WANA (Mar 22) – At 3:11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, an attack targeted the perimeter of Iran’s largest historical-cultural complex, the Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex. As a result of multiple explosions, the blast waves and shrapnel unfortunately caused serious damage to the historical buildings within this major complex.

 

The main damages include:

The shattering of most glass doors and windows of the buildings; damage to walls (including deep cracks and partial collapses); damage to ceilings (deep cracks and partial collapses); damage to interior decorations such as plasterwork and mirrorwork; damage to chandeliers; the detachment of wooden doors and windows; and damage to the roofing structures.

 

The severity of damage is significant in three palaces located near the incident (the Green Palace Museum, Vali Mansion, and the Omidvar Brothers Museum), where in some cases structural damage has also been observed. Other museums and buildings have also sustained serious damage, including:

 

The Fine Arts Museum Palace, Mellat Palace Museum, Master Farshchian Museum Palace, Royal Tableware Museum Palace, Clothing Museum Palace, and other museums.

Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Regarding the historical objects and artifacts housed in these palace museums, due to their transfer to secure storage, no damage has been reported so far, and they remain safe.

 

It is worth noting that despite adherence to all national and international protection standards, and the placement of the Blue Shield emblem throughout the Saadabad complex, this unfortunate incident still occurred.

 

Damage to this vast historical complex, which includes approximately 100 large and small buildings, 15 palace museums and museums, and around 200,000 historical objects, is equivalent to damage inflicted on 15 major museums nationwide, which collectively receive approximately 2 million domestic and international visitors annually.

 

Over the past two years, during the current administration, and with the special attention of the President and the Minister of Cultural Heritage to the preservation and protection of historical monuments, significant restoration efforts were carried out at the Saadabad complex. With the allocation of restoration budgets, approximately 90% of the structural issues had been resolved.

Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Main damages to the historical buildings of the Saadabad Complex caused by blast waves and shrapnel:

 

1. Green Palace Museum

(The oldest palace museum in Saadabad, with over a century of history, featuring a unique collection of traditional Iranian arts such as marquetry, wood carving, mirrorwork, stone carving, plasterwork, etc.)

 

  • Shattering of most glass doors and windows
    Damage to walls (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to ceilings (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to interior and exterior decorations (plasterwork, mirrorwork, chandeliers, wooden ornaments, etc.)
  • Detachment of wooden doors and windows
  • Damage to roofing structures

 

2. Vali Mansion

(The oldest section of the Saadabad Complex, dating back to the mid-Qajar era, with a unique Iranian architectural style)

 

  • Shattering of most glass doors and windows
    Damage to walls (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to ceilings (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to interior and exterior decorations (plasterwork, wooden ornaments, etc.)
  • Detachment of wooden doors and windows
  • Damage to roofing structures
Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Damages to Saadabad Cultural-Historical Complex following U.S.-Israeli strikes. Social media/ WANA News Agency

3. Omidvar Brothers Museum

(The only museum in Iran dedicated to world travel, housing a unique collection representing human cultures from around the globe)

 

  • Shattering of most glass doors and windows
    Damage to walls (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to ceilings (deep cracks and partial collapses)
  • Damage to interior and exterior decorations (plasterwork, wooden ornaments, etc.)
  • Damage to roofing structures

 

The remaining 12 museums and approximately 85 buildings within the complex sustained the following shared damages:

 

  • Shattering of most glass doors and windows
  • Damage to ceilings
  • Detachment of doors and windows
  • Damage to roofing structures