Tehran Launches Restoration of War-Damaged Historic Sites
WANA (May 13) – Tehran city officials have announced the start of damage assessments and emergency restoration work for historical landmarks affected during the recent conflict, as authorities simultaneously push forward cultural and tourism initiatives across the Iranian capital.
Golestan Palace — the only UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in Tehran — is among the locations reportedly damaged during the attacks. Municipal officials described the strikes as “deliberate,” accusing the United States and Israel of targeting culturally significant sites.
Seyed Ahmad Alavi, a member of Tehran’s City Council and head of its tourism committee, said emergency restoration plans and funding allocations for damaged heritage buildings in districts 1, 11, and 12 are now a top priority. According to him, several historic and cultural sites sustained damage during what he called “intentional attacks,” prompting the municipality to accelerate preservation efforts.
Alavi also said cultural, social, and tourism programs have taken on greater importance under Iran’s current circumstances, particularly in neighborhoods most affected by the conflict. He noted that Tehran’s municipality aims to increase public presence in urban spaces through recreational events, cultural programming, and expanded public activities in an effort to strengthen social cohesion.
As part of these efforts, several large-scale urban projects — including the Hazrat Zahra Garden Walkway, the Farahzad river valley redevelopment, and the Alborz Lashgarak tourism project — are being promoted as symbols of reconstruction and urban renewal. Restoration work is also underway on a number of historic houses associated with prominent Iranian figures, including properties linked to former statesmen and renowned poet and filmmaker Forough Farrokhzad.
During a conference in Tehran titled “Tourism and Cultural Heritage Resilience During Wartime,” officials and heritage experts said the conflict caused extensive damage to historical sites across the country. Alavi stated that more than 60 heritage sites in Tehran and around 155 nationwide were damaged during the 12-day war.
A group of cultural heritage lovers visit the historical monument Golestan Palace after it was damaged in an Israeli and U.S. strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, April 4, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)He further claimed that the strike on Golestan Palace was specifically intended to undermine symbols of Iranian history and identity. Located in Tehran’s historic center, the palace complex is one of the country’s most important Qajar-era landmarks and attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors each year.
Speaking at the same event, Atousa Momeni, head of UNESCO’s Regional Research Center for Intangible Cultural Heritage, warned that postwar reconstruction should not be limited to rebuilding physical structures alone. Cities, she said, are “truly destroyed” when collective memory, cultural narratives, and citizens’ sense of belonging are lost.
Momeni pointed to the experiences of cities such as Warsaw, Beirut, and Sarajevo, arguing that successful urban recovery depends as much on preserving cultural identity and social trust as it does on reconstructing infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Tehran’s tourism authorities say they are expanding “neighborhood-based tourism” programs throughout the city. Officials claim that tourism and recreation centers have now been established in all 352 neighborhoods of Tehran to bring cultural and tourism activities closer to residents’ daily lives.
Alongside the physical restoration of damaged sites, Iranian officials appear intent on projecting an image of resilience and urban continuity — a narrative they describe as part of a broader battle over Tehran’s global image in the aftermath of war.
