Iranian Official Says Global Registration File for Traditional Windmills to Be Pursued Jointly with Afghanistan

An Iranian official says the global registration file for traditional windmills known as Asbads is in its final stages and will be pursued jointly with Afghanistan.

Alireza Izadi, Director General of Iran's Office for Registration of Historical Monuments, said expert work on the file has been underway for the past six to seven years. This has included documentation, technical examinations and determining the boundaries of the sites.

The Asbads are primarily located in eastern Iran, in provinces such as Razavi Khorasan, South Khorasan and Sistan and Baluchestan. There are also examples of these traditional windmills in western Afghanistan, particularly in the province of Herat.

Izadi said the joint file had been on UNESCO's tentative list before being sent to the organization. UNESCO has raised questions about the file, to which Iran has responded, and work on supplementary responses is continuing.

The official added that it is hoped UNESCO evaluators will begin their final examination of the file next year. A joint registration could help strengthen cultural relations between Iran and Afghanistan in a manner similar to the joint registration of Nowruz, he said.

The registration process faces a number of challenges. These include providing the necessary budget, restoring the windmills, dealing with their wide geographical spread and multi-sited character, and coordinating between different sectors.

This effort is aimed at enhancing cultural cooperation in the region.