National Museum of Iran

Iran's most important museum in Tehran – over 3 million artifacts spanning ancient Persia and the Islamic era, a world-class repository of Near Eastern history.

The National Museum of Iran in Tehran is the country's most important archaeological and historical institution – and one of the most significant globally for the history of the ancient Near East. Founded in 1937, it houses over three million artifacts spanning millennia of Persian and Iranian history. The institution consists of two main buildings: the Museum of Ancient Iran (with finds from Susa, Persepolis, and other major sites) and the Museum of the Islamic Era. One standout exhibit is the "Salt Man" of Zanjan – a 1,700-year-old body preserved by salt, representing one of the best-preserved examples of ancient human remains.