Fourteen stolen Iranian artworks reportedly sold in Dubai, 16 still missing

An Iranian daily has revealed that 14 paintings stolen from Tehran’s Imam Ali Religious Arts Museum have been sold in Dubai, with no information on the whereabouts of 16 other missing works.

The museum, overseen by Tehran's municipality, is now embroiled in a scandal that raises questions about corruption and negligence at the highest levels.

Naser Amani, a member of Tehran's city council, revealed the situation on Monday, estimating that just one of the missing works alone was valued at 300 billion rials (approximately $500,000).

During a city council session, he announced that 30 priceless paintings had vanished after being loaned out for a supposed exhibition—an exhibition that never took place.

Amani’s revelations have stirred outrage as the council member underscored the municipality's legal responsibility to protect public assets. Despite repeated inquiries, officials have failed to provide any explanation or accountability.

"We’ve tried to follow up on this, but not only have we not received a report, no one has provided a clear answer about where the valuable artworks are,” Amani lamented.

This latest scandal is far from an isolated incident. Iran has seen a pattern of negligence and outright theft involving its artistic and historical treasures under the Islamic Republic’s governance. From carpets stolen from the Sa’dabad Palace to now-missing paintings, critics argue that corruption and a lack of oversight are enabling the plunder of Iran’s cultural heritage.

The report brings further attention to the gravity of the issue, noting that while 14 of the artworks have already been sold in Dubai, home to as many as half a million Iranians, there may still be hope for the remaining 16 pieces which have not yet surfaced in any known markets. The question remains, however: where are these priceless works, and in whose hands have they fallen?

"Most of the artworks have been sold at prices significantly lower than their real value and the Iranian art market prices,” added the Sanadegi publication.

The sale of Iranian cultural artifacts in foreign markets has long been a point of contention. Many believe that these "disappearances" are not just the result of bureaucratic mismanagement but could be linked to operations involving the black market.

Some users on social media have even accused officials of profiting from the sales, suggesting a deliberate neglect of the country's cultural assets.

The fate of the 30 missing paintings is just one chapter in a broader narrative of how Iran’s cultural heritage is being systematically undermined. The theft of 48 handwoven carpets from Sa’dabad Palace between 2013 and 2016 is another glaring example of the government's inability—or unwillingness—to protect national treasures.