WANA (Mar 28) – The scale of damage to Iran’s cultural infrastructure from recent attacks is becoming clearer — and it is no longer just a matter of repair. Some of the country’s most significant historical sites have been severely damaged, while others have been completely destroyed.

 

Iran’s Secretary-General of the National Commission for UNESCO said that 115 historical sites across the country have so far come under attack, revealing what he described as a growing threat to the country’s cultural heritage.

 

Speaking during a visit to the historic Falak-ol-Aflak Castle in Khorramabad on Saturday morning, Farroustosi said that some of the damaged sites — including two in Khorramabad — had been completely destroyed, while many others had suffered serious harm, with 30 to 40 percent of their decorative and architectural features damaged.

 

He said the scale of destruction had once again highlighted the irreplaceable nature of Iran’s historical heritage.

 

Farroustosi added that a nationwide documentation process had already begun in response to a UNESCO request to record damage inflicted on Iran’s cultural heritage, as well as its scientific and educational infrastructure, during the war. According to him, Iranian authorities decided not to wait until the end of the conflict and instead launched field documentation immediately.

 

He said the process began at Golestan Palace and the Saadabad Complex, continued in Khorramabad, and would soon expand to Isfahan and southern parts of the country.

 

Referring to the location of Lorestan’s provincial cultural heritage office near Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, Farroustosi said there was “no doubt” that the real target had been the provincial heritage administration itself — which he described as a symbol of the historical identity of Lorestan and Iran.

 

He also said that while a significant portion of historical archives had previously been digitized, some original documents had been lost in the attacks, underscoring that the damage extends beyond buildings to the country’s documentary memory.

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)

Possible International Legal Action

Farroustosi said the attacks could eventually be pursued under international law, arguing that the case may go beyond reconstruction and enter the realm of criminal accountability.

 

He said that under the Hague Convention, especially its Second Protocol, documenting the damage is critical. Once the evidence is fully compiled by provincial heritage offices, Iran may be able to pursue the case to the level of international crimes with criminal implications, not merely claims for restoration.

 

According to him, UNESCO has not only expressed concern but has also issued four serious statements, some of them unprecedented, in response to the attacks. He added that he had joined an online meeting with seven UNESCO officials shortly before the Persian New Year, during which the need for on-site documentation was emphasized. He said UNESCO could also send an assessment team if necessary.

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

Historic Palace Museum Damaged in Karaj

At the same time, new reports from Alborz province suggest that the damage is continuing to spread.

 

The head of Alborz’s Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Department said that Soleymanieh Palace Museum and several other historic buildings in Karaj were damaged in recent airstrikes.

 

According to Nader Zeinali, the palace museum — located inside Shahid Chamran Park — suffered structural cracks in its walls and damage to its stained-glass windows due to blast waves from nearby explosions.

 

He said technical and expert assessments are now underway to determine the full extent of the damage and prepare emergency restoration plans.