The outpost of the border regiment can be seen on the heights of the mountains surrounding a Kurdistan border village. These are the main borders for illegal transportation of goods from other countries into Iran. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

3- Kolbars, aged mostly from 12 to 65 years old, do border crossing with heavy loads that take an average of 8 to 12 hours for wages as low as 13 dollars — routes are located in life-endangering locations including winding mountain trails and ravines, valleys, steep hills, and narrow passages. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

4- After the 1979 revolution in Iran, the government banned a lot of goods for exportation and importation with authorities confiscating them at border crossings. Kolbari has emerged as an occupation as a result of these policies and severe economical hardships in Kurdistan over the past 40 years. According to unofficial reports, only 0.5% of Iran's smuggling is done by Kolbars, while thousands of people have lost their lives in this way, many of them killed by border patrol direct shootings. Iran, Dec 2024.

5- Every Koolbar returning from the treacherous mountains charts a map, marking the locations of lurking border police. This silent act of solidarity ensures others can evade capture and survive the perilous journey. 'By doing this, we save each other's lives,' Hazhar said. Kurdistan, Iran, June 2023

6- A Kolbar pauses to eat snow along the Kolbari path. These hard working individuals, who carry heavy loads on their shoulders, rely on snow or spring water to quench their thirst, as they are unable to carry extra provisions on their demanding journey. Kurdistan, Iraq, June 2019.

7- A man desperately attempts to revive Dariush Shukri, a 22-year-old Kolbar who was caught in a devastating avalanche along one of the Kolbari paths. Despite the tireless efforts of those around him, Dariush could not be saved, and his companion perished alongside him. Avalanches remain one of the tragic hazards faced by Kolbars in their perilous journeys. Kurdistan, Iran, January 2017.

8- "We survived another day," he said, reflecting the resilience of a Kolbar as he walked back to his village after delivering his heavy load. Despite the challenges, the journey continues—each step a testament to their endurance. Kurdistan, Iran, January 2017.

9- Kolbars change the product covers twice during their journey: first, when they navigate the most treacherous part of the route, and again when they are near their destination to deliver the goods. Along the way, a silent graveyard of discarded covers marks the hardships they've endured. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

10- Eighteen-year-old Susan is teaching the Kurdish language in a remote border village of Kurdistan, a voluntary journey she has been undertaking for years, especially in remote villages. In Iranian Kurdistan, where teaching Kurdish in schools is banned, dedicated volunteers like her step in to preserve the language by teaching locals to read and write. Amid widespread unemployment, many in the village rely on Kolbari to make ends meet. Kurdistan, Iran, December 2012.

11- An often invisible aspect of the Kolbari journey is the emotional toll on the families of the Kolbars, whose lives are marked by constant fear and hope. Every year, countless brides are tragically turned into widows as the dangerous path claims more lives. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2023.

12- A local man inspects border checkpoints with his night vision camera near the Iran-Iraq border. In a crucial effort to minimize casualties, locals routinely survey the roads before heading towards the border, aiming to ensure a safer passage. Kurdistan, Iran, November 2024.

13- Mohammad, 22, shares a final, poignant farewell with his mother before embarking on his journey to Europe. Faced with dire living conditions in his homeland, many young people, like Mohammad, are compelled to seek better opportunities in Europe, often risking everything to cross these borders, whether legally or not. Tehran, Iran, December 2023.

14- Kolbars at the zero point of the border on the Iranian side carefully change the plastic coverings of their goods, ensuring they are presented in optimal condition to the main owners. Should the cargo sustain any damage during the journey, the Kolbars are held financially responsible, often having to cover a significant portion or the entire cost of the goods. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

15- Paveh, a key border city in Iranian Kurdistan, has emerged as a central hub for Kolbari in the region. As the influx of Kolbars from surrounding cities grows, the city has become a crucial resting point for them overnight, leading to a sharp rise in housing rental costs. The city, once a quiet town, now bears the weight of the region's economic struggles. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

16- Snowfall paradoxically brings a rare sense of relief for Kolbars, as it means the border patrols are less likely to ambush or shoot at them during the snowy nights. However, for us, it is a chilling reminder of the sound of gunshots echoing through the sky. On snowy nights, the sharp crack of shots is more distinct, cutting through the stillness with a haunting clarity. Kurdistan, Iran, December 2024.

