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Currently Mashhad is the center of the province. Important cities include Birjand , Bojnourd , Esfarayen , Gonabad, Kashmar , Neyshabour, Sabzevar , Sarakhs , Tabas, and Tous.

The older Persian province of Khorasan (also known as the Greater Khorasan ) included parts which are today in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Some of the main historical cities of Persia are located in the older Khorasan: Nishapur (now in Iran), MervMerv was a major oasis-city in Central Asia, on the Silk Road, located near today's Mary, Turkmenistan. Arabic name:. Several cities existed on this site, which is significant for the interchange of culture and politics at a site of major strategic value. and SanjanSanjan was an ancient city in Greater Khorasan a realm in northeastern Iran, in the vicinity of the historically eminent city of Merv. Sanjan's location in historical Greater Khorasan is at present a geographic part of Turkmenistan. Notwithstanding its pr (now in Turkmenistan), Samarqand and BukharaBukhara ( in Persian, Buxoro or in Uzbek; in Russian; also Boxara in Tatar) is one of the major cities of Uzbekistan, capital of the Bukhara region ( Bukhoro Wiloyati). The majority of city's population are Persian-speaking Tajiks. It forms together with (both now in Uzbekistan, HeratHert is a city in western Afghanistan, in the valley of the Hari Rud river in the province also known as Herat and was traditionally known for wine. The inhabitants are mainly Tajiks. It is an ancient city with many historic buildings, although these have and BalkhBalkh is now a small town in the Province of Balkh, Afghanistan, about 20 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital. Mazar-i-Sharif, and some 46 miles (74 km) south of the Amu Darya, the Oxus River of antiquity, which formerly flowed past Balkh. (both now in Afghanistan). In its long history, Khorasan knew many conquerors and empires: Greeks, Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Safavid Turks, Afghans and others.

Khorasan is also known for its famous rugs as well as its saffron which is produced in the southern cities of the province.

The major ethnic groups in this region are the Persians, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens, Kurds and Arabs. There is also a sizeable Afghan community in the province due to the influx of refugees coming from Afghanistan in recent years.

Khorasan is to be divided to three provinces by September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament (on May 18, 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) are:

• North Khorasan , center: Bojnourd , other counties: Shirvan, Jajarm , Maneh and Samlaghan , Esfarayen
• South Khorasan , center: Birjand , other counties: Nahbandan , Sarbisheh
• Razavi Khorasan , center: Mashhad, other counties: Ghouchan , Dargaz , Chenaran , Sarakhs , Fariman , Torbat-e Jam , Taybad , Ferdows , Ghayen , Khaf and Rashtkhar , Kashmar , Bardaskan , Neyshabour, Sabzevar , Gonabad, Kalat and Khalil Abad