Iran makes bids for UNESCO intangible cultural heritage registration

TEHRAN – Iran has submitted five separate dossiers to the UNESCO for possible inscription on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Fire incurs $1.3 million loss to historic bazaar of Tabriz

TEHRAN – A blaze which erupted late on Wednesday at the historic bazaar of Tabriz, northwest Iran, is estimated to have caused about 200 billion rials ($1.33 million) to the UNESCO-registered site.

Oriental Institute ready for delivery of ancient Persian artifacts

TEHRAN – The University of Chicago’s Oriental Institute has recently signaled its readiness to deliver the first batch of ancient Persian clay tablets to Iran, a senior cultural heritage official has said.

Floods submerge historical places in Lorestan province

TEHRAN – Recent floods have hit some historical places in Lorestan province, western Iran, a local official responsible for archeology affairs has said. 

UNESCO-tagged hydraulic ensemble unaffected by flooding

TEHRAN-- Shushtar Historical Hydraulic System, a UNESCO-registered ensemble in southwest Iran which is known as a ‘masterpiece of creative genius’, has not been affected by flash floods and heavy rainfall that stroke almost all of the country in the past weeks. 

Iran estimating flood damage to its historical sites, monuments

TEHRAN – A number of Iran’s age-old cultural heritage sites and monuments have been affected by heavy rainfall, flash floods and extreme weather in various parts of the country in the past weeks.

Exhibit displaying Tehran archaeological discoveries

TEHRAN – An exhibition, featuring archaeological discoveries of ancient relics in Tehran, has opened its doors to the public at the National Museum of Iran.

Dutch archaeological show opens in Tehran

TEHRAN – On Tuesday, the Netherlands ambassador to Tehran cut the ribbon on an extensive Dutch archaeological show at the National Museum of Iran, where couple of months ago, hosted a Louvre show widely deemed as a new wave of cultural diplomacy between Iran and the West.

Iran seeking UNESCO inscription for Hyrcanian Forest

TEHRAN — Iran is seeking to inscribe Hyrcanian Forest (also known as Caspian Forest), in northern parts of the country, on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Fire causes damage to Sari historical mosque

TEHRAN – The historical mosque of Sari, the capital of northern Mazandaran province, is not totally brought down to earth despite being on a massive fire for hours on Thursday.

‘Oud Lajan has potential to become an attractive tourist destination’

TEHRAN – Oud Lajan neighborhood in downtown Tehran has a considerable potential to become an attractive tourist destination, Iran’s tourism chief has said.

Louver extends Tehran show due to popularity

TEHRAN - A landmark Louvre show in Tehran has been extended until July 30 by popular demand, the Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has said.

IRIB ready to launch radio channel for tourism

TEHRAN – The Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is ready to launch a radio channel dedicated to traveling and tourism, IRIB Deputy Director Hamid Shahabadi said on Wednesday.

$12m channeled to restore 14th-century educational complex

TEHRAN – Some 50 billion rials (some $12 million) has been allocated to restore the ruins of Rab’-e Rashidi, a 14th-century educational complex in East Azarbaijan, northwest Iran.

120,000 qanats documented in Iran

TEHRAN – Some 120,000 qanats - ancient subsurface water supply systems - have been documented so far across Iran, a cultural heritage official has said.

By Afshin Majlesi

‘Reconstruction of heritage museums atop agenda’

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization has assigned a high priority to reconstruct its affiliated museums that are deemed as timeworn or vulnerable to massive quakes.

Iran seeks multinational UNESCO inscription of Yalda

TEHRAN – Iran has called on its nearby states to join hands to put forward the ancient Persian Yalda festivity for a possible UNESCO registration.

Toughest penalty urged for vandalizers of historic house

TEHRAN – An Iranian cultural heritage official has called for the heaviest punishment for those who demolished Na’el historic house in Isfahan, central Iran, late on Thursday.

Iran’s quake-stricken historical sites undergo urgent restoration

TEHRAN – Emergency projects commenced on Monday aiming to protect several historical and heritage sites which suffered damages during an earthquake that jolted the western province of Kermanshah on November 12.

37,000 qanats still in use across Iran

TEHRAN – Some 37,000 out of a total of 120,000 ancient subsurface water supply systems, qanats, are still in use in Iran in arid and semi-arid regions of the country, a cultural heritage official said on Friday.

Eyeing UNESCO status, Iran’s Great Wall of Gorgan to undergo restoration

TEHRAN – The ancient Great Wall of Gorgan, northern Iran, is projected to be restored with an eye to get UNESCO World Heritage status

Iran to restore its UNESCO-inscribed churches

In line with the goal of jumpstarting the tourism industry, Iran has allotted some $370,000 to the restoration of the UNESCO-inscribed churches that are located in northwest of the country.

Iran takes step closer to register new World Heritage sites

TEHRAN - Iran is further moving towards possible inscription of two new sites on the UNESCO World Heritage list as it has recently submitted associated dossiers to the famed international organization.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee to put Yazd to vote in July

TEHRAN – The ancient city of Yazd, central Iran, will be assessed as a candidate for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage list during the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee, which will be held on July 2-12 in Krakow, Poland.

UNESCO experts to assess Iran’s natural, historical sites

TEHRAN – A delegation of the UNESCO World Heritage specialists is scheduled to travel to Iran in summer in order to assess Arasbaran Protected Area in the northeast and the Ensemble of Historical Sassanid Cities in the south of the country.

Iran allots $2.4m to restore overseas cultural heritage sites

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Organization has allocated 90 billion rials (around $2.4 million) to conserve some of its cultural heritage sites that are scattered across the globe.

Intl. figures to celebrate Noruz at Golestan Palace

TEHRAN – Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization will host an international celebration of Noruz on March 26 at the historical Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran. 

Tehran meeting addresses UN development framework for Iran

TEHRAN – An Assembly of Iranian and international officials exchanged views on ways to implement the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for Iran during a meeting which was held in Tehran on Tuesday.