TEHRAN – On Monday, Brigadier General Bahman Kargar, head of the Foundation for Preservation of Sacred Defense Works and Values, unveiled plans to build five new museums dedicated to commemorating the Sacred Defense (the 1980-1988 Iraqi imposed war).

The decision was announced during the fourth specialized session and workshops for the deputy tourism chiefs of the provincial cultural heritage directorates held at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts,  Mehr reported.

Highlighting the efforts of preserving the profound significance of the Sacred Defense, Kargar revealed that there are currently 58 memorials across the [former] operational zones of the Sacred Defense and over 2,500 memorials honoring anonymous martyrs throughout the country.

“There are currently 24 museums nationwide focused on the Sacred Defense, with an additional five museums in the pipeline for construction,” Kargar stated.

“Our goal is to elevate the number of museums dedicated to this historical period to a total of 37.”

The commitment to constructing these five new museums underscores Iran’s dedication to honoring and preserving the memory of the sacrifices made during the Sacred Defense era. These museums aim to provide spaces for remembrance, education, and reflection on the significant events and heroes of this crucial period in Iran’s history.

The majority of those museums are equipped with a state-of-the-art visual system including projections and video walls, while audio recordings relevant to each period contribute to its charm. They also showcase arrays of wax figures and domestically-manufactured armaments such as rockets, tanks, and artillery pieces are on show.

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein declared war on Iran nearly 19 months after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, setting the stage for an eight-year war. It drew to a close in August 1988 and the United Nations declared Saddam as the initiator of the conflict.

AFM