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Mahmoodi Ghouzhdi M R, Talebian M H. (2026). World Heritage in Iran from the Start to the Present: Explaining the Factors Affecting World Heritage Policies and Approaches in Iran. Athar. 46(111), 195-219. doi:10.61882/Athar.1885.3189.5
URL: http://athar.richt.ir/article-2-1885-en.html

Abstract
Iran is one of the most influential nations in the World Heritage Convention since its inception. World heritage designation is a much debated process in Iran. In the years following the inception of the world heritage convention diverse policies and approaches were adopted relevant to the convention, with different tangible measures and results emanating therefrom. Understanding these policies and approaches and their outcomes can aid future policymaking in the field of World Heritage. The aim of the present study is to identify World Heritage policies and approaches in a time context and to explain the factors affecting these policies and approaches. For this purpose, this study, by conducting in-depth and semi-structured interviews with key World Heritage stakeholders in Iran and examining supporting and related texts, has used the content analysis method to explain and analyze World Heritage policies and approaches in the period from the formation of the World Heritage Convention to 1400. Through coding, categorization, and classification, the components affecting World Heritage policies and approaches in Iran have been explained. The research findings show that the component of the role of individuals in the World Heritage process in Iran has played a fundamental role in World Heritage policies and approaches in the country, and this effect has continued to this day. In addition, the components of stakeholder participation, the organizational structure of the selection of properties in Iran, and social demand have also had the greatest impact on policymaking in the field of World Heritage in Iran. 
Keywords: World Heritage of Iran, Cultural Heritage, Natural Heritage, Tentative List of World Heritage, Policymaking.

Introduction
The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is the most significant international instrument for the identification, inscription, protection, and management of the tangible shared heritage of humanity. Over time, it has been widely embraced by states and has come to occupy a central position in the development of heritage conservation practices.
In Iran, long before the establishment of the World Heritage Convention, valuable cultural properties were identified and legally registered as national heritage. Iran actively participated in the formation of the Convention and joined it from its inception. Since then, Iran’s engagement has gone through various phases, leading to significant outcomes in the protection and recognition of cultural heritage.
Throughout this process, different policies regarding World Heritage inscription were adopted in each period, influenced by a range of underlying factors and yielding significant results. Understanding these factors is only possible through an examination of the policies pursued regarding World Heritage from the Convention’s inception to the present day. Gaining insight into the components influencing World Heritage inscription in Iran may help bridge existing gaps at the national and international levels in the years to come and contribute to the refinement of adopted policies.
In this context, the central research question addressed in this study is: “What factors have influenced World Heritage inscription policies in Iran?” Answering this fundamental question requires a comprehensive understanding of the policies pursued in Iran from the outset and the identification of the key elements shaping them
To answer this question, the study gathers and categorizes the experiences of stakeholders involved in the field of World Heritage and analyzes relevant documentation in Iran across four historical periods, spanning from the establishment of the Convention to the year 2021. These data are then examined and interpreted according to the policy approaches adopted in each time period.
The rationale for dividing the timeline into four distinct phases lies in the occurrence of major developments in the field of World Heritage in Iran. The first phase, from the adoption of the World Heritage Convention to the inscription of Iran’s first three properties, represents the country’s initial efforts to join and influence the Convention. The second phase encompasses a 24-year hiatus in inscriptions and explores the factors and circumstances underlying this interruption. The third phase marks the resumption of the inscription process in Iran, while the fourth phase is characterized by the diversification of inscription themes and the emergence of institutional structures aligned with this diversification, extending to the present day.
Finally, through a detailed review of the pursued policies, supported by interviews and documentary evidence, the study identifies and explicates the components that have influenced these policy approaches.

