Tehran Municipality confirmed the disappearance of 30 paintings from the collections of the Museum of Religious Art. On September 15, Naser Amani, a member of the municipal council, revealed that the works had been handed over in July to someone outside the municipality without any official document formalizing this loan. Contrary to rumors, the paintings were not loaned to international exhibitions, as clarified by Artdependence.com.
Various Iranian media outlets had already reported the disappearance of the paintings this summer, one of which is estimated at $500,000 (€450,000). In addition to their economic value, these works represent an inestimable cultural and historical heritage for Iran.
The Iranian government has been accused by cultural heritage advocates of involvement in the thefts, with some activists citing regime corruption. They suspect the government used the opportunity to illegally sell the works on the black market. Until the municipality confirmed the theft, authorities remained evasive, the website reports. Iranintl.com.
Rumors persist, including that the paintings were sold in Dubai, although no concrete evidence has yet been provided. This theft is part of a series of disappearances of Iranian cultural objects, such as the theft of 48 carpets from the Sa’dabad Palace between 2013 and 2016, as pointed out by Artnews.com.
