Decision 45 COM 7B.165

Trans-Iranian Railway (Iran (Islamic Republic of)) (C 1585)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/23/45.COM/7B.Add,
2. Recalling Decision 44COM 8B.13 adopted at its extended 44th session (Fuzhou/online, 2021),
3. Appreciates the efforts made by the State Party to implement the decisions of the Committee;
4. Requests the State Party to consider the following:
   1. Ensure, as a matter of priority, the conservation of stations, workshops and buildings in accordance with their historical and heritage values, whether in use or in a situation of reconversion of use, by:
      1. Completing architectural inventories and master plans for major stations,
      2. Carrying out the architectural restoration studies deemed necessary with the active support of heritage conservation architects approved by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, while taking into account the integrity and authenticity of the buildings concerned,
      3. Providing examples with more visible illustrations and legible texts,
      4. Providing statistical information on what has been achieved, what is planned in the short-term and what is planned for the longer-term, for the entire property;
   2. Set up an inventory of engineering structures similar to that of buildings and stations;
5. Requests the State Party, when carrying out a Heritage Impact Assessment for the Tehran–Garmsar–Bandar-e Torkaman line electrification project, to ensure that the visual impact of the electrification project is properly documented, in particular at the level of the reference structures and historic stations, and to carry out this study in accordance with the Guidance and Toolkit for Impact Assessments in a World Heritage Context published in 2022;
6. Invites the State Party to pursue the railway museum project in Tehran and its network of interpretation centres along the line, which are of great importance in terms of enhancement and community involvement;
7. Finally requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2024, an updated report on the state of conservation of the property and the implementation of the above, for examination by the World Heritage Committee at its 47th session.