WANA (Jun 20) – The Islamic Republic of Iran has officially appealed to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), calling for urgent and effective measures to safeguard its cultural and natural heritage amid recent Israeli military aggressions.

 

In an official statement, Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced that a formal letter has been sent to Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, urging the organization to act swiftly to prevent damage to Iran’s invaluable historical and natural sites.

 

The request, signed by Seyyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, invokes the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, as well as the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. It highlights the responsibility of UNESCO and the international community to preserve irreplaceable global treasures.

 

According to the letter, Iran is home to over 40,000 nationally registered heritage sites and 28 UNESCO World Heritage submissions encompassing more than 100 cultural, natural, and historical locations. These include the Historic Iranian Caravanserais (54 sites), the Trans-Iranian Railway, the Hyrcanian Forests, Persian Qanats, and historic Persian gardens. More than 50 other sites are currently listed on UNESCO’s Tentative List for future inscription.

 

“These monuments and landscapes, recognized as part of the shared heritage of humanity, represent not only the historical memory of Iran but also the civilizational identity of the world,” the letter reads. “Any harm or destruction could deal an irreversible blow to global heritage.”

 

The Iranian letter further warns that the recent military actions by Israel have placed many of these sites at risk of both direct and indirect threats.

 

Iran’s official request to UNESCO includes the following actions:

 

  1. Issuance of a formal statement reaffirming the need to protect Iran’s cultural and natural heritage.
  2. An official warning to Israel under Article 4 of the 1954 Hague Convention, demanding respect for cultural property.
  3. Practical measures under UN Security Council Resolution 2347 (2017) to safeguard heritage in conflict zones.
  4. Formation of an emergency intergovernmental committee to assess the situation of Iran’s heritage.
  5. Raising international awareness about potential hostile acts endangering this heritage.

 

The letter concludes by cautioning UNESCO against any delay in response, citing Israel’s history of violating international commitments. It warns that inaction could lead to irreparable consequences for world heritage.

 

Given UNESCO’s mandate to protect the cultural and natural heritage of humanity, Iran emphasized the urgency of a decisive and responsible stance from the organization in the shortest possible timeframe.