WANA (Mar 27) – The head of Tehran’s Cultural Heritage Committee announced extensive damage to the country’s historical and cultural sites, particularly in the capital, during the ongoing war.

 

According to the report, at least 120 museums, historical buildings, and cultural sites across various provinces were directly targeted and suffered significant structural damage. These acts go beyond military attacks and constitute a direct assault on the historical and cultural identity of the nation.

 

Tehran province has been the hardest hit, with over 50 damaged sites, including prominent landmarks such as Golestan Palace, Marble Palace, Sa’dabad Complex, the former National Consultative Assembly building, Shokoofeh Cinema, and the University of War Museum.

 

Other affected sites include parts of Tehran’s historic Arg (citadel), the historic Grand Bazaar, Azadi Tower, Azadi Stadium, Radio Tehran building, Pasteur Institute, the presidential palace (former residence of Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), as well as several other key historical houses, palaces, cultural centers, mosques, and government buildings.

 

Among the damaged sites, approximately 20 are registered national heritage sites, and 19 historically significant buildings have sustained minor to potentially structural damage. Three contemporary architectural landmarks in Tehran were completely destroyed, including the former Gendarmerie building, Bazaar police station, and Baharestan police building.

 

Tehran, which holds between 3,000 to 5,000 historically and architecturally significant buildings, still has a large number of lesser-known heritage sites.

 

A Cultural Heritage Emergency Committee has been established in the city to manage the crisis, reduce further damage, and document the impact. All municipal museums and house-museums have been instructed to implement preventive measures to protect their collections.

 

The attacks have been described as clear violations of international law, specifically the Hague Convention on the protection of cultural property during armed conflict, prompting calls for a strong response from international bodies such as UNESCO, ICOMOS, and ICOM.

 

The committee emphasized that safeguarding and restoring Tehran’s historical heritage is not merely an administrative duty but a cultural and social responsibility, and the city’s authorities are committed to protecting these valuable assets for future generations.

A view of debris at the historical monument Golestan Palace following an Israeli and U.S. strike on the Justice Building in the area, amid the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, March 3, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)