Iran has 30 UNESCO World Heritage properties, 28 cultural and two natural
Background
This item explains Iran's World Heritage record, including Alamut Castle and Related Fortifications, the entry dated 2026 on UNESCO's list. UNESCO lists 30 properties for Iran: 28 cultural and 2 natural. The two natural properties are the Hyrcanian Forests (2019, 2023) and the Lut Desert (2016). Persepolis, Meidan Emam in Esfahan and Tchogha Zanbil were inscribed in 1979, and the list also includes Pasargadae, Bisotun, Golestan Palace, the Persian Garden, the Persian Qanat and the Trans-Iranian Railway.
Total properties:
30
Cultural:
28
Natural:
2: Hyrcanian Forests, Lut Desert
Why it matters for exams: The count of World Heritage properties and which are natural versus cultural is a stock heritage question.
Kerala PSCUPSC
In plain words
Qanat — An underground channel that carries water from an aquifer to the surface.