TEHRAN—The Iranian tourism minister Ezzatollah Zarghami on Thursday said the northeastern city of Sabzevar has been a treasure of cultural heritage.

“Sabzevar, with its many historical and cultural attractions, is a collection of valuable historical treasures,” Zarghami told reporters during his visit to the northeastern city.

“Sabzevar has long been home to luminaries and figures such as Hadi Sabzavari (a philosopher, mystic theologian, and poet), whose unique philosophy, mysticism, intellectual flow, and works are world-renowned,” the minister said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the minister lamented that Sabzevar’s tourism facilities have not been developed much due to complex administrative bureaucracy over the past years.

“Despite the existence of historical monuments and the suitable geographical location of the ancient city, tourism infrastructure has not been developed enough in this area, one of the main reasons for which is the existence of complex administrative bureaucracy in the past years.”

To promote historical monuments and support tourism investors, local authorities, who are in charge of tourism and cultural heritage, have been given special powers, the minister said.

The minister toured several historical sites such as a caravanserai, mud-brick cistern, mosque, madrasa, graveyard, and a historical village during his visit to Sabzevar.

Situated on the Tehran-Mashhad route, Sabzevar is a stopover for millions of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Imam Reza (AS) each year, Zarghami said.

Previously known as Beyhagh, Sabzevar is approximately situated 220 kilometers west of Mashhad. The history of Sabzevar dates back to the 1st millennium BC. Among the ancient remains is the fire temple Azarbarzin, which is still visible.

AM