Tehran: The Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts says Iran is ready to define a new horizon in tourism and cultural heritage with Uzbekistan.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, in a meeting with Uzbekistan Ambassador to Tehran, Fariddin Nasriev, Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri emphasized the need to leverage shared civilizational commonalities and take practical steps toward private-sector cooperation, as well as facilitating flight and visa mechanisms.

The discussions between the two sides also focused on enhancing cultural exchanges, reviving the historical ties of the Silk Road, and developing the tourism industry. Salehi Amiri highlighted the importance of convergence in the restoration of historical monuments and the revival of the Silk Road's cultural identity as a component of civilizational convergence. He noted that the historical and architectural patterns of Uzbekistan's cities of Bukhara and Samarkand, alongside Iran's city of Isfahan, are a reflection of shared cultural and Islamic heritage.

The Uzbek ambassador remarked on the cultural attractions in Iranian cities such as Isfahan, Shiraz, and Mashhad, highlighting that current direct flights are operating at full capacity. He added that Tashkent is seriously pursuing the launch of more regular weekly flights to accommodate the growing demand.