By Afshin Majlesi

Sa’dabad director outlines major restoration, conservation push at former royal complex in Tehran

TEHRAN – The director of the Sa’dabad Cultural-Historical Complex says the former royal residence in northern Tehran has accelerated restoration and conservation work, completing a long-delayed digital inventory of its holdings while advancing new projects to safeguard thousands of stored objects.

Construction of tourism infrastructure begins in Khorramshahr

TEHRAN--Khorramshahr in Khuzestan province is considered one of the largest museum cities of Iran. According to Head of Khuzestan Cultural Heritage Department Mohammad Jourvand, measures have begun to build tourism infrastructure in Khorramshahr.

National conference reviews technology use in salvage archaeology for dam projects

TEHRAN - A national conference on the use of modern science and technology in salvage archaeology for major water and energy infrastructure projects was held in Tehran on Saturday.

Minister urges restoration of Arak bazaar ahead of possible UNESCO review

TEHRAN – Iran’s tourism minister said on Saturday that the historical bazaar of Arak requires urgent restoration work as the government pursues its possible inscription on UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

UNESCO registration of Zandieh complex high on agenda

TEHRAN--Considering that the registration of Zandieh complex of Shiraz on the UNESCO World Heritage list is on the agenda of Fars Cultural Heritage Department, one of its biggest problems is Aseman Hotel, which has created visual distortion in the horizon of Zandieh complex, of which Karim Khan Citadel is perhaps the most important part.

Persepolis launches new conservation program using advanced material and imaging technology

TEHRAN – Iranian restoration teams have launched a new conservation program at the UNESCO-designated Persepolis and the nearby Naqsh-e Rostam site using advanced imaging, special material, and stone-analysis technologies, officials said on Saturday.

‘Forest to Desert’ project, an opportunity for tourism development in Shahroud

TEHRAN--The ‘Forest to Desert’ project is an exceptional opportunity for tourism development in Shahroud county, Semnan province, said Shahroud Governor Mohammad-Hassan Asafari.

Cultural heritage minister: Persepolis has not suffered any deformation or damage

TEHRAN--Based on technical reports and periodic assessments of Persepolis (also known as Takht-e Jamshid) in Fars province, no new or worrying events have been observed so far regarding the deformation of structures or damage related to subsidence, Minister of Cultural Heritage Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri has said.

Yazd hosts sign-language workshop to support accessible tourism

TEHRAN – A sign-language training workshop for staff of tourism facilities was held in Yazd on Tuesday to promote accessible tourism in the UNESCO-listed city, organizers said.

Groundbreaking research reveals two-thirds of Babylonian Bisotun inscription may be lost

A new study published in the journal IRAQ has cast doubt on the long-accepted completeness of the Babylonian version of the famous Bisotun (Behistun) Inscription, one of the most important trilingual records of the ancient world.

Tourism investors exempt from land use change fees, deputy minister says

TEHRAN-- Deputy Tourism Minister Ali-Asghar Shalbafian has announced the exemption of investors from paying land use change fees.

Tourism minister delivers Pezeshkian’s message calling for enhanced ties with China

TEHRAN--Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri has delivered a message from President Masoud Pezeshkian to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, which emphasized the need to further strengthen relations between the two countries in cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts.

UNESCO-listed Susa completes protection work on 253 Apadana Palace remains

TEHRAN – Conservation teams in the UNESCO-registered Susa have completed a project to safeguard and protect 253 architectural remains from the Achaemenid-era Apadana Palace, the head of the Susa World Heritage base said on Tuesday.

UNESCO-listed Chah-Kouran caravanserai undergoes restoration

TEHRAN - Restoration work has begun on the Chah-Kouran caravanserai, a UNESCO-listed heritage site located in Ravar county of Kerman province, provincial cultural officials said on Sunday.

‘Narrators of Ancient Iran’ extended after popular demand

TEHRAN - Due to “its great success”, the exhibition “Narrators of Ancient Iran: A Selection of Objects from the National Museum” has been extended for one month and will now remain open to the public until December 21.

Iran ranks among top 10 countries for UNESCO-listed heritage: minister

TEHRAN – Iran ranks among the world’s top 10 countries in the number of UNESCO-inscribed heritage properties and elements, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri said on Thursday during a visit to historical sites in Zanjan.

Deputy minister says Shirvan seeking national designation for Dotar making

TEHRAN – Iran’s deputy minister for handicrafts said on Tuesday that authorities are working to register the northeastern city of Shirvan as the country’s national hub for Dotar making during a visit to local artisans in the city located in North Khorasan province.

Visits to UNESCO-listed Lut Desert soars since mid-autumn

TEHRAN – More than 2,500 tourists have visited the picturesque Lut Desert since early October, marking a significant increase in travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site, a local heritage official said.

Takht-e Soleyman: A 3,000-year-old mystery in Iran’s history

TEHRAN-Takht-e Soleyman is a unique archaeological site in a mountainous area of West Azarbaijan province, with aspects that remain mysterious even after more than 3,000 years.

Esfahak, symbol of rural sustainable development

TEHRAN— Esfahak, recognized as one of the world’s Best Tourism Villages by UN Tourism, is symbol of cultural heritage and rural sustainable development, said South Khorasan Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Department Seyyed Ahmad Barabadi.

Iran minister says UNESCO recognition of Cyrus Charter reflects deep cultural roots of justice

TEHRAN – Iran’s minister of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts said the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s recognition of Cyrus the Great’s Charter demonstrates that justice has long been embedded in Iranian culture.

Iran designated to four key UNESCO committees

TٍEHRAN--In the final days of the 43rd session of UNESCO General Conference in Samarkand, the Islamic Republic of Iran, which had been nominated for membership in several executive and scientific bodies of the organization, has achieved to become a member of four key UNESCO committees with the consensus of the member states.

Minister calls for halt to disputed construction near UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace

TEHRAN - Iran’s cultural heritage minister on Friday called for an immediate halt to a suspicious construction near the Golestan Palace in downtown Tehran, saying no violations of heritage protection rules would be tolerated.

Ardabil to offer 110 tourism investment opportunities at intl. forum

TEHRAN - Ardabil will present 110 identified tourism investment opportunities at an international forum scheduled to be held in the northwestern Iranian province, the provincial tourism chief said on Thursday.

Tehran hosts expert meeting on entrepreneurial skills for nomadic women

TEHRAN – Iran has played host to an expert meeting aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills among female bearers of intangible cultural heritage (ICH) from nomadic communities, officials said.