It has been seen frequently that in international Islamic art auctions such as Christie's, Sotheby's, Bonhams and Chiswick, Iranian works from the Safavid and Qajar periods have been presented and sold. Some of these works are part of the property of a European person, and some are placed next to other lots without provenance. From tiles, metalwork, pottery, carpets, to very exquisite manuscripts and illustrated pages such as Shahnameh of Baisangari and The Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp to jewelry and ornaments, candlesticks and pencil cases, all in a relatively high number and variety are auctioned every six months in these auctions. At Christie's upcoming auction of Islamic art in October 2023, for example, the top estimate belongs to an Iranian rug from the Safavid era. The question that may come to mind is whether these items considered as national importance and if so, how did they end up in international auctions?

To find the answers to the questions above-mentioned, we will refer to the Iranian Constitution and the speeches of the relevant officials, and we will mention some of the points mentioned in the law regarding national, cultural and artistic works or antiques. In the rest of the article, we will also refer to the laws of two European countries.