Paratext, as elements surrounding the main text, plays a crucial role in shaping readers’ understanding of a work, with translators’ introductions serving as a key paratextual component that mediates between the text, translator, and audience. This study adopts a narrative and functionalist approach to analyze the narrative structure and transformations of translators’ introductions in Arabic-to-Persian fiction translations from 2014 to 2024. The research aims to identify the narrative features of these introductions, examine their changes, and interpret these transformations through a functionalist lens. Using qualitative content analysis, 100 introductions from translated fiction works were purposively sampled. Findings reveal a 162.5% increase in the number of introductions, alongside greater diversity in formal elements, such as more informal titles and shorter introductions. Content-wise, the introductions bridge cultural gaps by focusing on the work and its author. The descriptive function, prevalent in 89% of cases, dominates, while the explanatory function clarifies translation challenges. These changes reflect responsiveness to modern audience needs and the professionalization of the publishing industry. The study underscores the significance of paratextual narratology in understanding translators’ roles and offers suggestions for comparative studies and exploring digital publishing impacts. The descriptive function, prevalent in 89% of cases, dominates, while the explanatory function clarifies translation challenges. These changes reflect responsiveness to modern audience needs and the professionalization of the publishing industry. The study underscores the significance of paratextual narratology in understanding translators’ roles and offers suggestions for comparative studies and exploring digital publishing impacts.