Louvre antiquities to go on display in Iran

18 Jan 2017 - A number of antique pieces from the prestigious French museum will be displayed in Iran, following the signing of an agreement between custodians of Iran's cultural heritage and France's Louvre Museum.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization Mohammad-Hassan Talebian told Mehr News Agency on Wednesday that Louvre Museum is planning to display a number of antique pieces from various historical eras in Iran.

He added, "This is in line with an agreement signed between Iran's National Museum and the Louvre last April. The exact date and other details of the exhibition have yet to be decided but I believe it will be organized sometime in March."

During President Hassan Rouhani's visit to France last January, Louvre signed a historical agreement with Iran for renewed cultural and scientific cooperation. The agreement includes plans for exchanges of exhibitions, publications, scientific visits and training sessions, as well as archeological excavations.

Talebian noted, "First of all, an exhibition will be organized in Iran and then we will send some pieces to France for display. There is no issue on insurance since Louvre has agreed to pay all the expenses.

"If we did not have any insurance obstacles for displaying historical pieces of other countries, they would all be greatly interested in organizing an exhibition in Iran."

According to the Director of the National Museum of Iran Jebrael Nokandeh, the exhibition in Tehran will display around 24 pieces from Louvre selected from various cultures such as Greece, Egypt and Mesopotamia.