served as a playground for me and my older sister.

The Basement

We had a basement consisting of two interconnected rooms. It was often dark and filled with spiders, making it feel like a haunted house—especially to me at a young age. The basement was also somewhat used as a kitchen.

The Courtyard Features

In addition to the stone basin, our yard contained a long red water hose, a tall but worn wooden ladder, and a metal air conditioner stand, which was perfect for playing Tarzan.