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2026-04-01 00:18
By Afshin Majlesi
Iran UNESCO commission reports widespread heritage damage after strikes
TEHRAN - Iran’s national commission for UNESCO said on Tuesday that 132 cultural heritage sites have been damaged due to U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, after field assessments conducted across multiple provinces, its secretary-general said.
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2026-03-31 12:23
By Afshin Majlesi
Minister reveals legal, restoration efforts to protect cultural heritage
TEHRAN – Following extensive damage to some of Iran’s most important cultural heritage sites, including the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace, Tehran has intensified its diplomatic, legal, and cultural response, describing the attacks as not only material destruction but also an assault on humanity’s shared heritage.
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2026-03-31 12:16
By Afshin Majlesi
Guardians in words, destroyers in action
TEHRAN – Throughout its turbulent history, Iran has faced repeated destruction of its cultural heritage during invasions and upheavals. From the campaigns of Alexander the Great to the Arab invasion and Mongol conquests, the country has survived countless assaults, yet the core of Persian culture and its deeply rooted traditions has remained resilient.
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2026-03-31 12:07
By Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati, managing director of Tehran Times
Destruction of cultural heritage as a war crime
TEHRAN- Cultural heritage, beyond stone structures and historical artifacts, represents the tangible manifestation of a nation’s identity, collective memory, and civilizational continuity.
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2026-03-18 20:28
By Mostafa PourAli
Protecting cultural heritage under fire: The fragile role of international law
The deliberate targeting of cultural heritage during armed conflict remains a grave concern. International law provides crucial instruments for protection, anchored by agreements such as the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. These conventions represent a foundational effort to safeguard sites of historical and artistic significance, recognizing their intrinsic value beyond purely monetary terms.
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2026-02-27 15:47
Cultural heritage officials emphasize protection of historical Kharanaq castle and caravanserai
TEHRAN—Cultural heritage officials of Yazd province have recently visited the historical Kharanaq castle and caravanserai and emphasized the strengthening of interorganizational cooperation and the implementation of joint measures to protect and organize the monuments.
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2026-02-27 15:47
Qom on path of cultural heritage, tourism development
TEHRAN--Qom province, with more than 8,000 years of civilization and cultural and historical attractions, is entering a new stage of cultural heritage, tourism and handicraft development, along with a significant increase in credits and the implementation of extensive projects in the field of cultural heritage, tourism and handicrafts.
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2026-02-21 17:58
Official calls for balanced distribution of trips, quality services to Nowruz travelers
TEHRAN - Despite the diverse natural and cultural attractions across Iran, the capacity of other cities must be properly introduced so that the distribution of trips, especially during Nowruz, is more balanced and better quality services are provided to the travelers, Mostafa Fatemi, the director-general of the Domestic Tourism Development Office at the Tourism Ministry, said on Saturday.
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2026-02-21 17:53
Excavation begins to identify cause of drying at Cheshmeh-Ali in Rey
TEHRAN – Excavation operations have begun at the historical Cheshmeh-Ali spring in Rey, southern Tehran, to identify the source of its water and examine the condition of its water bed in a bid to determine the causes of its drying and propose revival measures, a local cultural heritage official said.
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2026-02-20 16:55
Ramadan customs can become cultural tourism product, researcher says
TEHRAN — The holy month of Ramadan revives deep-rooted rituals that connect faith, popular culture and social life, offering strong potential for cultural narration and ritual tourism development.
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2026-02-20 16:55
Eco-tourism experience must be linked to indigenous culture, architecture and environment: expert
TEHRAN—Eco-tourism is a qualitative experience in the field of tourism that must be linked to the culture, architecture and local environment of each region, Abolfazl Nikoobayan, a cultural heritage expert said.
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2026-02-20 16:55
‘Sarborun’ ritual of Varamin’s village registered as an intangible heritage
TEHRAN – A local ritual known as ‘Sarborun’ in Hesar-e Hasan Beyk village of Varamin county, Tehran province, has been registered as an intangible heritage site.
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2026-02-18 17:12
Discover ancient pottery skills practiced by women in Hormozgan’s Behdeh village
TEHRAN-- In the hinterland of the Persian Gulf and in the east of Hormozgan province, the village of Behdeh is a little-known gem, carrying ancient knowledge in the field of handmade pottery; knowledge that is rooted in the historical memory and daily life of the women of this land.
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2026-02-17 14:46
Siah-Chador weaving in South Khorasan, from nomadic tradition to economic opportunities
TEHRAN--In the vast deserts of eastern Iran, where life is tied to the harsh climate, a long-standing art still breathes; an art that not only creates shelter, but also narrates the history, identity, and sustainability of a culture. Siah-Chador weaving (weaving the black tents) by the nomads of South Khorasan province is on verge of a new development today; a development that can link this indigenous heritage from nomadic habitats to national and even global markets.
