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Iran's Cultural Heritage Damaged by US-Israeli Strikes
Iran's Cultural Heritage Becomes Collateral Damage
Ongoing US and Israeli military operations in Iran have led to significant damage to several of the country's prominent cultural heritage sites. UNESCO has confirmed that multiple sites, including Tehran's Golestan Palace, have been impacted by the escalating violence. Both UNESCO and Iran's Ministry of Culture and Heritage assert that they had provided coordinates of all protected sites to the US and Israel, marking them with blue flags to prevent targeting. However, the sites have still suffered extensive damage.
Golestan and Chehel Sotoun Palaces Sustain Heavy Damage
The Golestan Palace in Tehran, dating back to the 14th century and sometimes compared to France's Versailles Palace, was not directly hit by missiles but was severely affected by shockwaves from nearby blasts. Windows were blown out, doors and archways damaged, and tiles and masonry brought down. Its celebrated 'Hall of Mirrors' was shattered, with delicate mirror work scattered across the floor. In Isfahan, the Chehel Sotoun Palace also suffered damage. An air strike on the city's provincial governor's office is believed to have caused extensive damage inside the palace complex, with videos showing broken glass and debris from the damaged roof. Isfahan, once Iran's capital, features architecture primarily from the Safavid Dynasty (16th to 18th centuries).
*Source: YouTube: France 24 English (2026-03-15)*
