Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts has condemned recent US-Israeli military strikes that damaged 56 museums, historical buildings, and cultural sites across multiple provinces. In a statement issued on March 14, 2026, the ministry called the attacks "a crime against the identity and historical memory of a nation," with Tehran bearing the brunt of the destruction. Iconic landmarks like Golestan Palace and the Marble Palace sustained direct hits, sparking global outcry.
UNESCO Director Lazare Eloundou Assomo warned on Friday that nearly 10% of the world’s heritage sites—including four in Iran—are at risk due to escalating Middle East conflicts. The agency has shared coordinates of cultural sites with warring parties to prevent further damage, urging restraint to protect humanity’s shared heritage.
The strikes have reignited debates about safeguarding cultural treasures during wartime, with experts emphasizing their role in preserving millennia of civilization. UNESCO’s appeal highlights the vulnerability of regions housing 125 World Heritage Sites and 325 pending nominations.
