Iran restorers call for urgent response to war-scarred heritage sites
The Iranian Association of Cultural Heritage Conservators said on Friday, citing ISNA, it stands ready to deploy immediately to safeguard and restore sites damaged in the recent war, after authorities reported at least 149 historical assets affected across Iran.
In a statement, the guild warned that destruction or neglect of cultural property, irrespective of geography or politics, erodes humanity’s shared memory. It said it was tracking “extensive” damage to historic buildings, archaeological sites, museums and cultural centers during the past days of fighting, ranging from structural failures to the irreversible loss of architectural ornamentation and museum collections.
The association stressed its scientific neutrality and rejected any action that endangers heritage in times of crisis, urging all parties to adhere to relevant international law. It offered to engage across emergency protection, technical restoration and long-term rehabilitation, drawing on a nationwide network of specialists and field experience.
Yet it said this organized capacity has not been effectively harnessed in crisis management, contrary to the principle of maximizing national expertise beyond routine administrative structures.
The group added that, amid current economic conditions, many conservators have been left without work during the war and subsequent ceasefire, a trend it warned could hollow out the sector’s professional base.
It called on the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts to fully utilize expert capacity, establish legal and executive frameworks for structured participation in national projects, and integrate conservators as a scientific and technical arm in short- and long-term protection strategies.
According to ministry figures, the conflict has damaged or destroyed at least 149 sites, with losses estimated at about $48.6 million.