The Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base has issued an official clarification denying recent media reports that claimed Masouleh is no longer eligible for inclusion on the World Heritage list.
In a statement published on its official website, the base responded to news articles circulated on April 14, 2025 (26 Farvardin 1404), which suggested that Masouleh had been permanently removed from consideration due to its transition from a village to a city. Outlets such as Tejarat News and ILNA ran headlines like “Masouleh Will No Longer Become a World Heritage Site,” which were later echoed by Amordad.
The reports stated:
“In Iran, only around 130 villages remain with the basic qualifications for evaluation under the global rural tourism program. The rest have either been abandoned or have lost their traditional architecture due to modernization. Even Masouleh, once a distinctive terraced village, has reportedly been disqualified after its conversion into a city. Tourism experts now believe it will never achieve global recognition through the UNWTO program.”
The news also referenced comments attributed to Hossein Baharvand, Head of the Tourism Development and Attractions Group at the Ministry of Tourism, who allegedly said that the conversion of some eligible villages—like Masouleh—into cities had made them ineligible for nomination.
In response, the Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base issued a rebuttal on April 16, 2025 (28 Farvardin 1404), stating that such claims are inaccurate. According to the base, Masouleh’s World Heritage nomination is still active and currently undergoing final preparations for submission.
Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base Denies Reports on Disqualification from World Heritage Listing
The Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base has officially refuted recent reports claiming that the village is no longer eligible for World Heritage status. In an official response, Rasoul Foroughi, Head of the Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base, clarified that the village’s World Heritage nomination process is still ongoing and nearing completion.
Foroughi addressed the misinformation, explaining: “The terraced structure of Masouleh has always been designed as a historical urban settlement, which sets it apart from similar villages. This urban character is a core feature of Masouleh’s identity.”
He also pointed out that the confusion stems from mixing two distinct processes: the UNWTO’s Best Tourism Villages program, which focuses on rural tourism, and UNESCO’s World Heritage registration, which pertains to cultural heritage. He emphasized that these processes are separate, and the claim of Masouleh’s disqualification was due to a misunderstanding of the different roles of the two organizations.
Foroughi further assured that the Masouleh nomination has been enriched through additional archaeological studies and global consultation, including guidance from ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites).
He concluded by reaffirming that the nomination process is advancing and the final stages of completion are underway.
In response to recent reports suggesting that Masouleh can no longer be considered for World Heritage status, Resoul Foroughi, Head of the Masouleh Cultural Heritage Base, has clarified that the nomination process is still moving forward. He added, “Thanks to the dedicated work of experts, the completed dossier for Masouleh’s World Heritage registration will be submitted to UNESCO this December.”
The news, titled “Masouleh Will Never Be a World Heritage Site,” had circulated widely, citing a statement from the Head of the Tourism Development and Attractions Group at the Ministry of Tourism. As a result, it is expected that the Ministry of Tourism will soon release an official response to correct this misinformation.
We remain optimistic that the unique village of Masouleh will continue its journey toward UNESCO World Heritage status and, once the remaining obstacles are cleared, will soon be celebrated as a globally recognized site.
