Damage to historical sites in Iran raises alarm about war’s impact on protected places

Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least four significant cultural and historical sites, triggering international concern about the preservation of irreplaceable heritage amid escalating regional conflict. UNESCO has confirmed damage to several protected landmarks that span centuries of Iranian history and culture.

Among the affected sites is the opulent Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran, where shattered glass from mirrored ceilings now covers floors alongside broken archways and damaged architectural elements. The 17th century Chehel Sotoun palace and the ancient Masjed-e Jāme mosque in Isfahan have also sustained verified damage. Additionally, structures near the Khorramabad Valley, which contains prehistoric caves with evidence of human occupation dating back to 63,000 B.C., have been impacted.

The situation has prompted Iran and Lebanon to submit an urgent request to UNESCO this week, seeking enhanced protection status for additional cultural sites. According to UNESCO officials, the organization had provided all parties involved in the conflict with precise geographical coordinates of these heritage sites beforehand, urging them to “take all feasible precautions to avoid damage.”

This pattern of cultural destruction extends beyond Iran, with UNESCO monitoring damage to heritage sites across the Middle East, including the White City in Israel and historical sites in Tyre, Lebanon. The targeting or incidental damage of cultural landmarks has unfortunately become a recurring feature in modern conflicts, from the Russia-Ukraine war to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“What is happening is clear to all: In these increasingly modern conflicts, it’s civilians who pay the price, it’s civilian infrastructure that pays the price, and we’ve all seen the destruction of priceless historical heritage,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric this week.

Human rights advocates warn that beyond the immediate human toll—with over 1,000 reported casualties in the Iran conflict—the destruction of cultural sites erodes the shared history and identity crucial to community resilience.

“It damages or destroys a piece of their history that can be significant both to the world and also to a specific region or community,” explained Bonnie Docherty, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It undermines the sort of shared identity of a local community, which can often be important for bringing people together.”

For many Iranians and Iranian Americans, these sites represent deeply personal connections to their heritage. Arash Azizi, who grew up in Iran before moving to the United States, recalled how visiting such historical sites taught him about his cultural identity. “We need to know who we are, and where we come from, and what does it all mean,” he emphasized.

Shabnam Emdadi, an Iranian American in New York, shares this sentiment. The damage to Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan particularly resonates with her, as she visited it with her late father. “Those Iran trips with him were my most fond memories of him at his happiest,” she said. “Every day when I see the damage of these sites that are the core of my memories, I feel like I am also losing a piece of him.”

The attribution of responsibility remains unclear. The Pentagon has not provided comments on the damage, while the Israeli Defense Forces stated they were “unfamiliar” with claims regarding UNESCO site damage.

Patty Gerstenblith, president of the U.S. Committee of the Blue Shield, expressed concern over recent statements from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth about America’s approach to the war not including “stupid rules of engagement.” She emphasized that these rules “embody international humanitarian law, which is not just the protection of cultural heritage, but the protection of all civilian populations and structures.”

The affected sites are among nearly 30 Iranian locations designated for special protection on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, which includes globally recognized landmarks like the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, and the Statue of Liberty. This designation acknowledges their “outstanding value to humanity” and provides countries with technical and professional support for preservation.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced plans last July to withdraw from UNESCO, citing concerns that U.S. involvement does not serve national interests and alleging anti-Israel bias within the organization. This decision is set to take effect in December.