Iran says 114 cultural heritage sites damaged in US-Israeli strikes

2026-03-24 - 11:40

US-Israeli airstrikes have damaged 114 cultural and historical sites across Iran, including World Heritage locations and nationally registered monuments, the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced Tuesday. The ministry called the destruction a violation of international law and a threat to humanity's historical memory. Widespread damage documented According to a ministry statement based on field assessments and expert reports, damaged sites include 48 museums and six historic urban areas in Tehran, Isfahan, Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Qom and Khansar. Tehran province reported 60 cases of damage, followed by Isfahan with 20, with additional damage recorded in Lorestan, Kermanshah, Bushehr, Qom, Alborz, East and West Azerbaijan, Mazandaran, Sistan and Baluchestan, Gilan, Ilam, Khuzestan and Fars provinces. International law violation cited "According to established principles of international law, especially the 1954 Hague Convention, any military action that results in the destruction of or damage to cultural heritage is a clear violation of international obligations and a direct threat to humanity's historical memory," the ministry said. It called on international organizations, particularly UNESCO, "to move beyond minimal positions and play a more active, effective and deterrent role in protecting cultural heritage under threat." Diplomatic outreach The ministry said nine official letters have been sent through diplomatic channels to international bodies including UNESCO, the Asian Cultural Heritage Alliance, the International Council of Museums, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and the World Tourism Organization regarding the attacks. "Iran's cultural heritage is a trust from the past for the future, and protecting it is a national and human obligation," the statement added.