Taghribnews (TNA) - Iran Seeks UNESCO World Heritage Label for 34 Mosques

Iran has moved closer to potentially registering its historic mosques as a collective property on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Vatandoust, known for his past involvement in registering Iran's "Hegmataneh" and "The Persian Caravanserai" locations, mentioned that initial assessments for the documentation process have started. However, the more crucial and lengthy on-site research is still pending, necessitating substantial financial support and collaboration from provincial entities and other pertinent institutions.

Vatandoust mentioned that the existing roster of 34 mosques could undergo modifications within the next one to two years, with the possibility of some mosques being included or excluded as the research advances. The primary goal is to ensure that these mosques are comprehensively documented and analyzed in preparation for submission.
The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicraft has commissioned the project intending to finalize the dossier by the end of the current year, aiming to present it to UNESCO in the subsequent year. Vatandoust stressed that the achievement of this schedule relies significantly on obtaining the required funding, especially for activities like documentation, laser scanning, aerial photography, and on-site research.