17- After the Iranian border patrol shot Khaled in the head during the Koolbari, the doctors had to remove both of his eyes. Khaled is 32 years old and has two children aged 2 and 7. Kurdistan, Iran, Aug 2019.

18- One of the countless perilous crossings that Kolbars have to pass through, carrying loads of over 50 kilograms across long, treacherous distances. This particular route, known as the "Passage of Death," is one of the leading causes of fatalities among Kolbars, a stark reminder of the dangers they face daily. Kurdistan, Iran, May 2019.

19- M. K., 21, from Baneh, was shot in the leg by border patrol forces in June 2024. Each year, hundreds of Kolbars are killed or wounded by direct gunfire from the border patrols along this perilous route, where the threat of violence looms with every step. Kurdistan, Iran, December 2024.

20- What happens in these mountains is often lost to silence, buried forever in their harsh landscapes. According to statistics, nearly every day a Kolbar is killed, injured, or goes missing on their dangerous journey, victim of the countless hazards that lie along the way. Kurdistan, Iraq, March 2022.

21- Some Kolbars cover their faces with masks to protect their anonymity. Often, these individuals are educated professionals, as well as national and sports heroes, who are forced into Kolbari due to harsh economic realities. They choose to remain unrecognized, not wanting their identities to be known by others. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

22- Kolbars undergo cupping every few months, believing it not only removes excess blood from their bodies but also stimulates the creation of new blood, which provides them with the strength needed to carry their heavy loads. This ancient practice is seen as a vital source of energy for their demanding work. Kurdistan, Iran, March 2022.

23- Hawraman Takht, a key Iranian Kurdish village near the border with Iraq, serves as a central hub for the smuggling trade in Iran. The majority of the village’s population consists of Kolbars, often with people from nearby cities coming to these remote villages to take part in the dangerous occupation of Kolbari. Kurdistan, Iran, February 2016.

24- The loads carried by Kolbars primarily consist of cigarettes, home appliances like televisions and refrigerators, as well as European stock goods and clothing owned by large business owners who freely sell these items within the country. These goods, often smuggled across the border, fuel a thriving black market in the region. Kurdistan, Iran, June 2019.

25- Due to sanctions that prevent the legal import of household appliances and electronics, these goods are smuggled into Iran through Kolbars, who carry them across the border. Once in the country, they are sold in luxury stores and distributed across the nation, fueling a thriving underground market. Kurdistan, Iran, October 2024.

26- 41-year-old Ahmad lost all his fingers to frostbite after getting lost in the border mountains while smuggling goods. Due to extreme poverty, he was unable to seek medical help for over three months, missing the opportunity for potential recovery. Every year, many Kolbars on this route perish due to the harsh cold. I was with Ahmad to take photos when he reached to open the door to the bathroom, only for his finger to get caught in the handle. Turning to me, he showed me his finger and quietly said, "Another fell." Kurdistan, Iran, August 2019.

27- An avalanche blankets one of the Kolbari routes. Yet, a ray of sunlight pierces through the chaos, casting an almost divine glow over the scene—a fleeting symbol of hope amidst the struggle for survival. Each year, avalanches and extreme colds are among the leading causes of death for many Kolbars. However, for the Kolbars, even nature’s harshest trials cannot extinguish their resilience. Kurdistan, Iran, January 2024.

28- Rebaz (formally called Shafi), 30 years old, lies paralyzed in a hospital bed after being shot in the neck at close range by Iranian border police near his village. Doctors have confirmed that he will never walk again. For the rest of his life, he will be able to move only his head, with paralysis from the neck down. Tehran, Iran, February 2020.

29- All cross-border transactions are conducted in US dollars, with prices and daily survival intricately tied to the dollar. This persists despite the most severe US sanctions imposed on Iran in recent years. In this region, the dollar has come to represent life itself. Kurdistan, Iran, January 2019.

30- "Death for us is a divine destiny, its timing determined by God," says Rahman. Kurdistan, Iran, February 2019.