TEHRAN – Iran plans to offer around 50 historical buildings for restoration and operation through at least two public tenders by the end of the current Iranian calendar year, as part of efforts to accelerate the preservation and economic revival of the country’s cultural heritage sites.
Mojtaba Shokri, acting head of the Fund for the Development of Handicrafts and Handmade Carpets and the Restoration and Operation of Historical and Cultural Properties, told IRNA that preparations are underway to resume the tender process following a temporary suspension in recent months.
He said reducing the number of deteriorating historical buildings and bringing them into the tender process are among the fund’s key performance indicators. However, he stressed that successful restoration depends on selecting qualified investors and ensuring that projects reach the operational stage within the designated deadlines.
Shokri noted that the fund’s responsibilities extend beyond transferring historical properties to private operators. Under its charter, the organization is also tasked with identifying and supporting markets for handicrafts and handmade carpets, developing digital marketplaces and exploring opportunities in financial markets.
He described the use of capital market instruments to attract small-scale investments as a potential way to broaden public participation in heritage preservation. Such mechanisms could particularly benefit Iranians living abroad who wish to contribute
to protecting the country’s cultural heritage but cannot afford investments worth several billion rials.
According to Shokri, developing financial tools for attracting smaller investments could enable more people to participate in restoring historical properties while strengthening links between cultural heritage, handicrafts and local economies.
Addressing recent challenges facing the tourism sector, Shokri said the war has affected tourism activities across the country, with several historical properties under the fund’s supervision also experiencing its consequences.
He pointed to declining tourist numbers and rising wages in the hospitality sector as factors placing additional financial pressure on the operation of these properties.
The fund normally holds tenders for new historical properties every two to three months. However, no tenders have been held over the past two months due to wartime conditions, he said, adding that preparations were underway to resume the process in the near future.
Shokri said 25 historical properties have already been prepared for tender, while seven additional sites designated specifically for handicraft-related activities will also be included. Calls for these investment opportunities are currently being coordinated in different provinces.
Shokri also announced that several restored historical properties are approaching the operational stage and will soon become available for tourism and handicraft activities.
The properties include Aminian House in Kerman, the grounds of Mofakham House of Mirrors in Bojnurd, Iran Hotel in Rasht and Shotor-Galu Mansion in Mahan.
He expressed hope that reopening these sites will contribute to revitalizing tourism, creating sustainable employment opportunities and increasing the availability of cultural spaces in their respective cities.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts to bring Iran’s historical buildings back into active use, combining heritage conservation with private-sector investment, tourism development and economic opportunities for local communities.