The Secretary-General of Iran’s National UNESCO Commission has voiced concerns over Persepolis and its surrounding areas amid ongoing urban development in Marvdasht. UNESCO has issued warning letters regarding the preservation of this World Heritage site.
Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of the Commission, stated, “There are legitimate reasons for concern, which is why we have formally raised these warnings.” The issues have been communicated to relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, and follow-up measures are in progress.
The Commission also called for expert consultations to carefully assess the situation and prevent any threats to the heritage site. Fartousi emphasized that no institution is allowed to encroach on historical sites, and Iran will not permit any violations. The Commission stressed its role in coordination and facilitation, using UNESCO’s expertise to safeguard both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Hassan Fartousi also highlighted a major achievement: the upcoming recognition of Cyrus the Great’s Human Rights Charter as shared intangible heritage with Tajikistan at UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand. The National UNESCO Commission urged the media to promote this milestone, showcasing Iran’s civilizational role on the global stage.
The Commission emphasized the importance of safeguarding ancestral heritage for future generations and warned that economic or other pressures must not put these cultural treasures at risk. It added that any concerns would be addressed through expert consultations and careful evaluations.
The issue arose when Esfandiar Abdollahi, Marvdasht’s parliamentary representative, announced the annexation of 960 hectares for urban expansion and shared a map, raising alarm among archaeologists and heritage advocates. He later claimed the map was false and that no such plan existed.
Archaeological reviews revealed that around 460 hectares of the proposed area, in Marvdasht’s Mahdieh district, overlap with the secondary buffer zone of Persepolis, including the Firouzi archaeological site containing valuable, unexcavated Achaemenid remains. Comparison with William Sumner’s archaeological maps confirmed that these lands intersect Site No. 5 and Persepolis’ protective zone, meaning development could seriously endanger buried heritage.
Mohammad Javad Jafari, head of the Persepolis World Heritage Site, rejected any plans for new construction within the secondary buffer zone, stressing that the boundaries of the Mahdieh district are finalized and no additional plots will be added. He added that some existing residential plots may be repurposed for tourism and presented a map clearly marking the district, making further development impossible.
Despite this, the Secretary-General of Iran’s National UNESCO Commission reiterated concerns about Persepolis. UNESCO has previously warned that urban expansion in Marvdasht threatens the site and that uncontrolled development could endanger its World Heritage status.
Had the proposed plan proceeded, Site No. 5, including the historic “Brick Gate” from Cyrus’ era—modeled on Babylon’s Ishtar Gate—would have been at risk. This structure, along with other ancient mounds in Persepolis’ secondary buffer zone, contains valuable, unexplored evidence from the Achaemenid period.
