TEHRAN -- The museum area of the Ahmad Shah Palace in Tehran was illegally rented out to a jeweler, who displayed his jewelry there for four days last week.

The Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization (CHTHO) is responsible for the conservation of historical and ancient sites, and renting these areas out is forbidden in the country’s cultural heritage regulations.
Many placards advertising the jewelry exhibition were displayed in the grounds of the palace, which is located at the Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex.
Counters displaying bracelets, necklaces, and earrings, which were decorated with rubies, emeralds, agates, and diamonds, were set up in one of the corridors of the palace and several guides were on hand to assist the customers.
One room of the palace, which was used for royal musical performances during the Qajar and Pahlavi eras, was transformed into the jeweler’s office for the length of the exhibition.
Covering an area of 800 square meters, the palace was built in the heart of the Niavaran complex for Ahmad Shah (reigned 1909–25), the last Qajar king who succeeded to the throne at the age of 11.
New sections were added to the edifice during the reign of Mohammad Reza Shah and it was renovated to be utilized by one of his family members.
After the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the palace was abandoned until 2000, when it was converted into a museum to promote this part of Iranian history.
Last week, the Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex experienced another breach of Iranian museum regulations by three members of the Saudi royal family during their visit to the museums.
The Saudi royals took rest on the cushions of the teahouse of the Sahebqaranieh Palace which are out of bounds for visitors, and also sat on the throne of Reza Shah whilst being escorted by Hossein Jafari, deputy director of CHTHO.
Caption: Counters displaying jewelry items that were illegally set up in one of the corridors of the Ahmad Shah Palace at the Niavaran Cultural Historical Complex in Tehran are shown in this CHN photo. The cultural heritage site was inexplicably rented out to a jeweler for a four-day show