Iran Calls On White House To Return Cultural Assets

Tehran, Feb 19, IRNA – Tehran called on the US Saturday to return Iranian cultural assets. Chairman of Organization for Registration of Deeds and Property and Iran National Library Es-haq Salahi lambasted the White House for freezing the country's cultural assets in the United States. He called the White House's move of freezing Iranian cultural assets "irresponsible" vis-à-vis the Iranian nation which enjoys ancient civilization. Salahi said that the US decision runs counter to the very principle of respecting the culture of other nations. He said that the cultural assets do not belong to a nation, but to the entire humanity, so freezing the cultural assets indicate lack of culture on part of the American decision makers. Iran expects US academics and those loving the civilization and culture of Iran to show reaction to White House decision and help unfreeze Iranian cultural assets, he said. Salahi said that Iran will take legal action with international arbitration to revoke the freeze on the country's cultural assets in the US./end