WANA (Aug 17) – Iran has 58 tentative dossiers awaiting UNESCO World Heritage review, guaranteeing new nominations for over half a century at the current limit of one inscription per year, announced Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage Ali Darabi on Monday, August 17.

 

Speaking at a specialized conference at the National Museum of Iran regarding the strategic heritage of Alamut Castle, Darabi highlighted that the fortress recently became Iran’s 30th registered UNESCO site following a dedicated five-year effort by a 110-person expert team.

 

The Deputy Minister emphasized that global recognitions foster deep national pride while reinforcing the foundational pillars of Iranian identity—including its art, architecture, Persian language, and historical engineering resilience in harsh, arid landscapes.

 

He noted that several upcoming dossiers spanning provinces like Sistan and Baluchestan, South Khorasan, and Razavi Khorasan showcase ancient water management innovations that extend into shared cultural geographies, including neighboring Afghanistan.

 

Concluding his address, Darabi stressed that achieving UNESCO status is merely the beginning. He called for a strong focus on long-term conservation, sustainable management, and boosting “heritage literacy” among the public, particularly younger generations, to ensure these historic assets are preserved for the future.