Iran calls for legal case on Golestan Palace, pushes UNESCO action
A senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official on Wednesday urged an accelerated legal and diplomatic drive to document damage to cultural assets and prepare a case on Golestan Palace for international adjudication, including at The Hague.
Speaking at a specialized forum on safeguarding civilizational heritage held at Golestan Palace, Ahmad Hamisi, head of the ministry’s international organizations department, said Tehran must swiftly compile “official” records, finalize damage assessment forms and build legal dossiers that will underpin claims before arbitration bodies and international courts, IRNA reported.
He stressed that enhanced protection mechanisms through UNESCO remain “pursuable,” but warned delays in submitting documentation risk forfeiting opportunities. “The first stage is information,” he said, adding that Iran has already drawn global attention through a 120-page report on cultural damage circulated to embassies, prompting UNESCO to condemn attacks on heritage sites.
Citing precedents, including the 2017 threat by former U.S. president Donald Trump against Iranian cultural sites and UNESCO’s response, Hamisi said the international environment is receptive to firm reactions on cultural threats and should be leveraged to increase pressure.
He called for elevating Golestan Palace into a symbol of “cultural victimhood” through a draft resolution, drawing a parallel with Mosul’s global status after the destruction wrought by the Daesh terrorist group.
Hamisi also outlined plans to stage a dedicated exhibition at UNESCO headquarters within two months, featuring images, footage and verified reports to present the full scope of the incident.
Fatemeh Davari, adviser to the deputy for cultural heritage, said assessment forms have been prepared for 35 cultural properties, with separate evaluations planned for World Heritage sites. She added that museums and cultural centers require urgent, coordinated action.