UNESCO Sent Coordinates To The Governments Of Iran, The US, And Israel To Avoid Accidental Bombing Cultural Heritages
UNESCO has raised alarm after at least four UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iran suffered damage amid the ongoing US‑Israeli air campaign, underscoring the risk to priceless cultural heritage in the region.
The cultural agency confirmed that Iran’s Golestan Palace in Tehran, the 17th‑century Chehel Sotoun Palace, the Masjed‑e Jāme mosque in Isfahan, and structures near the prehistoric Khorramabad Valley have all been damaged during recent strikes. Iranian and Lebanese authorities have urged UNESCO to expand protections for endangered sites as the conflict continues.
To reduce the risk of further destruction, UNESCO communicated the geographic coordinates of World Heritage sites to Iran, the United States, and Israel. The goal was to help all parties avoid bombing or striking these listed cultural locations amid military operations.
The organization has also urged belligerents to respect international law, including the Hague Convention, which protects cultural property during armed conflict.
The damage has provoked international concern, with advocates warning that the loss of architectural and archaeological heritage not only deprives future generations of shared history but also inflicts deep cultural and emotional wounds on affected communities. UNESCO continues to monitor and assess the situation as hostilities unfold, calling on all sides to safeguard irreplaceable heritage threatened by the war.
