Iran resumes work on northern cultural megaproject after years of delay
Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Reza Salehi Amiri, visited the eastern Golestan province and officially relaunched construction on what is set to become the largest museum in northern Iran after a years-long halt.
The Golestan Grand Museum, a long-stalled project located in the city of Gonbad-e Kavus, aims to serve as a regional flagship of cultural preservation. Originally launched in 2016 but left unfinished, the museum is designed to showcase the historical, ethnic, and cultural diversity of Iran’s northern provinces. Officials now hope to turn the project into what they call a “civilizational mission” rather than just a building, Tasnim News Agency reported.
Salehi Amiri, who toured the construction site in Dariush Park on the first day of his trip on July 9, called for swift mobilization. “This museum must become the beating heart of heritage in the north,” he said.
Stressing the symbolic importance of the project, he framed it as essential for safeguarding Iran’s identity and “narrating the story” of its ethnic mosaic.
The government plans to break ground again within the next month. The first phase will proceed based on the existing structure, with financing split between national and provincial sources. Parliament representatives and local officials are expected to help fast-track the process.
Around half of the total budget, the minister noted, will go to construction, while the rest will cover interior design, content curation, and conservation systems. Private sector and local investors—especially those in handicrafts and cultural industries—are expected to foot part of the bill, as long as the project stays “within the Iranian-Islamic identity” and avoids turning into a commercial venture.
Abdolhakim Agharkakli, who represents Gonbad-e Kavus in parliament, urged the government to allocate a dedicated national funding line through Article 23 budget procedures to “accelerate the timeline” and respond to public demand.
Fereydoun Fa’ali, Golestan province’s cultural heritage chief, reported that since ground was first broken in 2016, nearly $2 million have been spent, mostly from national sources. The museum sits on a 20,000-square-meter municipal land grant, of which 2,500 square meters have been excavated and reinforced. Physical progress stands at just 20 percent.
According to Fa’ali, the museum will be built in stages. The state heritage office is responsible for the gallery and storage units; the city will handle landscaping and a garden-museum; and cultural tourism investors will develop the hospitality segment.