US returned 73 Persian artifacts to Iran after years of follow-ups by Iran's cultural heritage officials.

US returned 73 Persian artifacts to Iran after years of follow-ups by Iran's cultural heritage officials. (AA).

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari said on Sunday that 73 ancient artifacts belonged to Iran have been safely returened from the United States to their homeland.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari made the announcement on Sunday.

"After consultations, 73 valuable ancient artifacts belonging to the Sassanid period were returned to the Islamic Republic of Iran by the US government," he said.

"The valuable ancient cargo was delivered to the National Museum of Iran on Sunday afternoon in a ceremony attended by the foreign ministry representative," Jaberi Ansari added.

In recent years, Iran has been successful in returning home its stolen belongings, including artifacts and ancient objects.

Back in April 2015, Iran received 108 ancient artifacts known as the Chogha Mish Collections from the US University of Chicago, marking the second successful return of Iranian artifacts in less than a year.

Also in 2013, Washington returned a Persian artifact to Iran after 10 years of consultations.

The 2,700-year-old Persian silver drinking cup cast in the form of a griffin was returned to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani as a token of good will while he visited the US to participate in the 68th Annual Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The ancient griffin had been in the US since 2003 when an art dealer smuggled it into the US.

Najafi, who is also the head of the cultural heritage and tourism organization, said the US State Department returned the artifact as a sign of good faith in a bid to improve cultural relations between Tehran and Washington.

Najafi said American authorities told him the ancient artifact was seized at a US airport from an Arab antique dealer in 2003.

The US officials believe the relic dates back to 700 years before Christ when the Achaemenid Empire ruled Persia.Hmmm......Don't tell me they decided this as well on the way to the airport?
This was decided even before Rouhani spoke at the UN !!!

Some pictures of 73 ancient pieces dating back to the Sassanid era. #US has given them back to #Iran recently. pic.twitter.com/ko0ERj1dZN

— Abas Aslani (@abasinfo) May 9, 2016