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Iran vows overhaul of heritage protection force, linking cultural assets to national identity
Speaking during a visit to the Protection Unit headquarters at the Saadabad cultural and historical complex in northern Tehran, Reza Salehi-Amiri said the unit stood “on the front line” of preserving Iran’s civilizational capital, IRNA reported.
He issued instructions for all dormitory equipment used by conscripted soldiers in provincial units to be fully renovated and standardized next year, following recent upgrades at Saadabad, Niavaran, Golestan Palace and the National Museum of Iran.
Salehi-Amiri, on his third inspection of the Saadabad complex, also toured the Royal Tableware Museum and met unit personnel. “The issues and demands raised were formally recorded and will be followed up,” he said, stressing an ethics-centered approach to human resource management.
The unit’s mission, he added, included boosting staffing capacity, meeting organizational needs and addressing the human, psychological and family concerns of its forces.
He announced a comprehensive program to reinforce the unit’s structure, improve livelihoods and enhance logistical capabilities nationwide.
“Hills, monuments, museums and historical sites are the identity card and historical memory of the Iranian nation,” Salehi-Amiri said. “Iran without cultural heritage would be stripped of its historical and identity links.”
Protection Unit commander Ayat Ahmadi presented an operational assessment and outlined priority needs. Salehi-Amiri said all items were reviewed under a “problem-oriented, program-driven and results-focused” approach, with directives issued for implementation.
Key areas discussed included strengthening logistical infrastructure, supplying specialized equipment, improving welfare conditions, expanding human resources and upgrading operational capacity.
Officials also addressed recruitment, securing conscript allocations from the armed forces general staff, and bolstering the unit’s vehicle and motorcycle fleet to improve monitoring and protection of historical buildings and archaeological sites across the country.