Iran’s deprivation of voting rights in UNESCO due to non-payment of membership fees
Failure to pay the $103,000 membership fee to UNESCO has led to Iran being deprived of the right to vote and express opinions in World Heritage conventions.
The Voice of Heritage reported on Saturday, September 12, that not paying the membership fee to UNESCO over the past five years has resulted in Iran being unable to comment and vote on global registration cases presented in the UNESCO World Heritage Committee for tangible and intangible heritage.
This action has also caused Iran’s seat to be moved from the first and second rows to the last row in UNESCO meetings.
The Voice of Heritage also published documents showing that since 2024, the Cultural Heritage Deputy of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has made several requests in correspondence for Iran’s overdue payment to UNESCO, so that Iran’s representatives can once again enjoy the right to vote and express opinions regarding global registration cases in the UNESCO World Heritage meetings as before.