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Anzali Military Palace Museum badly damaged in recent war
Salmankhah said preliminary assessments point to “significant” destruction despite the site being marked with the Blue Shield emblem, adding the attacking side disregarded international legal norms meant to safeguard cultural property, ILNA reported.
The century-old building, registered on Iran’s National Heritage List in December 1978 under number 1511, suffered deep structural cracks, damage to its pitched roof, and extensive harm to interior decorations and façade ornaments. Several display-case artifacts were also shattered, he said, noting the site now requires urgent, specialized conservation and restoration work.
He framed museums as “identity-bearing” institutions central to national cohesion and global cultural presence, linking their protection to broader governance and state capacity.
Salmankhah said technical teams have launched field surveys and detailed documentation, with findings being relayed to the relevant ministry. The immediate priority, he added, is to record the damage comprehensively and communicate the incident to international public opinion.
He warned that continued strikes on cultural sites reflect a systematic push to undermine social and cultural foundations, urging international bodies to take “responsible” action to prevent a recurrence.