Lack of Funds Delaying Restoration of Iranian Heritage Abroad

Restoration of historical sites and buildings in other countries whose history is linked to Iran has been suspended due to a lack of funds, announced a top official in Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.

"Iran has signed numerous memoranda of understanding with countries hosting historical Iranian structures, which allows the organization to commission their restoration using Iranian experts," said Mohammad Hassan Talebian, cultural heritage deputy at ICHHTO.

Speaking to Mehr News Agency, Talebian noted that restoration and renovation of Iran-built cultural and historical heritage sites located in Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Georgia and Armenia should have started by now but governments have not provided the funds yet.

"For example, the restoration of Blue Mosque in Armenia is stuck in the feasibility assessment phase. We're facing difficulties starting the restoration," he said.

Located in the Armenian capital Yerevan, the Blue Mosque dates back to the 18th-century. It stopped its services and housed the History Museum of Yerevan in the Soviet era.

The mosque was renovated with the support of the Iranian government years ago and restarted functioning as a mosque, mostly for Iranians residing in the country. However, as the only active mosque in Armenia, the building needs maintenance and restoration.

Talebian said India has agreed to repair and renovate historical sites related to Iran, "but we're still waiting for funds to be made available", he said.

Furthermore, based on an agreement with Iraq's Ministry of Tourism, Taq Kasra, a Sassanid-era Persian monument and the only remaining structure of the ancient city of Ctesiphon, was also targeted for restorations, but due to Iraq's struggle with terrorism, the Iraqi government has had to shift its priorities.