Following joint attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran on February 28, the country has come under repeated strikes. The attacks, which were ostensibly meant to target Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, have also caused civilian casualties and damage to cultural sites.
Airstrikes near historic districts in Tehran and Isfahan have damaged monuments that have survived for centuries. The losses highlight how war can endanger not only lives but also the historical memory embedded in cities and landscapes.
Iran contains one of the world’s richest concentrations of historic architecture and urban heritage. The country has 29 UNESCO World Heritage Sites spanning more than two millennia, from ancient imperial capitals to Islamic urban centres and desert cities. Yet monuments that have survived invasions, political upheaval and regime change remain vulnerable in modern conflict. Even when heritage sites are not deliberately targeted, nearby explosions, fires and shockwaves can damage fragile masonry, glazed tiles and decorative interiors.
Cultural sites affected
In the capital, Tehran, airstrikes have damaged two important historic sites: Golestan Palace and the Grand Bazaar of Tehran.
Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, served as the ceremonial residence of the Qajar dynasty in the 19th century. Its halls are known for elaborate mirror mosaics, painted tiles and architecture that blends Persian traditions with European influences.
The Tehran bazaar is more than a commercial district. Like historic bazaars across the Middle East, it functions as a social and economic hub linking trade, religion and everyday life. It also played an important political role during the Iranian Revolution of 1978–79, when bazaar merchants supported Ruhollah Khomeini.
Strikes have also affected Isfahan, one of Iran’s most important historic cities and the capital of the Safavid dynasty during a golden age of art and architecture.
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Under Shah Abbas I, the city was transformed into an imperial centre of culture and urban planning, anchored by Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a monumental complex of mosques, palaces and bazaars.
Blast waves reportedly damaged several historic structures, including parts of the Chehel Sotoun palace complex and nearby monuments such as Ali Qapu Palace. Reports indicate collapsed ceilings, broken doors and shattered glass in some buildings.
The damage is especially worrying because decorative features such as tilework, murals and mirror mosaics are among the most fragile elements of Safavid architecture and are extremely difficult to restore once lost.
Why cultural heritage matters
International heritage organisations, including Blue Shield International, have warned that attacks affecting cultural sites may violate international conventions protecting cultural property during war.
Iran’s historic monuments are not simply tourist attractions. They form part of a cultural identity shaped by thousands of years of artistic and literary traditions. Cities such as Shiraz, Isfahan and Yazd are closely linked to the poetry of figures such as Hafez and Ferdowsi.
For many Iranians, historic monuments symbolise a sense of continuity linking the ancient Persian past, the Islamic period and the modern nation.
When war damages historic monuments, more than architecture is lost. Fragments of cultural memory that have endured for centuries disappear with them.
Many of Iran’s historic sites have survived invasions, revolutions and political upheaval, yet today’s conflicts pose new risks as historic cities lie close to strategic targets. Once destroyed, these monuments cannot truly be replaced.
Protecting cultural heritage during conflict is therefore not only about preserving buildings but also about safeguarding the memories and histories that connect societies across generations.
Via The Conversation
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