TEHRAN -- The Iranian Society of Architecture Luminaries proposed Isfahan as the cultural capital of the country, the society head said here Saturday.

Seyyed Alireza Qahhari, who made the statement, added ambassadors of Islamic countries selected Isfahan as the 2006 cultural capital of the Islamic world. The time will expire in December, giving the Iranian authorities a golden opportunity to choose Isfahan as Iran’s cultural capital.

Such a decision can lead to the decentralization of governmental organizations in Tehran as it helps transfer many of the cultural departments to Isfahan, he noted.

“Italy and Russia are two countries with rich cultures that have selected Florence and St. Petersburg as their cultural capitals respectively.

“The cultural capital of Iran can play the role of a center for dialogue among different cultures of Iran and even of neighboring countries.”

Isfahan has already been the capital of Iran and is currently the cultural capital of the Islamic world, said Qahhari calling on the Iranian officials to name Isfahan as the country’s cultural capital before December.