Financial Tribune- An Iranian envoy has called on cultural heritage officials to restore Iran-linked historical sites in the African country.

During a meeting last week with Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti, the head of the Research Institute of Cultural Heritage and Tourism, Iran's Ambassador to Dodoma Mousa Farhang urged the institute to collaborate with Tanzanian officials to restore sites that have a connection to Iran.

"The countries share a long history," Farhang was quoted as saying by the website of RICHT.

Pointing to the ministry's willingness to engage in such schemes, Farhang said the institute's involvement is integral to restoring historical sites in Tanzania.

"We're ready to help in any capacity we can," Beheshti was quoted as saying.

A member of the East African community, Tanzania is a middle-power country, ranked 23rd in terms of wealth among 45 sub-Saharan African countries.

Farhang noted that the beginning of relations between the two countries date back to the 10th century, when Ali ibn al-Hassan Shirazi, a Persian royalty from Shiraz founded the Kilwa Sultanate, the medieval emperor in modern-day Tanzania.

Last month, Mohammad Hassan Talebian, cultural heritage deputy at Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization, said restoration of historical sites and buildings in other countries whose history is linked to Iran "has been suspended due to a lack of funds".