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Minister hails museums as guardians of national memory
Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Minister Reza Salehi-Amiri on Monday opened the country’s Heritage Week and International Museum Day ceremonies at the National Museum of Iran in Tehran, casting the annual event as a celebration of Iran’s “civilizational grandeur,” national identity and cultural resilience in the face of recent attacks on historical sites.
Addressing museum officials, restorers, scholars and foreign cultural guests gathered for the May 18-24 observance, Salehi-Amiri said Iran’s vast historical legacy had become a pillar of national cohesion and soft power, CHTN reported.
He described cultural heritage workers as custodians of the country’s “ancient treasure” and said Iran remained “stronger and more united” through its historical memory and cultural continuity.
The minister condemned recent strikes that damaged historical landmarks across the country, describing the attacks as a form of “civilizational hostility” targeting Iran’s cultural identity. He said 149 historical monuments had sustained damage during what he called US and Israeli aggression against Iran.
“Iran is a land of narratives, civilizations and humanity’s historical memory,” Salehi-Amiri said. “This heritage is a strategic asset that must be preserved and presented to the world.”
He also highlighted Iran’s international cultural footprint, saying the country holds more than one million historical artifacts and 43,000 nationally registered heritage sites, placing it among the world’s leading centers of civilization and cultural influence.
‘Standing in the Dust’ shows heritage scars
Alongside the ceremony, officials inaugurated the photo exhibition ‘Standing in the Dust’ at the National Museum of Iran, showcasing 30 images documenting damage inflicted on historical buildings and heritage sites during recent attacks.
The exhibition presents visual narratives of scarred monuments, mosques and centuries-old structures, portraying what organizers described as the endurance of Iranian civilization through war and upheaval. Curators said the collection sought to underscore museums’ role as guardians of collective memory and national identity.
Held under the slogan “Museums, Guardians of Identity and National Unity,” the exhibition was organized by the ministry’s public relations and cultural affairs department.