TEHRAN – Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Reza Salehi Amiri announced on Saturday that Iran has held talks with Iraqi authorities regarding the preservation and restoration of the ancient Turk Qasra monument, a major Sassanid archaeological site near Baghdad.
Tak Kasra, also known as the Arch of Ctesiphon, is the remains of a Persian monument from the Sasanian period, dating to around 2005 AD. It is known to have existed near present-day Baghdad, Iraq, between the 3rd and 6th centuries.
Salehi Amiri told Iranian media that the protection of Sasanian ruins, including Tak Qasra, remains a major concern for the Iranian government. He said that constructive discussions were being held with the Iraqi authorities to protect and restore the monument, and further results of these discussions would be announced in the future.
“We are focused on preserving the Sasanian heritage,” Salehi-Amiri said. “We have been in constructive discussions with Iraqi authorities to preserve and restore this complex.”
Last year, Iran’s cultural attaché in Baghdad announced Iran’s readiness to assist in the restoration of the Turk Qasra Arch in Iraq. He said that several talented Iranian companies have been introduced to the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities and are awaiting a response from the Iraqi side.
In May 2025, the head of Iran’s Islamic Culture and Communication Organization, Mohammad Mehdi Imanipour, also reaffirmed Iran’s proposal in a meeting with Iraqi cultural officials in Tehran. “Turk Kasra is a monument deeply cherished by the Iranian people,” Imanipour said. “If the Iraqi government is so inclined, we would like to contribute to its preservation and restoration.”
According to sources, Turk Kasra, part of the ancient royal complex of Ctesiphon, may have been built during the reigns of Shapur I (242-272 AD) and Khosrow I (540 AD).
In recent years, parts of the structure have collapsed, raising concerns among historians and heritage experts in both Iran and Iraq. Despite numerous discussions, a comprehensive restoration project has yet to begin.
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