UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have resulted in significant damage to at least four cultural and historical sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque. This raises concerns about the impact of the escalating conflict on landmarks that are vital to Iranian identity and world history.

The Iranian and Lebanese governments have expressed their alarm, prompting a request to UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural agency, to protect additional sites. UNESCO has confirmed the verification of damage to several significant structures, including the lavish Qajar-era Golestan Palace in Tehran, the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun Palace, and the Masjed-e Jame, Iran’s oldest Friday mosque located in Isfahan. Additionally, the Khorramabad Valley, home to prehistoric caves and evidence of human activity dating back to 63,000 B.C., has also sustained damage.

Footage from the Associated Press taken on March 3 illustrates the extent of the destruction at Golestan Palace, featuring shattered glass from mirrored ceilings, broken archways, blown-out windows, and damaged moldings. Despite UNESCO providing geographical coordinates of these heritage sites to all parties involved in the conflict to help prevent such damage, the impact on cultural heritage sites has not been confined to Iran. UNESCO is also monitoring damage to other notable locations across the Middle East, including the White City in Israel and Tyre in Lebanon.

U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized that in contemporary conflicts, civilians and their cultural infrastructure suffer significantly. “We’ve all seen the destruction of priceless historical heritage,” he stated, reflecting on the ongoing collateral damage in various conflicts worldwide, including those involving Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Hamas.

Human rights advocates have echoed these sentiments, underlining that the ongoing war in Iran has resulted in the deaths of over 1,000 individuals and severely disrupted the institutions and historical sites central to community identities. Bonnie Docherty, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, noted that the damage to cultural heritage threatens not only the history of affected communities but also their shared identities, which are paramount for fostering unity.

Arash Azizi, who experienced his cultural upbringing in Iran before relocating to the U.S., stressed the importance of historical sites in understanding one’s identity. He remarked, “We need a cultural context. We need to know who we are, and where we come from, and what does it all mean.”

The personal impact of this destruction is felt keenly by individuals with ties to these sites. Shabnam Emdadi, a 35-year-old Iranian American, shared her emotional connection to the Chehel Sotoun Palace, recounting cherished memories of visiting there with her late father. “I feel like I am also losing a piece of him,” she expressed, highlighting the deep personal loss intertwined with the historical destruction.

It remains unclear whether the damage was caused by U.S. or Israeli strikes, as the Pentagon declined to comment, and the Israeli Defense Forces stated they were “unfamiliar” with the claims regarding UNESCO sites. Concerns have been raised over U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's remarks indicating that the U.S. approach to the conflict would not adhere to “stupid rules of engagement.” This statement has been criticized as undermining international humanitarian law, which protects cultural heritage and civilian populations during conflict.

UNESCO's designated sites, affected by the violence, are among the nearly 30 Iranian landmarks granted special protection as part of the World Heritage list. Renowned global sites include the Great Wall of China, the Egyptian pyramids, the Taj Mahal, and the Statue of Liberty. UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee intervenes when such sites are at risk of destruction and offers technical assistance for their preservation.

In a significant development, the Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from UNESCO, stating that U.S. involvement is not aligned with its national interests and criticizing the agency for purported anti-Israel bias. The withdrawal is set to take effect in December.

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Farnoush Amiri, The Associated Press