A UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tehran, Iran, sustained major damages by U.S. and Israeli strikes. On March 2, the 400-year-old Golestan Palace was partly destroyed by debris and shock waves from an airstrike on Tehran’s Arag Square.
At this time, no structural damage to the palace has been reported. But windows, doors, and decorative glass panels were badly damaged by the blast reverberations. Antiques contained in the palace have been relocated to a secure location.
UNESCO has since expressed “concern over the protection of cultural heritage sites amidst escalating violence in the Middle East,” the organization said in a statement.
The statement affirmed: “UNESCO continues to closely monitor the situation of cultural heritage in the country and across the region, with a view to ensuring its protection.”
“To that end,” UNESCO continued, “the Organization has communicated to all parties concerned the geographical coordinates of sites on the World Heritage List as well as those of national significance, to avoid any potential damage.”
The Golestan Palace was built as a fortress for the Safavid empire in the 16th century. It later served as the seat of government for the Qajar dynasty, and was renovated in the 19th century by architect Haji Abol-hasan Mimar Navai. In 2013 the palace was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Golestan Palace is protected under international law—namely the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and the 1972 Convention in regard to the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
Iran has a total of 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Intentionally damaging UNESCO World Heritage Sites constitutes a war crime, according to the International Criminal Court.
The strike on the Golestan Palace happened days after a primary school for girls was bombed, killing at least 150 people and wounding 100 more.
Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts filed a complaint with UNESCO on March 2, after the attack on Golestan Palace. The Ministry requested UNESCO send representatives to document the damage and assist in reconstruction.
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