TEHRAN – An Iranian member of Parliament has emphasized the need for a comprehensive restoration plan to preserve and enhance Dezful’s historical bridge and the city’s ancient watermills.

Abbas Papeyzadeh, who represents Dezful in Majlis, made the remarks on Sunday when he inspected the arch bridge and other historical monuments in the city.

Accompanied by Hamidreza Khadem, the head of the Dezful Cultural Heritage Department, Papeyzadeh highlighted the underutilization of Dezful’s ancient bridge and watermills as cultural and tourist attractions.

He stressed that the watermills should be restored and transformed into a cultural and tourist corridor.

“For instance, by symbolically restarting the mills, demonstrating the traditional wheat grinding process, and baking bread in traditional Dezful attire, we can add a significant tourism appeal to these sites,” Papeyzadeh suggested.

The MP urged the Dezful Cultural Heritage Department to present a comprehensive restoration plan for the bridge and mills, which would help secure funding for their preservation and potential as major tourist attractions.

“The ancient bridge must retain its historical integrity,” he said, proposing that the metal railings be replaced with more appropriate materials such as brick and clay.”

He also suggested covering part of the bridge’s foundation with a glass display to showcase the ancient architecture and historical identity of the structure.

During the visit, Khadem also pointed out several issues surrounding the bridge and called for greater coordination between the Dezful Municipality and the Cultural Heritage Department to maintain and clean the bridge’s surroundings.

Constructed over the Dez River during the Sassanid era, the Dezful bridge, located in Khuzestan province, southwestern Iran, has been a vital structure for centuries.

While parts of the bridge still date back to the Sassanid period, other sections have been reconstructed in recent decades due to damage over the centuries. The bridge, which was initially built by Roman prisoners of war following their defeat by Sassanid King Shapur I, has undergone extensive repairs and renovations to preserve its historical value. Today, the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic due to its fragility and historical significance.

AM