These intensive strikes relatively spared the heritage, but several sites, some of which are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites, suffered partial damage. The country has 29 inscribed elements, including sites dating from prehistory (caves of the Khorramabad valley).
Iran’s cultural heritage minister said in mid-March that 19 monuments and sites were hit in Tehran, and more than 50 across the country. This is the case of the Golestan Palace in Tehran, listed as a World Heritage Site since 2013: rebuilt in the 19th century on an ancient fortress, it became the seat of Qajar power known for its pronounced taste for the arts. Videos on social media show a floor littered with broken glass and mirrored mosaic typical of the Qajar style for which the monument is renowned. The building appears to have been hit by the blast effect of aerial bombardments. According to testimonies, the bombings hit the covered bazaar in Tehran.
Facade of Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran.
In Isfahan, several monuments listed as World Heritage have suffered damage, including the Great Mosque (8th-12th century), famous for its ceramic decorations and its blue dome. The Chehel Sotoun architectural complex, in the center of the capital, was also partially damaged. This collection of 17th-century Persian buildings and gardens has several palaces decorated with mirror mosaics and is widely represented in arts and literature. According to the authorities, the Naghsh-e Jahan esplanade (17th century), known for its ponds and palaces, was affected by the recent bombings.
UNESCO recalls that it provided the geographical coordinates of World Heritage sites to the parties concerned from the start of the war, and that it is currently assessing the extent of the damage. In a press release dated at the beginning of March, she called for respect for the Hague Convention (1954). For its part, Iran has marked more than 120 sites and monuments with the Blue Shield emblem to signal them to the armies engaged in the conflict, as recommended by the convention to which Iran, the United States and Israel are parties.
