United States and Israeli strikes on Iran have damaged at least 120 museums, historical buildings, and cultural sites across the country since the war began, Tehran city officials report.
Ahmad Alavi, head of the Tehran City Council’s heritage committee, detailed the extent of the destruction.
“At least 120 museums, historical buildings and cultural sites across various provinces were directly targeted and sustained serious structural damage,” he said.
Alavi, speaking on state television, named several notable sites hit by the attacks, including the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace, often compared to Versailles, as well as Tehran’s Marble Palace, Teymourtash House, and the Saadabad Palace complex.
Saadabad Palace, one of the capital’s most visited attractions, features an extensive park and museums dedicated to Iranian history.
Beyond its cultural significance, the complex also serves official functions, housing the residences of the Iranian president and the governor of Tehran province, with nearby facilities belonging to the judiciary and the Revolutionary Guards.
The conflict began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran, reportedly killing its supreme leader and igniting a wider regional war that has involved much of the Middle East.
Iran, with a history spanning several millennia, holds a wealth of cultural heritage largely untouched by mass tourism.
According to the UN, at least four of Iran’s 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been damaged during the war: Golestan Palace, Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan, the Masjed-e Jame mosque in the same city, and the prehistoric sites of the Khorramabad Valley.
