UNESCO Warns of Rising Threats to Cultural Heritage Sites in Middle East

UNESCO Warns of Rising Threats to Cultural Heritage Sites in Middle East
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UNESCO has expressed deep concern over the growing risks facing cultural heritage sites in the Middle East amid escalating violence and armed conflicts across the region.

The UN cultural agency said that Golestan Palace in Tehran—a site listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2013—sustained partial damage on March 2 after shrapnel and shockwaves from an airstrike struck the nearby Ark Square area located within the site’s buffer zone.

UNESCO said it is continuing to monitor the condition of cultural heritage sites in Iran and across the wider region, emphasizing the urgent need to safeguard historical and cultural landmarks from further harm. As part of its protective measures, the organization has shared the geographic coordinates of World Heritage sites and important national heritage locations with relevant parties in order to reduce the risk of accidental damage during hostilities.

The agency also reiterated that cultural property is protected under international law, particularly the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention, which include mechanisms designed to enhance protection during times of conflict.

UNESCO stressed that coordinated international and local efforts are essential to ensure the protection of cultural heritage from the dangers posed by armed conflicts and to preserve these sites for future generations.