The UNESCO agency for culture has issued a new warning on the fate of heritage sites in Iran amid the ongoing American-Israeli war.
A recent meeting between UNESCO and the General Directorate of Antiquities in Lebanon focused on “immediate measures to enhance the protection of vulnerable cultural properties throughout the country,” UNESCO said in a statement.
Last week, UNESCO confirmed that “several sites of cultural value” in the region had been hit and damaged by the war. The organization reiterated its call for greater restraint to spare “the social fabric of societies” and reminded parties to respect international law.
Iran is home to 29 UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Among the damaged sites are the Golestan Palace in Tehran, the Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, the Masjed-e Jameh mosque in the same city, and prehistoric sites in the Khorramabad Valley.
The president of the heritage commission of the Tehran City Council, Ahmad Alavi, stated last week that at least 120 culturally or historically significant sites across the country had been damaged by airstrikes since the beginning of the war.
He mentioned the Marble Palace in Tehran, the Teymourtash house, and the Saadabad Palace complex, one of the most visited tourist sites in the capital.
The following are some notable sites affected by the escalating conflict:
Golestan Palace, Tehran, Iran
Damage from American-Israeli airstrikes in Tehran has harmed the Golestan Palace. Ceilings with mirrors, windows, and arcades from this Qajar-era palace were affected at the start of last month.
Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan, Iran
Strikes on the city of Isfahan targeting the governor’s building damaged the interior of the Chehel Sotoun Palace nearby. This 17th-century pavilion is part of the Persian garden complex.
Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan, Iran
The Ali Qapu Palace in Isfahan, near the governor’s building, also suffered damage following strikes on the city. Damage to the interior, particularly delicate mosaics, was reported.
Masjed-e Jameh Mosque, Isfahan, Iran
The shockwaves from strikes on Isfahan are said to have damaged the Masjed-e Jameh Mosque, Iran’s oldest Friday mosque.
Tyre, Lebanon
The city of Tyre, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Lebanon and a former Phoenician city, is threatened by Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Some parts of the site have been reported as damaged, according to a recent UNESCO statement.
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