Repatriated Relics on Display at National Museum

The National Museum of Iran in downtown Tehran is displaying historical relics recently returned to the country.

The exhibit that will run through February 10 features 550 historical relics. However, according to museum head Jebrael Nokandeh, it may be extended to February 18, ISNA reported.

The featured relics are from various countries and include smuggled ancient Iranian heritage returned by Belgium which number 349 items and were looted from a 3,000-year-old site near the village of Khorvin, 80 km northeast of Tehran.

Another portion of the relics are from Chogha Mish archaeological site in Khuzestan Province numbering 109 and were returned by the US. There is also a collection of Sassanid coins returned from America. 

The fourth group comprises 21 relics that Italy seized from smugglers and returned to Iran. They date back to between 3,000 BC and the Islamic period.