TEHRAN -- The mayor of 
Concreuxville, a historic town in France, has awarded the city’s highest honor to two distinguished Iranian scholars, Mehrdad Oskouei and Alireza Baharloo, for their pioneering research on the Qajar dynasty’s ties to the region.
Oskouei, a filmmaker, photographer, and historian, along with art historian Baharloo, have dedicated years to meticulously documenting the cultural footprint of the Qajar dynasty during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 
Their work centers on three documented visits by Naser al-Din Shah Qajar to Concreuxville, a journey that has left an indelible mark on the city’s historical narrative.
The presentation took place during a special session convened by the city’s cultural department, with senior local historians and representatives from Paris’s cultural association Persaf in attendance. 
The accolade recognizes the researchers’ significant contribution to preserving and promoting Concreuxville’s heritage, fostering a shared historical understanding, and strengthening the cultural ties between Iran and France.
At the heart of their research lies a trove of archival materials—over 15 years’ worth of photographs, postcards, and documents—that paint a vivid picture of the Qajar period’s influence. 
Oskouei, inspired by the late Iranian scholar Iraj Afshar, embarked on the ambitious project in 2009. Since then, the team’s work has culminated in a comprehensive visual and historical archive, soon to be published as a book in Iran.
Among the highlights of their study are images of the hotel where Naser al-Din Shah stayed during his visits, showing striking contrasts and continuities between past and present views of Concreuxville.