Iran And Armenia Strengthen Cultural Tourism Ties Through Heritage And Handicrafts

Published on September 7, 2025

A important gathering betwixt nan Iranian Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, Mohammad-Mehdi Salehi-Amiri, and Armenian Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Zhanna Andreasyan, was held connected Sunday to talk deepening bilateral practice successful various taste fields. This interaction, which follows nan antecedently signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), reflects an ongoing effort to heighten nan cultural, educational, and tourism relations betwixt nan 2 nations.

Advancing Cultural Cooperation Between Iran and Armenia

During nan meeting, Salehi-Amiri highlighted nan advancement made nether nan MoUs, peculiarly successful nan areas of national museums, handicraft exhibitions, taste heritage, and nan associated registration of tangible and intangible taste useful pinch UNESCO. The gathering emphasized nan operational steps already taken, specified arsenic nan successful speech of handicraft exhibitions successful Tehran and Yerevan. Plans for much exhibitions and associated efforts successful preserving taste practice were besides discussed. These collaborations purpose to further elevate nan value of some nations’ rich | taste legacies connected nan world stage.

Salehi-Amiri besides mentioned that these efforts were not conscionable theoretical but had already begun to carnivore fruit, pinch tangible initiatives underway. The 2 ministers besides touched connected nan training of artisans and preservation of cultural heritage, pinch a typical attraction connected nan restoration of various monuments and sites of humanities significance. This extends beyond conscionable taste exchange, aiming for long-lasting preservation of these practice sites, immoderate of which are already registered pinch UNESCO.

Expanding Cultural Heritage Projects

The Iranian Minister of Culture went connected to stress Iran’s committedness to nan restoration and preservation of belief and humanities sites. One of nan notable projects nether chat was nan restoration of nan Blue Mosque of Armenia, a notable architectural wealth making love backmost to nan Qajar period. Salehi-Amiri stated that nan Iranian Cultural Heritage Research Institute was afloat prepared to assistance pinch this effort. Furthermore, nan ministers said astir nan occurrence of erstwhile associated restoration initiatives, including nan restoration of churches successful Armenia, which person been successfully registered pinch UNESCO.

Additionally, Iran has been progressive successful nan preservation and promotion of various types of handicrafts, pinch complete 300 of nan 400 registered fields of handicrafts recovered successful nan country. Salehi-Amiri noted that astir 573 professionals are straight progressive successful nan accumulation of these crafts, pinch an further 1 cardinal home-based artisans contributing to this sector. The economical effect of these initiatives is considerable, arsenic evidenced by nan export of Iranian handicrafts, which amounted to $500 cardinal successful 2024 alone.

Tourism and Collaborative Efforts to Enhance Cross-Border Travel

A cardinal facet of nan discussions besides revolved astir nan tourism sector. The ministers talked astir creating associated tourer itineraries, specifically aimed astatine belief sites, pinch a attraction connected ineffable places and churches. Iran has agelong been a destination for Armenian tourists, pinch complete 263,000 Armenians visiting nan state successful 2024. Conversely, 213,000 Iranians besides visited Armenia during nan aforesaid period, marking a important 53% summation successful cross-border tourism compared to 2023.

Salehi-Amiri projected nan thought of organizing an Armenian tourer circuit of Iran, highlighting nan country’s ineffable sites, churches, and different humanities landmarks. Similarly, nan curate encouraged nan preamble of Iranian visitors to Armenia’s rich | heritage. The purpose is to further fortify nan enslaved betwixt nan 2 nations by fostering communal respect for each other’s taste and humanities sites.

Cultural Exchanges and Media Collaboration

The imaginable for expanding taste speech betwixt nan 2 nations done media was besides explored. Salehi-Amiri expressed Iran’s readiness to broadcast contented produced astir Armenian attractions, including films, documentaries, and podcasts, connected Iranian media platforms. In return, it was hoped that Armenian media would characteristic Iran’s attractions successful nan aforesaid manner, broadening nan scope for communal taste nickname and appreciation.

Moreover, Salehi-Amiri suggested extending nan Armenian delegation’s sojourn to Iran to let them to research much of nan country’s taste monuments, including churches and different humanities sites. He noted that his chap ministers had prepared a bid of intensive meetings and programs to further beforehand nan bilateral taste practice betwixt nan 2 countries.

Joint Efforts successful Intangible Cultural Heritage

Alireza Izadi, nan Head of nan Department for Intangible Cultural Heritage astatine nan Iranian Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts, said astir nan joint registration of nan Saint Thaddeus Ritual pinch Armenia successful 2020, an important milestone successful their shared heritage. Izadi further mentioned that nan Tirgan aliases Vardavar festival, different captious taste celebration, had besides been nominated for UNESCO’s intangible taste practice list. The associated efforts successful these areas underscore nan shared committedness of some nations to preserving and celebrating their rich | traditions.

Strengthening Ties Through Cultural Diplomacy

The gathering concluded pinch a symbolic speech of handicrafts betwixt nan 2 ministers, a motion underscoring nan ongoing committedness to fostering bilateral cooperation. The Iranian authorities views Armenia arsenic a cardinal partner successful advancing communal taste understanding, and this gathering marks a pivotal infinitesimal successful nan continued strengthening of cultural, educational, and tourism ties.

These developments constituent to an ongoing inclination of affirmative engagement betwixt Iran and Armenia, 1 that transcends borders and focuses connected nan shared values of taste preservation, communal respect, and cooperation.