By Afshin Majlesi

17th-century Imam Mosque in Isfahan at serious risk

TEHRAN - Isfahan’s historical Masjed-e Jameh Abbasi, also known as the Imam Mosque, is facing a looming crisis, with its structural integrity severely threatened by deep cracks caused by land subsidence and prolonged drought.

Climate change impact on Iran’s cultural heritage debated by task force

TEHRAN – On Monday, the first meeting of the Climate Change and Cultural Heritage Task Force was convened in Tehran.

By Afshin Majlesi

Dry river, sinking city: urgent measures needed to save Isfahan’s heritage

Accompanied by a group of journalists, we recently embarked on a journey to explore the Zayandeh-Rud river, tracing its origins near Zard-Kuh, a sub-range in the central Zagros range in Chaharmahal-Bakhtiari province, all the way to the ancient city of Isfahan.

Land subsidence threatens Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Naqsh-e Rostam, expert warns

TEHRAN - The decline in rainfall, water scarcity, drying up of wetlands, and the turning of farmers to underground aquifers have led to the creation and intensification of land subsidence phenomena in Marvdasht plain of Fars province, which is home to treasured historical sites such as Pasargadae, Persepolis, and Naqsh-e Rustam, exposing them to serious risks.

Xerxes the Great’s rock-cut tomb under threat from climate change

TEHRAN - The rock-cut tomb of Xerxes I (l. 519-465, r. 486-465 BC), also known as Xerxes the Great, is under threat from land subsidence triggered by the climate change which is likely to speed decay, a cultural heritage expert said on Tuesday.

Majestic Naqsh-e Rostam under threat from climate change

TEHRAN - The hot summer, unauthorized deep-water drilling, and other challenges associated with the changing climate are threatening to destroy invaluable cultural landmarks including Naqsh-e Rostam, which is a majestic rock-hewn necropolis in southern Iran.