**Translation and Analysis by Dr. Reem Abu Al-Khair**
**Media Professional and Translator Specializing in Iranian and Afghan Affairs**
**Arab Republic of Egypt**

With the opening of the **Grand Egyptian Museum** in Giza — the largest museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization — the event received widespread coverage in Iranian media, which described it as a unique civilizational achievement that goes beyond cultural significance to political and diplomatic dimensions.
The Iranian coverage combined admiration for Egypt’s ability to leverage its heritage with calls for reviewing cultural policies in Iran, coinciding with an **early official visit** by the Iranian Minister of Heritage and Tourism to Cairo in **May 2025**, before the museum’s official opening — a symbolic indication of growing civilizational interaction between the two countries.

This article reviews how several major Iranian news agencies covered the event as follows:

* **ILNA News Agency: Admiration for the Egyptian Project and Regret over Iranian Reality**
In a report titled “The Grandeur of the Grand Egyptian Museum and Regret over a Museum Worthy of Iran’s Civilization,” ILNA wrote that Egypt succeeded in restoring the world’s admiration for its civilization through a massive museum housing over 100,000 artifacts, representing a qualitative leap in preserving heritage and presenting it in a modern language.
The agency added that this cultural achievement reflects Egypt’s success in utilizing heritage to serve the present, while “Iran, despite its rich history, still struggles to develop its museums.”
ILNA concluded with a tone of self-criticism: “Our museum facilities remain relics of the past century, not keeping pace with modern requirements.”

* **ISNA and Houshmand News — Egypt Has Not Revealed All Its Cards Yet**
ISNA covered the event analytically, noting that the opening took place in phases, and some iconic artifacts, such as Tutankhamun’s mask, had never been displayed before.
It suggested that this phased approach aims to prolong public and media interest in the museum, turning each stage into an independent event.
The Egyptian project, it added, “is not limited to exhibiting artifacts but rebuilds historical memory and presents it in a contemporary language.”

* **IRNA News Agency — The Museum as a Civilizational and Political Message**
Iran’s official IRNA agency considered the opening not merely a cultural event but “a civilizational and political message at the same time.”
The report noted that through this museum, Egypt “reclaims its status as a soft power in the Arab world, confirming that its cultural identity is one of the arms of its foreign policy.”
The agency concluded: “In a time when the region is crowded with crises, Egypt delivers another discourse… the discourse of civilization and peace.”

In parallel with coverage of the opening, IRNA published an extended report titled:
**“The Grand Cairo Museum Banquet: Civilizational Synergy and Cultural Interaction Between Two Ancient Islamic World Countries”**,
which covered Iranian Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri’s visit to Cairo in May 2025,
at the invitation of the Egyptian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, to participate in an official banquet held inside the Grand Egyptian Museum before its anticipated official opening.

The report noted that the banquet coincided with the fourth meeting of tourism ministers in the Developing Eight (D-8) group of Islamic countries, considering the event more than a diplomatic meeting but rather a symbol of civilizational synergy and cultural interaction between two ancient Islamic nations.

IRNA described the Grand Egyptian Museum as “a unique architectural masterpiece and a global cultural project embodying Egypt’s historical and civilizational value,” noting that the banquet provided a platform for cultural dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strengthening strategic ties between Iran and Egypt in heritage, tourism, and civilizational interaction.

During the meeting, both sides discussed cooperation in organizing joint exhibitions, sharing technical expertise, developing cultural tourism, and expanding specialized training programs.
The Iranian minister emphasized the historical role of both Iran and Egypt in shaping human civilization and the necessity of continued cultural cooperation to counter attempts of “distortion and misrepresentation” targeting the image of the two rich Islamic cultures.

IRNA concluded by mentioning that Minister Salehi Amiri would hold further meetings with tourism ministers of member countries to discuss joint cultural and tourism cooperation projects.

By tracking media coverage and official visits, it becomes clear that the Grand Egyptian Museum is no longer just a national project but a global civilizational event attracting extensive diplomatic and cultural engagement from Iran.
While Iranian media expressed admiration for Egypt’s achievement, they also called for reviewing Iran’s own cultural experience.
The Iranian minister’s visit to the museum before its official opening confirmed that dialogue between Egyptian and Iranian civilizations is transitioning from theoretical discussions to practical implementation — from the pages of newspapers to the Grand Museum’s table, a symbol of living history and human interaction beyond politics.

**Sources:**

* IRNA News Agency. “Opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum with the presence of 79 foreign delegations.” Published: 10 Aban 1404. Accessed: 1/11/2025. News code: 85983514. [Link](https://www.irna.ir/news/85983514/)
* IRNA News Agency. “Grand Egyptian Museum: A New Era for Pharaonic Heritage.” Published: 12 Aban 1404. Accessed: 1/11/2025. News code: 85984942. [Link](https://www.irna.ir/news/85984942/)
* ILNA News Agency. “The Grandeur of the Grand Egyptian Museum and Regret over a Museum Worthy of Iran’s Civilization / Our Museums Are 80 Years Behind.” Published: 13/08/1404. Accessed: 1/11/2025. News code: 1708995. [Link](https://vista.ir/f/ilna/issu8)
* Iran Press News Agency. “Grand Egyptian Museum on the Eve of Official Opening.” Published: Friday 9 Aban 1404. Accessed: 1/11/2025. News code: 312152. [Link](https://farsi.iranpress.com/content/312152/%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B)
* Houshmand News. “Egypt Has Not Revealed All Its Winning Cards Yet.” Published: Sunday 13 Aban 1403. Accessed: 1/11/2025. News code: 516526. [Link](https://shmi.ir/%d9%85%d8%b5%d8%b1)