Seyed Mehdi Hosseini Matin, Charge d'affairesof the Islamic Republic of Iran in London

The smuggled Sasanian soldier statue has been returned to Iran

The statue, which had been smuggled to the UK, was placed under the possession of the Iranian embassy in London and was returned to the Iran

  

Seyed Mehdi Hosseini Matin, Charge d'affairesof the Islamic Republic of Iran in London, announced that a smuggled Sasanian soldier statue has been returned to Iran.

Matin stated that after proving Iran's ownership of the ancient artifact, it was temporarily displayed in the British Museum for three months. He explained that the delay in the return process was due to the lengthy legal and administrative procedures in the British Criminal Police and the British Museum, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Furthermore, Matin mentioned that there are other smuggled ancient artifacts belonging to Iran currently in the possession of the British government. Iran is actively pursuing legal measures to reclaim these artifacts as well. Once the ownership of these artifacts is proven and administrative matters are resolved, they will be returned to Iran.