Protected landmarks and humanity’s cultural heritage are threatened by the US-Israel war with Iran. UNESCO-listed sites, including palaces and an ancient mosque in Iran, are among the historical landmarks that have been damaged by the US-Israeli strikes, which began on February 28.
UNESCO, the UN’s cultural body, has expressed its concern about the cultural heritage sites, saying in a statement that it has “communicated to all parties concerned the geographical coordinates of sites on the World Heritage List as well as those of national significance, to avoid any potential damage.”
“UNESCO continues to closely monitor the situation of cultural heritage in the country and across the region, with a view to ensuring its protection,” the organization added.
Here is a list of the cultural heritage sites that have been damaged to date, according to various reports.
1. Golestan Palace, Tehran
One of the Iranian capital’s oldest historic monuments and Tehran’s only UNESCO‑listed World Heritage Site, the Golestan Palace is a complex of eight palatial structures that was first built in the 1500s.
UNESCO has confirmed that Golestan Palace was damaged following a March 2 missile strike on nearby Arag Square.
The damage includes shattered mirrored ceilings, broken archways, blown‑out windows and debris inside halls.
2. Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan
Known for its meticulously detailed frescoes, the palace of Chehel Sotoun is one of the most famous historic landmarks of the city of Isfahan, which is located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) south of Tehran.
The 17th-century pavilion is part of another UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, the Persian Gardens. The palace was used for imperial receptions and ceremonies during the Safavid era.
A large, central, rectangular pool located right in front of the palace’s entrance contributes to the name of this famous landmark: Chehel Sotoun means “40 columns,” referring to the pavilion’s 20 wooden columns, which, when reflected in the water, appear to double in number.
UNESCO confirms that various elements of the palace have been damaged during strikes on an adjacent government building near the city’s central public square on March 10.
The list of damaged items includes broken tiles, fallen murals, damaged Safavid mirrorwork, cracked frescoes and shattered windows.
3. Masjed-e Jame, or Jameh Mosque of Isfahan
The blast waves have also damaged the structure, tiles and decorative elements of Masjed-e Jame, Iran’s oldest Friday mosque, another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Isfahan.
According to UNESCO, “the monument illustrates a sequence of architectural construction and decorative styles of different periods in Iranian Islamic architecture, covering 12 centuries.”
The historic building serves both as a mosque for prayers and as a component of the Isfahan historic bazaar.
4. Ali Qapu Palace, Isfahan
Because of its cultural and historical importance, the royal palace of Ali Qapu was also added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 1979.
Ali Qapu Palace has been affected by the strikes on Isfahan; broken windows and doors, as well as dislodged tilework, have been reported.
The palace is located on the western side of Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a center of culture developed under Shah Abbas I, who ruled from 1588–1629. The monumental complex of mosques, palaces and bazaars is renowned as a masterpiece of Safavid architecture. The square is nicknamed Nesf-e Jahan: “half the world.”
The Governorate building on the square appears to have been the primary target of the strike that damaged several Isfahan sites.
5. Khorramabad Valley prehistoric sites, Lorestan Province
UNESCO confirms that buildings near the buffer zone of this other World Heritage Site were damaged by shockwaves.
The Khorramabad Valley, which consists of five caves and one rock shelter, provides evidence of human settlement dating back 63,000 years. It was listed by the UN cultural agency in 2025.
6. Falak‑ol‑Aflak Citadel, or Shapur Khast Castle, Khorramabad
This gigantic fortress was built in the early third century, during the Sasanian era.
Different offices and buildings were reportedly hit by a strike within the castle’s perimeter, including the citadel’s archaeology and anthropology museums, though the main fortress structure remains intact.
Five staff members and heritage protection personnel were reportedly injured.
The ‘Blue Shield’
In an attempt to protect historical landmarks, authorities in Iran have been unfurling blue-and-white shields atop buildings throughout the country.
The Blue Shield is an emblem that was created during the 1954 Hague Convention to protect cultural property during conflicts.
The Blue Shield International organization has also called for heritage protection in Iran: “While the protection of human life and dignity must always be the first priority in any crisis, the protection of people is intertwined with the protection of their heritage,” Peter Stone, president of the Blue Shield International organization, said in a statement on March 13.
“Cultural heritage is more than a record of the past; it is a tangible anchor for human identity and a shared global asset. It reminds us of how much more we have in common than differentiates us,” Stone added.
The damage reported to date has largely resulted from shockwaves, debris and explosions from strikes targeting nearby infrastructure rather than direct targeting of the monuments themselves.
Potential ‘war crimes’
US President Donald Trump had previously threatened to attack Iran’s cultural sites back in January 2020.
Military attacks targeting cultural sites are considered war crimes under international law. The United States, Israel and Iran have signed conventions to protect cultural heritage, including during conflict.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has expressed contempt for “stupid rules of engagement”: the conventions and laws meant to reduce risks to civilians.
The US Committee of the Blue Shield said it was “disturbed” by Hegseth’s statement, and noted that “the failure to observe international humanitarian law, including numerous international conventions to which the US is a State Party, as well as customary international law, can lead to the commission of war crimes.”