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Minister urges shared recognition of intangible heritage
He spoke at the 26th strategic council meeting of the ministry on December 15 in Tehran.
“Registering intangible heritage does not negate another country,” Salehi-Amiri said, emphasizing that multiple nations can submit heritage files without conflict.
He cited the example of Nowruz, Iran’s traditional New Year festival, which was registered jointly with 12 neighboring countries. “Some customs and artefacts are shared,” he said, “so why create disputes?”
The remarks shows Iran’s broader approach to cultural diplomacy and heritage management, aiming to reduce politicization and foster multilateral cooperation.
Salehi-Amiri highlighted that around 75% of Iran’s manuscript collections, nearly 500,000 items, reside abroad, framing their presence as a global cultural asset rather than a loss.
Salehi-Amiri also reviewed his recent foreign visits, noting strengthened ties with China and Greece. In Beijing, discussions focused on joint exhibitions of Iranian handicrafts and carpets, archaeological cooperation, and heritage preservation.
China’s 160 million domestic tourists and 20 million outbound travelers present significant opportunities for bilateral tourism, he said.
He underlined that engagement must extend beyond capital-level contacts to provincial authorities, enabling direct collaboration between Iranian and Chinese regional administrations.
In Athens, Salehi-Amiri secured agreements for Greek influencers to visit Iran, promoting tourism and cultural exchange, alongside plans for joint handicraft exhibitions. He stressed Iran’s readiness for strategic cooperation, moving from dialogue to actionable projects.
Salehi-Amiri highlighted Boushehr province’s historical port of Siraf, citing its potential for UNESCO World Heritage registration.
Governor General of Bushehr Arsalan Zare’ described Siraf as a “strategic cultural asset” with extensive archaeological finds, Sassanid-era heritage, and musical traditions.
Zare’ said the province’s maritime economy, palm groves, and annual National Persian Gulf Day celebrations offer unique tourism draws, potentially boosting both regional revenue and cultural diplomacy.