Persepolis will not be transferred to Marvdasht. Behzad Moridi, the director of cultural heritage, tourism, and handicrafts in Fars Province, regarding the resolution to annex part of the second-degree buffer zone of this site to the urban area of Marvdasht, stated: This resolution faces serious opposition from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage and is currently in a state of halt and review.
Opposition from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage
Moridi, in response to the plan to expand the urban area of Marvdasht and its impact on the second-degree buffer zone of Persepolis, added: The issuance of this plan does not mean encroachment on Persepolis, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage will not allow the annexation of the second-degree buffer zone of Persepolis to the city of Marvdasht. He emphasized that all capacities of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage have been utilized to protect this world heritage site.
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History of the Annexation Issue
The issue of expanding the city of Marvdasht adjacent to Persepolis and the possibility of the urban area entering the second-degree buffer zone of this site has once again become one of the controversial topics in the field of cultural heritage since last year. Widespread concerns among archaeologists and cultural heritage activists arose due to figures like 950 and 960 hectares regarding the lands intended for urban expansion. Subsequent investigations revealed that the disputes relate to the area of the Mahdiyeh axis and its relation to the second-degree buffer zone of Persepolis.
According to officials' explanations, the creation of a tourism service area in part of the Mahdiyeh axis was discussed as a solution to organize services and prevent the dispersion of land uses, and ultimately, an area of about 37 hectares for tourism services was proposed so that the expansion of the city of Marvdasht would not encroach on the buffer zone of Persepolis.
Current Status and Consequences
The director of cultural heritage in Fars Province pointed out the administrative process of the annexation plan, stating: The resolution related to the annexation of the buffer zone of Persepolis to the city of Marvdasht was approved and issued in the summer of 2025, but has faced serious opposition from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage since then. He added: The annexation plan is completely halted and is under review, and the Ministry of Cultural Heritage has protested this issue.
Moridi emphasized: The second-degree buffer zone of Persepolis will in no way be annexed to the city of Marvdasht. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage considers Persepolis to be a pride of Iran, and the protection of the area and buffer zones of this complex is one of the serious priorities of this ministry.
Persepolis was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979, and the protective areas surrounding this site are of special importance in controlling the impacts of urban development on the authenticity, landscape, and historical values of this complex.
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