Iran's Strangest Twins: A 10-Year Age Gap! +Photos

According to Saed News Multimedia Service, citing Hamshahri, Ms. Delavarzadeh is a high school art teacher, and Mr. Fatemi-Nejad is a retired engineer. At first, they didn’t want to make their story public, but at the insistence of the medical team, they agreed—and now they have no regrets. Delavarzadeh has become an advisor, introducing neighbors and relatives to the process of frozen embryos.

They named their daughter Fatemeh Al-Sadat, a name chosen by her older brother, Seyed Mohammad Rasoul. Now, Mohammad Rasoul adores his little sister and can’t wait for school to end so he can spend time with her and play the protective older brother.

Fatemeh Al-Sadat’s mother knew that her frozen embryos had been stored at the Infertility Center on Moshtagh Street in Isfahan, but she never imagined that after all these years, they could grow into a baby and a child. “They called a few times to say the embryo was ready, until last year, when we finally went there.” Their visit to Isfahan was to see whether it was possible to have another child. Delavarzadeh had decided she wanted a second child, but doctors had warned that pregnancy at her age could pose health risks.

No Sensitivities Were Raised
Doctors at the Isfahan center were very supportive, even assisting with costs. “My son kept insisting that we bring him a brother or sister. He felt lonely and really wanted siblings. He complained constantly.” Delavarzadeh hadn’t told anyone about the plan, not even her closest relatives.

The reason was understandable: fear of gossip in a small town like Kashan. Because such procedures were not common there, people might react negatively. “They didn’t have medical knowledge and would say, ‘They went and implanted a child!’ They didn’t realize this baby belonged to us and had been carefully preserved for years through advanced medical methods.”

Even during one trip to Isfahan, a close relative accompanied them, but Delavarzadeh made sure that no one else would know. Eventually, all the medical procedures were completed, and the baby was born.

It was then that the doctors—especially Dr. Kalantari—entered discussions with the Fatemi-Nejad family, encouraging them to share this remarkable story. “They said this news was too important to keep silent and that it would highlight Iranian medical achievements. They emphasized that it was a major accomplishment and needed to be shared.” The family agreed, and the story was published. Afterward, even with the news spreading among relatives, residents of Kashan, and the wider world, the family faced no significant issues. Today, Delavarzadeh serves as a reference point for explaining this special procedure. “Many people come to learn so that they can consider using it themselves.”

A Visit to the Operating Room
“My son’s wish was to be the first to hold the baby. He kept saying he wanted to be the first, not the aunt or uncle,” says Fatemeh Al-Sadat’s mother, recalling how her brother Mohammad Rasoul was present in the operating room. “It was Wednesday, the 26th of Esfand. I was going in for a cesarean. Early in the morning, everyone was waiting for me. They said, ‘That lady from Kashan is here,’ meaning me.”

Delavarzadeh arrived at the hospital alone, leaving her husband and son to handle insurance matters. Dr. Kalantari asked where they were, and she called Fatemeh Al-Sadat’s father to bring them quickly. Both doctor and mother wanted the older brother present.

“When I was on the operating table for half an hour, they brought in Mohammad Rasoul. They had a custom-made surgical gown for him—it fit perfectly. A Haft-Sin table was also set up. We talked a bit before the surgery began.”

Mohammad Rasoul waited alongside doctors and nurses for the birth of his little sister and became the first to hold her, overwhelmed with joy.

A Forgotten Keepsake
In the excitement, the family forgot to take the surgical gown home as a memento. Fatemeh Al-Sadat’s mother, still groggy from anesthesia, didn’t realize what to do, and later, no one remembered to ask for it.

Delavarzadeh, a teacher, and her husband, a retired engineer who now runs a small business, expressed deep satisfaction with Dr. Kalantari. She had previously lost a set of triplets due to a medical oversight, leaving her wary of doctors—but Dr. Kalantari’s care and professionalism completely changed her opinion. “He is compassionate, loyal, humble, and down-to-earth. Words cannot describe how wonderful he is.”