TEHRAN – Iran has placed 17 of its most iconic mosques on UNESCO’s Tentative List under the collective title “Persian Mosque,” paving the way for a possible future inscription on the World Heritage List.

The serial nomination, encompassing mosques from various historical periods and across different provinces, highlights the evolution of Iranian Islamic architecture from its early beginnings after the advent of Islam to the late Qajar era. The initiative aims to demonstrate how Persian architecture not only absorbed Islamic spiritual and structural concepts but also influenced the development of mosque architecture across the Islamic world.

According to Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Ministry, the proposed “Persian Mosque” series includes some of the most representative, influential, and distinctive mosques in the country. Together, they display the full trajectory of Persian mosque architecture -- from early columned halls to monumental four-iwan courtyards adorned with intricate tilework and soaring domes.

The nomination emphasizes the continuity of ancient Persian design elements such as iwans (porches), domes, and courtyards and their integration with Islamic architectural functions. Many of these features trace their roots to pre-Islamic Iranian structures, such as fire temples and palatial halls of the Achaemenid, Parthian, and Sassanid dynasties.

The earliest examples in the nomination, including the Masjid-e (or Masjed-e) Jameh of Fahraj in Yazd province and the Tarikhaneh Mosque of Damghan in Semnan province, date to the first centuries of Islam. The Fahraj mosque, believed to be among the oldest in Iran, still preserves its original mudbrick structure and simple arcades, reflecting the earliest phase of Iranian mosque construction.

Nearby, the Tarikhaneh Mosque at Damghan illustrates the transition from column-based to pier-based architecture. Its round brick piers and heavy arches recall Sassanid construction methods, indicating a continuity of pre-Islamic building techniques adapted for Islamic worship.

Another early example, the Masjid-e Jameh of Saveh, originally built in the first Islamic century and expanded over time, reflects the gradual transformation of early prayer halls into more complex congregational spaces.

The Friday Mosque of Neyriz in Fars province represents one of the earliest uses of the iwan -- a vaulted open hall -- in Persian mosque architecture. Built in phases from the Buyid to the Ilkhanid periods, its structure illustrates the early blending of Iranian spatial concepts with Islamic religious needs. Similarly, the Masjid-e Jameh of Natanz embodies the mature domed and iwan style of the Seljuk and Ilkhanid eras, marked by refined stucco work and balanced proportions.

The Masjid-e Jameh of Nain, Ardestan, and Zavareh, all in central Iran, trace the architectural evolution from columned halls to fully developed four-iwan layouts. The mosque at Zavareh, dated 1135 CE (530 AH), is the earliest known example of a complete four-iwan plan -- a design that later became a hallmark of Persian mosques.

Perhaps the most significant example of Persian mosque architecture is the Masjid-e Jameh of Isfahan, a World Heritage site since 2012 and included again in the serial nomination as a reference point. Constructed over twelve centuries, it stands as a living record of continuous architectural adaptation and innovation. The mosque’s transformation from a hypostyle plan to a four-iwan configuration during the Seljuk era became the prototype for mosque design across Iran and Central Asia.

The Masjid-e Jameh of Yazd, with its twin minarets and lofty portal, exemplifies the later development of this style. Its tall iwan and exquisite tile decorations showcase the Timurid and Muzaffarid craftsmanship that elevated Persian mosque architecture to new artistic heights.

Other regional representatives, such as the Masjid-e Jameh of Gonabad and the Masjid-e Malek-e Zozan in Khorasan province, demonstrate local adaptations of the four-iwan form and the resilience of Persian architectural traditions through successive dynasties.

The Safavid dynasty (1501–1722) marked the golden age of Persian mosque design. In Isfahan’s UNESCO-listed Naqsh-e Jahan Square, two nominated mosques -- the Masjid-e Imam (also known as the Shah Mosque) and the Masjid-e Sheikh Lotfollah -- stand as masterpieces of tilework, geometry, and spiritual harmony.

The Masjid-e Shah, built under Shah Abbas I, is renowned for its monumental blue dome and complex alignment that perfectly orients the mosque toward Mecca while fitting within the square’s urban geometry. The nearby Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, designed as a private sanctuary for the royal family, is celebrated for its subtle proportions and the luminous quality of its interior dome.

The Aqa Bozorg Mosque in Kashan and the Sepahsalar Mosque in Tehran represent the continuity of Persian architectural principles into the late Islamic period. The Aqa Bozorg complex, combining a mosque and madrasa around a sunken courtyard, was built in the 19th century and is noted for its spatial harmony and balance.

The Sepahsalar Mosque (later renamed Shahid Motahhari Mosque), constructed in the late 19th century under the Qajar dynasty, exemplifies the enduring influence of traditional Persian design — including iwans, domes, and tile decoration — integrated with emerging urban forms in the capital.

The Masjid-e Jameh of Semnan, a late addition to the serial group, continues this long architectural lineage, combining early mosque structures with Qajar-era embellishments.

Experts say Iran’s nomination dossier highlights how Persian mosques are not only religious structures but also urban and artistic compositions that embody centuries of cultural exchange, technological innovation, and spiritual symbolism. Moreover, the selected series is aimed to help underscore the central role of Iranian architects and craftsmen in shaping the broader architectural identity of the Islamic world.

AM