TEHRAN – German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has promised the full and safe return of a collection of Western art that the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art (TMCA) plans to loan for a show at Berlin’s National Gallery.

He made the remarks in a letter sent to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad-Javad Zarif, assuring him that the works would not be confiscated in any case.

Steinmeier has noted that a guarantee would be issued based upon which all the artworks would be returned to the TMCA after the works go on display in Berlin.

The minister has noted that he will assure the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art will have all the necessary guarantee.

Steinmeier at the head of a German delegation visited the museum in his trip to Iran in October 2015.

The TMCA announced on October 26 that it will loan a selection of its Western artworks for a show at Rome’s MAXXI Museum.

The selection will later be exhibited at Berlin’s National Gallery from December 2016 to February 2017.

The Iran Painters Association and a number of gallery owners have voiced their opposition to the TMCA’s plan.

The opponents of the plan said that the collection could be confiscated using some lame excuse. They also said that Italy and Germany may return copies of the artworks instead of the originals.

Photo: Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art

RM/YAW