US-Israeli strikes have damaged 120 museums, historic buildings — Iran

Iran has reported that airstrikes by the United States and Israel have inflicted serious damage on at least 120 culturally and historically significant sites across the country since the conflict began.

Ahmad Alavi, head of Tehran city council’s heritage committee, told state television that the destruction spanned several provinces and included some of the nation’s most treasured landmarks.

Among the sites affected is the illustrious Golestan Palace in Tehran, a UNESCO World Heritage site often likened to France’s Versailles for its grand architecture and intricate gardens. Other landmarks reportedly harmed include the Marble Palace, Teymourtash House, and the Saadabad Palace complex.

Saadabad Palace, one of the capital’s most visited cultural attractions, houses extensive museum collections within a historic park. The complex also contains official residences connected to the presidency and other state institutions, further underlining its national importance.

The strikes form part of a wider military campaign that began on 28 February, which has drawn multiple countries into the fray, with Tehran and other urban centres coming under sustained bombardment.

Iran, whose civilisation stretches back millennia, is home to 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. According to United Nations reports, at least four of these including Golestan Palace, Chehel Sotoun Palace and the Masjed-e Jame mosque in Isfahan, and the prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley have suffered damage as a result of the conflict.

Cultural advocates have expressed grave concern, warning that beyond the tragic loss of life, the destruction of these historic sites constitutes an irreplaceable blow to the nation’s heritage and identity.

Officials have called for heightened international attention to safeguard cultural property during armed conflicts, invoking conventions designed to protect heritage even amid war.

As hostilities continue with no clear end in sight, the damage to Iran’s historic fabric adds a somber dimension to a war already marked by civilian suffering and widespread devastation.