Discussion
World Heritage policies in Iran reveal that these policies are predominantly influenced by specific factors that are not confined to a particular time frame. Several elements affecting the World Heritage process in Iran have manifested differently over time, including governmental pressures, weaknesses in management and conservation structures, the technical and professional capacity of the cultural heritage sector, and the role of universities and academic institutions. However, some factors have functioned as core elements in the World Heritage process in Iran. The following section elaborates on these fundamental factors that have played a central role in shaping policymaking within this process.
The World Heritage Convention has undergone significant changes over time, directly influencing Iran’s world heritage policies. Shifts in the definition of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV), limitations on annual inscriptions, and UNESCO’s evolving registration priorities have reshaped the nomination process in the country. Among these factors, the Tentative List has gained particular importance. Currently (2025), it includes 58 properties (45 cultural, 11 natural, and 2 mixed), reflecting not only Iran’s potential World Heritage sites but also its policy directions. However, the lack of national guidelines, the persistent presence of certain unfeasible properties, and the absence of feasibility assessments have hindered the effectiveness of this list.
The role of key individuals has been highly influential in Iran’s world heritage inscription process. Individual initiatives have played a decisive role in the success of nominations. However, this heavy reliance on individuals rather than institutional structures has led to vulnerabilities in sustaining progress. Moreover, limited technical and academic capacity within organizations and universities has resulted in inconsistent policy-making.
In Iran’s world heritage process, structurally, the National Registration Council, as the main decision-making body, faces several issues, including limited diversity among its members, parallel operations with other councils, the absence of a defined role for civil society organizations, and a lack of clear operational guidelines. Decision-making is centralized within the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, with provincial offices playing a minimal role. Additionally, the lack of long-term planning, weak public communication, and an unclear framework for community participation have further complicated the process.
While stakeholder participation is considered a core principle internationally, in Iran it remains underdeveloped. Interviews reveal that authorities often view public involvement skeptically, questioning the expertise of local stakeholders. This has led to limited transparency and reduced public trust. Nevertheless, the growth of social capital surrounding the concept of World Heritage has generated local and national support for nomination efforts. Still, when promises of inscription are not fulfilled, it may lead to public dissatisfaction and disillusionment.

Conclusion
The process of World Heritage inscription in Iran has followed a complex and turbulent path, yielding tangible outcomes. The evolution of the cultural heritage movement in the country has significantly contributed to the development of the very concept of cultural heritage and has, in itself, functioned as a mechanism for its protection. The policies and approaches concerning World Heritage in Iran have, over time, been influenced by a range of factors—some with effects limited to specific periods, and others exerting influence to the present day.
Among these, the role of individuals has emerged as the most influential factor shaping World Heritage policies and approaches in the country. A historical review, supported by documentary evidence, reveals that policymaking in this domain has largely been driven by the perspectives and decisions of individuals involved in the process. The positive impact of individual agency is evident in the successful inscription of certain sites; however, in some periods, the same individual involvement has contributed to the failure of nomination dossiers. Furthermore, the prominent role of individuals has hindered the institutionalization and stabilization of a comprehensive organizational structure for World Heritage affairs. Despite the establishment of advisory councils within the Ministry of Cultural Heritage for the nomination and selection of sites, the influence of individuals remains a decisive factor in the success of nominations.
On another front, although community participation is a fundamental aspect of the World Heritage process, stakeholders in Iran have rarely played a significant or influential role. This lack of engagement has led to a policy approach that is predominantly institutionally internalized. Nevertheless, the notion of stakeholder participation in Iran has often been equated with a form of social demand for World Heritage inscription, which may be understood as a type of social capital. This social capital—embodied in the desire of local communities to see their heritage sites inscribed—has in turn linked heritage protection efforts with the pursuit of World Heritage status as a justification for national-level policy initiatives.
Additionally, the changing procedural and regulatory conditions of the World Heritage Convention itself—particularly shifts in the criteria and nomination requirements over time—have directly influenced national policymaking. In many cases, the sites selected for nomination have been aligned with UNESCO’s evolving strategies. In this context, Iran’s Tentative List has acted as a reflection of national policy direction, effectively shaping the future trajectory of the country’s World Heritage agenda.