Warning on Plundering National Heritage; Call for Protecting Iran in Crisis Conditions

Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a warning regarding the plundering of Iran’s national heritage and emphasized the necessity of immediate public action to protect Iran.

At a time when Iran’s political and social developments have entered a sensitive and critical phase, concerns about the fate of the nation’s cultural and natural heritage have increased significantly. Many observers warn that during periods of transition and instability, the risk of exploitation, destruction, and looting of national monuments always increases; an experience that has been repeated in Iran’s contemporary history.

In this context, Reza Pahlavi issued a message warning of potential threats against Iran’s national heritage and called on the people to act in the form of an organized popular movement to protect these historical and natural assets.

In his message, he referred to past experiences and looming dangers, spoke of the necessity of public vigilance and universal participation, and emphasized the direct role of citizens in preventing the destruction of national monuments.

In his message, he addressed the people of Iran as follows:

“My dear fellow countrymen,

Protecting Iran’s cultural and natural heritage is a national and perpetual duty for all of us. This duty has become more important than ever in the current circumstances; because there is concern that opportunists might exploit the revolutionary situation in the country or any potential turmoil until a national government is established after the overthrow, and proceed to plunder, destroy, or usurp Iran’s national heritage.

Unfortunately, we experienced examples of such occurrences in 1358; when a considerable portion of Iran’s natural landscapes and historical monuments suffered damage and destruction.

I ask you to join the “Iran Heritage Unit” in the Eternal Guard to safeguard the nation’s cultural heritage and environment. The agenda of this unit is very simple: each of you, wherever you are in Iran, together with friends and acquaintances, should form even a small local organization to protect a national monument that you believe might be under threat.

Fellow countrymen abroad can also join this unit by contributing to potential costs, or through public awareness and education, and participate in this national endeavor.

I, too, as an Iranian, will join the “Iran Heritage Unit.” This unit is not limited to revolutionary circumstances, but can be transformed, within the framework of a comprehensive structure, into a permanent institution for the care and protection of Iran’s national heritage.

Let us remember that everything we do is for Iran. Iran is all that we have, and protecting its cultural and biological heritage is a covenant we have made with the martyrs of the Lion and Sun revolution.

Long live Iran.”

This message is being released at a time when cultural heritage experts have repeatedly warned about the vulnerability of historical monuments in unstable conditions. According to them, the absence of effective oversight, the weakening of responsible institutions, and the increase in illegal activities could lead to irreparable destruction of parts of the nation’s historical identity.

In such an environment, emphasizing the role of the people and the formation of local nuclei to protect cultural heritage is presented as a practical and immediate solution; a solution that, if realized, could serve as a serious barrier against the destruction and looting of Iran’s national assets.