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2026-02-15 14:49
'Cultural heritage and tourism, strategic necessities for Hormozgan’s sustainable development'
TEHRAN--Cultural heritage and tourism sectors are strategic necessities for the future of Hormozgan province that requires comprehensive and transformation-oriented planning.
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2026-02-14 17:30
UNESCO-listed Yazd resumes restoration projects, official says
TEHRAN -- Currently, with prioritization of cultural heritage projects, the reactivation of stalled projects, and the focus on global registration commitments, a new path has been opened to preserve Yazd's historical identity and strengthen the city's cultural tourism.
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2026-02-09 14:55
Archaeological excavations continue at Yazdgerd III Castle
TEHRAN-- According to the director of Kermanshah’s Parthian-Sassanid Axis World Heritage Site, given that many secrets still remain about Yazdgerd III Castle, continuing archaeological excavations, restoration, and preservation of the ancient monument are on the agenda.
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2026-02-07 17:19
Labor minister visits UNESCO-listed qanat in northeast Iran
TEHRAN – Minister of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare Ahmad Meydari visited the UNESCO-listed Qasabeh qanat in Gonabad, northeast Iran, on Friday. The ancient aqueduct is widely considered as the deepest known qanat in the world.
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2026-02-06 17:02
Restoration of 400-year-old mosque in Varamin completed
TEHRAN -- Restoration of the historical mosque of Hazrat Baqiyatullah in Bagh-e Khavas village, Varamin city, has been completed after two months of specialized work.
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2026-02-02 17:01
Ancient hill in Ilam’s Karezan district inhabited since 5th millennium BC
TEHRAN -- Cultural artifacts which have been found on the surface of the Chegha Seifur hill in Karezan district, Ilam province, and their diversity, indicate that Chegha Seifur has been continuously inhabited since the 5th millennium BC until the historical period.
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2026-02-01 17:38
Restoration of Russian fortress on Ashuradeh Island begins
TEHRAN--In line with development of tourism infrastructure and attracting national and foreign capital, the restoration of historical Russian fortress on Ashuradeh Island, in the Miankaleh peninsula, west of Bandar Torkaman in northern Iran, has begun, so that the area can be introduced as one of the tourist attraction hubs in northern Iran.
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2026-01-31 17:15
Archaeological excavation permit issued for Nahavand historical fortress
TEHRAN--The Archaeological Research Institute has agreed to issue a permit for archaeological excavation in Nahavand fortress in Pay Qaleh neighborhood in Nahavand, Hamedan province.
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2026-01-28 17:05
Lighting operation of Belqeys citadel to begin
TEHRAN--Lighting operation of Belqeys citadel in Esfarayen county, North Khorasan province, will begin on Thursday with the aim of improving the night view, improving the visual effects and attracting more tourists.
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2026-01-28 17:05
Lori traditional clothing: an amalgam of Iranian culture, history and identity
TEHRAN – Lori traditional clothing is one of the most vivid expressions of Iran’s indigenous culture. More than a form of dress, it reflects the history, beliefs and lifestyle of the people of the Zagros region who have preserved their Iranian identity for centuries.
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2026-01-23 17:23
Bahmangan offers opportunity to reconsider relationship between humans and nature
TEHRAN - Bahmangan is one of Iran’s ancient festivals, highlighting ethical values such as good thinking, respect for nature, vegetarianism, and kindness toward animals.
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2026-01-21 17:20
19th-century sarays in Rasht bazaar damaged in unrest
TEHRAN - Three 19th-centry sarays dating back to Qajar period have been damaged after a fire broke out at the historical bazaar in northern Iran during unrest last week, officials said.
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2026-01-20 17:04
Research project on Turkmen musical culture begins
TEHRAN--The second phase of a research project on the musical culture of Turkmen people with an emphasis on functionalism began on January 20 and will continue until February 6.
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2026-01-20 17:03
Technology, public participation key to protecting historical sites, researcher explains
TEHRAN – Technology can play an effective role in the preservation of historical monuments through documentation, conservation and restoration, Iranian historical heritage researcher Hossein Alizadeh said in an interview published on Sunday.
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2026-01-18 17:05
In Dezful, bricks speak of an ancient past
TEHRAN--In the heart of Khuzestan province, stands the city of Dezful, whose history is told through bricks; from 2,000-year-old Sassanid bridge to the revived Shavadan (an underground space in the dept of 5-12 meters).
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2026-01-03 16:56
Restoration of Amin Lashkar house in Oudlajan neighborhood begins
TEHRAN--Restoration and strengthening of the historical house of Amin Lashkar, a middle-ranking Iranian official under Qajar king Naser al-Din Shah, has begun in cooperation with Tehran Municipality Cultural Spaces Development Company and under the supervision of Tehran Cultural Heritage Department.