TEHRAN – Iran is finalizing a comprehensive management and conservation plan for Persepolis, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Fars province, amid growing concerns from experts about erosion of its ancient stone reliefs, the site’s director said.

 On Tuesday, Mohammad-Javad Jafari, head of the Persepolis World Heritage base, said the master plan was under review and would be presented in the coming weeks to the site’s strategic council for approval, Mehr news agency reported.

“We recognize the concerns about erosion of the stone reliefs at Persepolis as a serious national issue,” Jafari said. “That is why the master plan, which had been drafted earlier, is now being revised and finalized to serve as a comprehensive framework for management and conservation.”

According to Jafari, about 57 hectares of land around Persepolis have been purchased partly for tourism infrastructure, access management, and service upgrades. He said the measures were intended to prevent unregulated development and ensure long-term protection of the site and its buffer zone.

Jafari said international cooperation in conservation had begun years earlier with Italian teams, but Iranian experts had since taken over, using localized materials and new technologies to continue restoration and preservation efforts.

He added that the Ministry of Cultural Heritage had ordered the creation of a new independent national base at the nearby Istakhr (Estakhr) archaeological site, which will enable systematic excavations and research.

According to Jafari, recent preservation projects include the expansion of the Persepolis Museum, with a new 400-square-metre gallery due to open this autumn, and active workshops at the tomb of Xerxes, the eastern portico of the Apadana Palace, and the Tripylon or Council Hall. Work will soon start at the Hadish Palace, the Hundred-Column Hall and the southern terrace inscription. “Moss removal is also underway on the northern portico of the Apadana.”

Jafari said the entrance axis to Persepolis is being redeveloped in coordination with Marvdasht county officials, with the first phase scheduled to open before the Persian New Year in March 2026. Plans for night lighting, a landscaped complex, and improved access to Naqsh-e Rostam are also under consideration.

“Protecting Persepolis is both a national and global responsibility,” Jafari said. “We aim to address concerns and move forward with a scientific, coordinated, and sustainable approach, while paving the way for the return of international experts and joint research projects.”

Persepolis, also known as Takht-e Jamshid, was founded by Darius the Great around 518 BC as the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire. The vast terrace and palatial complex, located 60 km northeast of Shiraz, was destroyed by Alexander the Great in 330 BC. Its ruins, including the Apadana Palace and the Hundred-Column Hall, are regarded as one of the world’s foremost archaeological sites.

AM