Ancient Heritage Sites Damaged in Iran

The Golestan Palace in Tehran, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2013, sustained damage from blast waves, with shattered windows and damaged mirrorwork. The director of the Golestan Palace World Heritage complex, Afarin Emami, stated that museum objects were moved to secure storage after earlier tensions. The nearby Grand Bazaar of Tehran, the former Senate Palace, and the historic former Police Headquarters were also affected. In Isfahan, the Chehel Sotoun Palace and other sites within Naqsh-e Jahan Square suffered damage when a strike hit the provincial governorate building. Images show shattered windows, cracked walls, and fallen mirrorwork at the Chehel Sotoun Palace, Ali Qapu Palace, and other sites in the Naqsh-e Jahan area. The primary target appeared to be the provincial governor's office building in the Rashk-e Jahan complex. UNESCO has confirmed damage to several sites on its global heritage list and has shared the geographical coordinates of World Heritage sites with all parties involved in the conflict. Several of the affected buildings carried the Blue Shield emblem, an international symbol for protected cultural heritage sites. Iran's Foreign Minister criticized UNESCO's response on X, stating, "Its silence is unacceptable".