Israeli

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, launching strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a war that has spread across the region.

The strikes carried out by the United States and Israel in Iran have damaged at least 120 museums and historical buildings in the country since the beginning of the war over a month ago, authorities announced on Friday. “At least 120 museums, historical buildings, and cultural sites in various provinces have been directly targeted and have suffered heavy structural damage,” said Ahmad Alavi, an official at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage in Tehran, as quoted by state television.

Among the damaged sites are the iconic Golestan Palace in Tehran, a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as the Marble Palace, the Teymourtash Museum, and the Saadabad Palace, all located in the Iranian capital. The Saadabad complex houses a large park with pavilions built in the early 20th century that have become museums dedicated to Iran’s cultural history. In addition to museums, it also contains residences of the Iranian president and the governor of the province, while facilities of the Revolutionary Guards and the judiciary are located nearby.

The United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, initiating strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and sparked a war that has spread across the entire region.

Iran, a country with a millennia-long history, possesses a significant cultural heritage, largely preserved from mass tourism. In mid-March, UNESCO identified four damaged sites out of the 29 in the country designated as World Heritage, including the Golestan Palace – sometimes likened to Versailles and one of Tehran’s oldest sites – the Jameh Mosque of Isfahan, the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, and the prehistoric sites in the Khorramabad Valley.

Several historic homes in the port city of Bushehr on the Gulf were also affected. In Isfahan, the Naqsh-e-Jahan Square, an architectural gem built in the 17th century and surrounded by mosques, a palace, and a historic bazaar, also sustained damage.