Dozens of historic decorative tiles which had been smuggled out of Iran have been handed over to the Iranian embassy in London.

The tiles were ripped from the walls of the tomb of Sultan Shihab al-Din Sultan Ahmad, in the village of Dyla, in the city of Amol in northern Iran.

The cultural objects were delivered to the Iranian embassy in London on Friday, to be eventually returned to Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization, IRNA reported.

“The tiles are about 600 years old. They were stolen from the tomb of Sultan Shihab al-Din Sultan Ahmad and were smuggled out of the country,” Seyyed Ali Mousavi, the legal adviser at the Iranian embassy in London, told IRNA.

“They were taken to London from Dubai to be sold in an auction,” he added.

“Interpol in London confiscated the tiles after Iran presented the related documents that indicated that they belonged to Iran,” he further explained.

Investigating officer Vernon Rapley was also present as the tiles were being handed over to Iran's embassy in London.

"It is very satisfying to know that these valuable cultural objects will once again be displayed within the tomb from which they were so callously taken,” Rapley said.

"We are very grateful for the close co-operation of the Iranian Embassy in London and the cultural officials who assisted our investigation in Tehran," he added.

The Islamic Republic and England are members and signatories of the 1970 UNESCO Convention which prohibits and prevents the illicit import, export or transfer of ownership of cultural property.

HRF/JG