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Iran, Uzbekistan eye joint museum exhibits, cultural cooperation
Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage Ali Darabi told Uzbekistan’s First Deputy of the Cultural Heritage Agency, Tursunali Kuziev, that the two nations enjoy “deep-rooted cultural ties” that could pave the way for closer collaboration.
Darabi said Iran is prepared to join forces on “world heritage nominations, museum displays, and restoration projects.” He pointed to the success of the Glory of Iran exhibition in China, which drew more than 50 million visitors and featured 216 artifacts. He called the event a model for potential shows in Tashkent or Samarkand.
Darabi also offered Iran’s expertise in artifact restoration and cultural training. “We have strong capacity in education, restoration, and exhibition,” he said, highlighting opportunities to boost cultural exchange.
The official underscored the historical role of the Persian language across the region, noting it once served as the administrative language of Uzbekistan. He described this linguistic heritage as a “cultural asset” that could support stronger ties.
He also mentioned the symbolic importance of Samarkand and Bukhara for Iranians, calling them cities of “love, culture, and historic identity.”
Kuziev, in turn, welcomed the talks and noted striking similarities between Iranian and Uzbek museum pieces. “Many of our artifacts share artistic and spiritual traits,” he said.
He cited examples of Persian poetry and Iranian architects featured in historic Uzbek sites. “On a 200-year-old minaret, the architect’s name is engraved in Persian,” Kuziev noted, adding that verses by Hafez also adorn several mosques.
Uzbekistan, he said, hopes to tap into Iranian expertise to help preserve shared cultural heritage. “Scientific and practical cooperation with Iran could play a key role in protecting our common legacy,” he stated.