Renovation of the Silk Road has turned into a regional and global demand in recent years and now a national will strongly supports this constructive desire. Since 1988 UNESCO has reinforced all the relevant international decisions for restoration of this immense ancient road through conferences in famous cities such as New Delhi, Paris, Tashkent and more recently the picturesque city of Isfahan in 1995.
According to Iranyellowpages website, once again this enormous project will revive the historic role of Iran as the bastion of multinational communication, indispensable for the development of regional commerce and cultural relations. After collapse of former Soviet Union in 1985, the policy of friendship and cooperation with the newly independent and autonomous states (situated in the north of Iran) received priority in the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In compliance with the stated policy, numerous multilateral contracts on road transportation, economic cooperation and establishment of the sales agencies for Iranian goods were signed. Moreover, formation of regional economic organization (ECO) consisting of ten countries also expedited the implementation of the most strategic railway project of the region, stretching from eastern China to Europe via Iran’s national railway system.

Clout
The unique position of this giant commercial highway has encouraged other countries of the world to develop commercial and economic ties with the Central Asian republics. They see no option other than taking full advantage of this vital passage -- situated in Iran, China, Russia, Turkey and Afghanistan. Apart from Georgia most of the newly independent states are landlocked countries whose connecting routes with rest of the world, directly or indirectly, could pass through Iran and thus enhance the Islamic Republic’s geo-political status.
Iran’s strategic significance, both in the region and in international arena, generally revolves around material and spiritual aspects. Moreover, its material dimension is mainly composed of economic, technical, military and geo-political components while the spiritual aspect derives from the great Islamic ideology, a rich common history as well as cultural interaction with other nations in the region.
Since disintegration of the former Soviet Union this emphasis has undoubtedly increased and the political focal point of the relevant policies of the “The Middle East“ has also been redirected towards the East and North, namely the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Central Asia.
As a bridge connecting two important energy hubs, the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea, the eastern and western neighbors of Iran up to eleven countries, including the oil-rich countries of the Persian Gulf, has underscored the regional prestige of Iran.

Restoration
Accordingly, restoration of the Silk Road is currently regarded as one of essential precursors of more fruitful regional and intercontinental cooperation among the “ECO“ member-states. Also due to inauguration of Mashhad-Tajan railway and the impending completion of Bafq-Mashhad railway the above-mentioned states would both gain easier access to open sea and have an ever increasing chance of an active incorporation in the global economy.
The Central Asian countries, with excessive reliance on the former Soviet Union, still rely on imports. Yet the necessary efforts are being taken to overcome this economic barrier by exploring various new markets. Despite several socio-economic advantages such as abundance of manpower and cheap labor, rich natural energy resources as well as the exportation of raw materials, oil, gas and agricultural products, vast majority of these countries crucially lack the existence of modern and well-organized banking, insurance, transportation as well as other essential commercial services.
Fortunately, productive technical assistance and multilateral economic cooperation with the republics not only would ensure the important role of Iran as a catalyst of commercial development in the region, but would also push the concerned parties to more constructive participation in the world economy.
As a rapidly growing economic organization possessing distinct religious, strategic, historical and socio-economic features, the Tehran-based Economic Cooperation Organization accords Iran with an immense security and economic significance.
Furthermore, the linkage of Mashhad-Tajan railways would provide ECO and the likes with an ideal possibility of attaining long-term goals.

Wind towers (Badgir) are important elements in traditional Iranian architecture, providing natural air-conditioning in hot, dry and humid climates for thousands of years.
According to Press TV, these towers rise not only on ordinary houses but also on top of water cisterns (Ab-Anbar) and mosques. The function of the cistern found below most wind towers in warm dry regions was to help balance humidity inside the structure.
In many desert buildings, wind towers were built on top of a lavabo (howzkhaneh, which functioned as a summer courtyard). The wind was directed over the pool where it evaporated the water and took the cool air into other rooms.
The first historical evidence of wind towers in Iran dates back to the fourth millennium BC. To counter the harshly variable climates of the country, Iranians invented wind towers which still stand in various desert towns except in areas where the city was located in a valley or in places experiencing frequent violent storms. Wind towers are an inseparable part of the architecture of central and southern Iran, including Yazd, Kashan, Bam and villages on the Persian Gulf coast.
In desert areas, houses are closely set together, high-walled and made of baked brick with small windows facing away from the sun to minimize heat and maximize shade. In order to provide occupants with constant comfort, wind towers were built with a four-directional orientation to catch wind from all directions and guide it into the house.
Wind towers consist of four parts: the body containing shafts, air shelves which catch hot air and prevent it from entering the structure, flaps which redirect wind circulation, and a roof.
Wind travels through the shafts on top of the tower to reach the interior of the building. The air flow inside the structure travels in two directions, up and down.
The temperature difference between the interior and exterior of a building causes pressure variations which results in the creation of air currents.
In cities where the wind blows only from one single direction, only one of the shafts operates to receive the breeze and the other three work as air outlet passages.

Types of Wind Towers
The most elementary wind tower was built over cellars and underground water reservoirs known as Ab-Anbar. These cellars kept food refrigerated and also served as sitting rooms where people could remain cool on hot summer days. In hot climate cities, one to six wind towers were used to cool the water. They prevented stagnant air and the formation of dew or humidity inside, resulting in pure, clean and cold water all year round.
The second type transferred the flow into the basement where it hit damp walls and its humidity increased while its temperature decreased. The flow could be directed into other rooms using valves.
The third type of wind tower was taller and mainly used in multi-roomed one-story buildings. A dome-roofed hall under the tower helped ventilation.
Decorated with tiles or patterned or painted bricks, wind towers make full use of the elements of Iranian architecture, prompting passers-by to admire their beauty. Among the country’s famous wind towers are the historical Boroujerdi House tower and the Abbassian Badgir in Kashan.
The Dowlatabad garden wind tower in Yazd, presumably the world’s tallest, is said to be 250 years old and about 33 meters high. It is surrounded by intricately hand-carved wooden lattice panels and stands atop the Dowlatabad cistern.
Another noteworthy wind tower is the 26-meter tall Emarat-e Badgir (wind tower monument) which is located in the eastern part of the compound of Tehran’s Golestan Palace, once the Qajar royal complex.
The tower, elaborately decorated with blue, yellow and black tiles, is built on top of a lavabo (Howzkhaneh). Wind towers display the compatibility of human-built architectural designs with the natural environment and the ingenuity of Iranian engineers.
Following the introduction of western architecture, traditional structures such as wind towers gradually became part of the past though many still remain in use. With today’s growing emphasis on reducing energy consumption, modern architecture can deploy traditional Iranian methods to utilize air currents and evaporation in cooling and air-conditioning.