Farshchian Museum reopens
VP urges civil society partnership to protect heritage
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref called cooperation between civil society and government agencies “a necessity” for protecting the country’s cultural heritage, warning that illegal excavations, urban sprawl and climate threats were eroding historical sites.
He spoke at a ceremony in Tehran honoring leading figures in heritage preservation, fvpresident.ir reported.
Aref used the annual tribute to link heritage protection with national identity, youth education and Iran’s global image.
He argued that strengthening non-governmental organizations and giving them official support could help meet mounting challenges. “Heritage is not just our past,” he said. “It is an investment in Iran’s future.”
The vice president described Iran’s cultural assets as both “a foundation of identity” and “a permanent barrier” to what he called US-backed efforts at Iranophobia.
He added that foreign rivals wanted “a dependent and submissive Iran,” but insisted that such “dependency does not exist in the nature of Iranians.”
Aref pressed for broader use of cultural diplomacy to bolster unity and improve ties with other nations. He urged young people to look to prominent figures in culture and heritage as role models, saying their introduction to Iran’s history amounted to “an investment for the future.”
The vice president also underlined the need for scientific and innovative approaches in preservation, stressing documentation, public education and media outreach. Alongside bricks and monuments, he said, heritage had a “software dimension” that required awareness-building and social responsibility.
On the same day, Aref inaugurated the reopened Farshchian Museum in Tehran, which had been closed following previous attacks on the country.
The ceremony was attended by Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri, Academy of Persian Language and Literature head Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel, and other senior officials.
Aref toured the museum’s galleries, highlighting its role in preserving the legacy of the late miniature master Mahmoud Farshchian.
Salehi Amiri said the reopening gave new life to Iran’s cultural heritage and reinforced the country’s commitment to its historical treasures.
The Sa’dabad ceremony also honored other leading figures, including archaeologists, architects and conservators such as Seyfollah Aminian, Akbar Taqizadeh-Asl, Parvin Seghat ol-Eslam, Ebrahim Heidari, and Mohammad-Hassan Talebian, emphasizing society’s respect for those who safeguard national heritage.