Cultural Heritage

Iran sees upward trend in foreign tourism: culture min.

TEHRAN, Nov. 20 (MNA) – Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Reza Salehi-Amiri says the number of foreign tourists in Iran over the past two months has increased.

Most world heritage sites at risk of drought or flooding: UN

TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) – Almost three quarters of the globe’s cultural and natural heritage sites are threatened by too little or too much water, the UN’s cultural agency said on Tuesday.

Over 7 mln foreign tourists visited Iran last year: official

TEHRAN, May 14 (MNA) – Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has said that 7.3 million foreign tourists visited Iran last year (March 21, 2024 to March 20, 2025).

Iran’s Mehregan Ceremony inscribed on UNESCO Heritage list

TEHRAN, Dec. 06 (MNA) – The ceremony of Mehregan, a festival in commemoration of friendship and love, has been inscribed by UNESCO on the Intangible Heritage list, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman announced.

League of Historical Cities admits Iran’s Mashhad as member

TEHRAN, Dec. 01 (MNA) – The League of Historical Cities has accepted Iran’s second-largest city of Mashhad as its new member.

UNESCO’s ‘enhanced protection’ for 34 Lebanon heritage sites

TEHRAN, Nov. 18 (MNA) – Dozens of heritage sites in Lebanon have been granted “provisional enhanced protection” by UNESCO, which offers a higher level of legal shielding as fighting continues between Israeli aggressor and Hezbollah resistance.

Iran’s exports of handicrafts up 53% in Q1: Official

TEHRAN, Aug. 17 (MNA) – The Iran’s export of handicrafts in the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2024) showed a 53 percent growth compared to the same period last year.

Iran, Burkina Faso emphasize strengthening ties in handicraft

TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MNA) – Officials from Iran and Burkina Faso stressed the need to bolster bilateral ties in the field of handicrafts.

Iran-Armenia handicraft, tourism, culinary festival kicks off

TEHRAN, Aug. 10 (MNA) – The third edition of NAVASARD Festival started between Iran and Armenia themed “Culture, Tourism, Culinary, and Handicrafts”.

Iran to host UNESCO 2025 intangible cultural heritage meeting

TEHRAN, Jun. 15 (MNA) –  Iran will host the next session of UNESCO’s international centers for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2025.

Shanghai to host Glory of Ancient Persia exhibition

TEHRAN, Jan. 21 (MNA) – Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Ali Darabi has said that China's Shanghai is the next destination to host 'The Glory of Ancient Persia' exhibition.

UN inscribes 2 Iranian rituals, 1 artistic technique

TEHRAN, Dec. 06 (MNA) – The United Nations cultural agency UNESCO has inscribed two Iranian rituals and one decorative art on its list of world’s intangible heritage.

FAO acknowledges new agricultural heritage sites in Iran

TEHRAN, Nov. 12 (MNA) – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has formally designated two agricultural systems in Iran as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS).

Al-Khalil city named capital of Islamic culture for 2026

TEHRAN, Sep. 27 (MNA) – The Council of Ministers of Culture of the Islamic World, at its meeting held in Doha today, chose the Palestinian city of Al-Khalil as the capital of Islamic culture for the year 2026.

Iran to reclaim 17,000 more Achaemenid tablets from US

TEHRAN, Sep. 26 (MNA) – Iran's Minister of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Ezzatollah Zarghami says that 17,000 more Achaemenid tablets will be returned to the country from the United States.

Raeisi announces;

Iran reclaimed 3,506 Achaemenid tablets from US after 85 yrs

TEHRAN, Sep. 21 (MNA) – Briefing the achievement of the Iranian government in the New York visit, President Raeisi announced that Iran reclaimed 3,506 Achaemenid tablets from the Americans after more than 85 years.

UNESCO inscribes Iran caravanserais on World Heritage List

TEHRAN, Sep. 17 (MNA) – The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has added Iran’s historical caravanserais to its World Heritage List.

Two suspects detained for damaging Great Wall of China

TEHRAN, Sep. 06 (MNA) – Chinese authorities detained two individuals on suspicion of damaging the Great Wall of China with an excavator, having been accused of irreparably damaging the treasured symbol in order to create a shortcut for passage.

Iran, China stress expanding cultural, tourism cooperation

TEHRAN, Apr. 25 (MNA) – Iranian and Chinese cultural officials in a meeting stressed the expansion of Tehran-Beijing cooperation in the field of tourism and cultural heritage.

Cultural Heritage Min.:

Iran to cancel visas for 5 groups from different countries

TEHRAN, Jan. 25 (MNA) –  Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage says Iran is planning a visa waiver program for 5 groups from different countries in a unilateral manner.