TEHRAN -- The Jiroft artifacts, which were delivered to the Iranian embassy in London last week, have been returned to Iran.

The 5000-year-old collection, which consists of two jars, five cups, six vases, a bowl, a vessel and three weights, were delivered to Iranian officials in Tehran in the early hours of Friday, Hassan Faqih, an Iranian diplomat in London, told the Persian service of the IRNA. 

In 2005, 18 artifacts smuggled from the ancient site of Jiroft in southern Iran were to be sold at London’s Barakat Gallery.

Iran sued the gallery and the artifacts were finally recovered after a seven-year legal marathon.

MMS/YAW

END