Museums in Iran: a Heritage Under Siege (1/2)

Since the increase in regional tension, the strikes targeting Iran in 2025, and the latest popular uprising in Iranian cities, authorities have multiplied emergency measures around museums. The aim was to protect invaluable heritage from the risks of bombing, sabotage, or even looting. Concretely, this translated into prolonged closures, reduced hours, meticulously supervised visits, and the discreet transfer of some major pieces to secret reserves.

This bunkerization reflex is part of a deeper and older climate of tension and crisis, marked for decades by a tightening of the cultural space throughout the country.

Museums Caught in a Vice

Cultural institutions are currently caught in a double bind: the threat of war, internal upheavals, and the diplomatic and ideological priorities of the government.

Indeed, the Islamic Republic seeks, on the one hand, to promote an identity strategy based on a reinterpretation of Persian nationalism, and on the other hand, to counter 'Iranophobia' by emphasizing its heritage, historical depth, and artistic production.

Iran's entire cultural and art policy adheres to this new identity strategy, perfectly illustrated by the Museum of the Islamic Revolution and Sacred Defense in Tehran, which combines memorial, political education, and tourist product.

Internationally, acquisitions, loans, and exhibitions of Persian artworks constitute major events, such as the loan of the invaluable Cyrus Cylinder (539 BC) or the exhibition « Forgotten Empire: The World of Ancient Persia », organized by the British Museum a few years ago…etc

The government of the Islamic Republic uses these events as tools of cultural diplomacy to serve its ideological priorities, which sometimes creates a field of tension and political blackmail.

Iran's archaeological heritage is very rich, and its museums are numerous (over 800), including the National Museum of Iran, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Golestan Palace…etc.

We have chosen two museums in Tehran that are typical of Iran's history: The Treasury or National Jewelry Museum and the National Museum of Iran.

The National Jewelry Treasury

Inaugurated in 1937, during the Shah's era, as a showcase of monarchical power, the National Jewelry Treasury of the Shahs brings together the legacies of the Safavid, Afsharid, Qajar, and Pahlavi dynasties: crowns, inlaid thrones, extravagant adornments, legendary diamonds…

It is located in the basement of the Central Bank of Iran's headquarters on Ferdowsi Street, Tehran. It is legally attached to the Central Bank, which is its legal custodian. In the 1930s, the value of the collection was such that it served as a reserve for the national currency. Even today, part of the currency's legitimacy symbolically rests on this stock of physical assets, which cannot be valued at market price.

Fabulous Jewels

The collection includes invaluable pieces, among which are the Kiani Crown of the Qajar rulers, emblematic of the 19th-century Persian monarchy, or the Pahlavi Crown used for the coronation of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, made of gold and silver, set with thousands of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, and rare pearls. In addition to these precious pieces are fairy-tale thrones like the Peacock Throne which is a solid gold Qajar throne, covered with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls, a major symbol of Persian royalty. It takes its name from a peacock motif or from the nickname given to Fath Ali Shah.

The treasury also includes a Terrestrial Globe of 34 kg of gold and approximately 6 kg of precious stones, diamonds, rubies, and emeralds to illustrate the seas and lands of the globe. Not to mention the Shield and Sword of Nader Shah made of rhinoceros hide, 46 cm in diameter, also covered with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds, with one of the world's largest rubies (approx. 225 carats) at the center of the shield, as well as countless adornments, swords, shields, ceremonial objects, and tableware made of precious metals.. and extremely rare precious stones like the famous pink diamond Darya-ye Noor (or Sea of Light) of 182 carats, considered the world's largest pink diamond, etc.

All these jewels tell of opulence and wealth, but also the extravagance of a monarchy that measured itself against European courts. After the Revolution, the Islamic Republic converted this symbol, which it considered 'reviled,' into a 'national treasure,' now meant to embody the wealth of the nation rather than that of a single family.

In our next article, we will talk about the National Museum of Iran and the (difficult) role that museum curators are called upon to play.