Raisi brings back 3,500 Achaemenid tablets from US to Iran
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President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran disclosed that 3,500 pilfered Achaemenid tablets have been returned to Iran after being kept in the US for decades.
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President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi departs after holding a news conference, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023, in New York. (AP)
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has landed in Tehran, back from New York, where he took part in the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, bringing back home thousands of historical clay tablets of the Achaemenid Empire.
“Thanks to proper follow-ups by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicraft Organization, the permanent mission of Iran to the United Nations in New York, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the tablets of the Achaemenid Empire, which were being kept in the United States and the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Chicago (CEAS) for 84 years were repatriated to Iran. The tablets were originally set to stay there for three years for study purposes,” Raisi told reporters on Thursday evening upon arrival at Tehran's Mehrabad Airport after a trip to New York.
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“It is questionable why the tablets were in the possession of Americans. The scientists who worked on the tablets are of Iranian origin, and have been undertaking studies on them for more than 10 years.”
The President revealed that 3,500 clay tablets had been repatriated and that they would be handed over to Iranian museums in order to be put on display. Moreover, Raisi said that participation in the annual UN General Assembly would create an opportunity for interaction and clarification of states' positions.
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Raisi asserted in his remarks that Tehran will steadfastly retain its nuclear rights and anticipates concrete actions from the United States and European nations in fulfilling their JCPOA obligations.
"Those who forego values would occasionally serve others’ interests. Protection of values is therefore of paramount significance. Homage to the Holy Qur’an is an important issue as it constitutes our identity. Emphasis on family values is also of significance to us and human societies, and should be paid attention to by anyone," Raisi also said.
The Iranian president also underscored Tehran's readiness to collaborate and engage with diverse nations and international bodies, with a particular emphasis on strengthening political and economic relations.
