Iran joins world's top 10 for UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Iran has entered the world's top 10 countries by the number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites following the inscription of Alamut Fortress on the World Heritage List.

The decision was adopted by consensus during the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, as reported by Pars Today, a TV BRICS partner. The inscription marks Iran's 30th World Heritage property, further strengthening the country's position among the world's leading custodians of cultural heritage.

Ali Darabi, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage of Iran, congratulated the nation on the achievement, describing the inscription as a milestone in preserving and promoting Iran's historical legacy.

According to Darabi, Alamut Fortress represents an exceptional example of Iranian architectural achievement and reflects the country's long-standing traditions in science, knowledge and governance. He also noted that historical sources describe the site as once housing a library containing approximately 400,000 volumes, underlining its importance as a centre of scholarship in the mediaeval period.

Located in the Alamut region of Qazvin Province, the fortress is regarded as one of Iran's most significant examples of mountain architecture. Built on a steep rocky outcrop, the complex illustrates the ingenuity of Persian engineering and adaptation to challenging natural landscapes.

According to UNESCO, Iran now has 30 properties inscribed on the World Heritage List, placing it among the ten countries with the highest number of World Heritage sites globally.

Iran's World Heritage sites span thousands of years of history and include archaeological complexes, historic cities, cultural landscapes, monuments and masterpieces of Persian architecture. Together they reflect the country's rich civilisational heritage and its contribution to the development of art, science, urban planning and culture across different historical periods.

Officials say the inscription of Alamut Fortress is expected to enhance international recognition of Iran's cultural heritage, encourage further conservation efforts and support the sustainable development of cultural tourism while preserving one of the country's most important historic landmarks for future generations.