As the Israel-Iran war intensifies, escalating military operations across Iran are not only exacting a devastating human toll, with over 600 people killed and more than 3,000 injured, including women and children, but are also casting an ominous shadow over the nation’s unparalleled cultural heritage, prompting urgent international appeals for a ceasefire and protection. The mounting Iran-Israel war casualties highlight a dire humanitarian crisis.
Recent reports confirm widespread military strikes in the ongoing Israel-Iran war, with U.S. forces targeting key nuclear sites in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz with “bunker-buster bombs,” inflicting what is described as “monumental damage.” These operations follow a week of systematic Israeli attacks aimed at crippling Iran’s air defenses and missile capabilities across numerous provinces, including Isfahan, Fars (Shiraz), Khuzestan, Yazd, and Tehran.
While specific direct damage to cultural heritage sites has not been confirmed amidst the Iran-Israel war, experts warn that the sheer proximity and intensity of these military activities pose immense indirect risks. Ancient cities like Isfahan, Shiraz, and Yazd, home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites and thousands of culturally significant locations, are vulnerable to collateral damage, structural vibrations from explosions, and the instability that chaos and conflict bring.
“The situation is incredibly volatile,” states Dr. Leila Karimian, an Iranologist. “Even without direct targeting, the shockwaves and instability from these widespread strikes could irrevocably harm structures that have stood for millennia. This isn’t just about Iranian history; it’s about the heritage of all humankind, now threatened by the Iran-Israel conflict.”
Iran has proactively underscored this threat by closing museums and moving sensitive artifacts to secure vaults. Furthermore, Tehran has formally appealed to UNESCO, calling for “urgent and effective measures to safeguard its cultural and natural heritage.” The appeal explicitly invokes the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, a treaty to which both Iran and the U.S. are parties, which prohibits the intentional destruction of cultural heritage, recognizing such acts as war crimes. Such appeals often precede broader calls for a ceasefire.
In response to this escalating threat, global experts and cultural custodians are articulating actionable pathways for engagement, urging a path towards de-escalation and a potential ceasefire:
- Academic & Research Collaboration: Initiating joint projects to digitally document endangered sites and support open-access databases.
- Advocacy & Awareness Campaigns: Hosting public lectures, publishing op-eds, and utilizing social media to inform and mobilize international opinion.
- Engagement with International Organizations: Formally endorsing Iran’s appeals to UNESCO and ICOMOS, and advocating for the enforcement of international laws like the 1954 Hague Convention, underscoring the urgent need for a ceasefire to protect lives and heritage.
- Support Preservation Initiatives: Exploring grants and collaborating with NGOs such as the Iran Heritage Foundation and HerMaP Iran, which are actively involved in safeguarding cultural assets amidst the Iran-Israel war.
