Copy in clipboard...
Iran heritage at risk as over 200 scholars warn of cultural loss from strikes
The signatories said military strikes beginning on February 28, 2026 and continuing through a fragile ceasefire announced overnight on April 8 have already inflicted “considerable” damage across Iranian territory. They argued that the attacks, which they described as violations of international law, are endangering not only civilian lives but also global scientific research and collective human memory, Art Dependance magazine reported.
The statement, which has gathered more than 240 signatures from academics affiliated with institutions including the Sorbonne, CNRS, the Louvre, the University of Geneva, and Yale University, expressed solidarity with the Iranian people and warned that cultural destruction risks erasing centuries of historical continuity across the Middle East.
The researchers cited repeated March warnings from UNESCO and concerns raised by heritage organizations including Europa Nostra, the International Council of Museums, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, and the US Committee of the Blue Shield.
They said more than 120 heritage sites have been affected, including UNESCO-listed landmarks such as Golestan Palace in Tehran and Naqsh-e Jahan Square and Chehel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan.
While acknowledging that some damage may be incidental, the signatories said several strikes appeared to have targeted cultural institutions and universities in Tehran and Isfahan, raising concerns over efforts to undermine archival records and academic infrastructure.
They highlighted a March 8 strike in Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, which destroyed offices of Iran’s Cultural Heritage Organization, injuring staff and leaving archaeological archives and scientific documentation at risk. Nearby historical sites, including the Falak-ol-Aflak Citadel and an adjacent museum, were also damaged, they said.
The statement added that Iran’s cultural heritage encompasses around 40,000 nationally registered sites and 29 UNESCO World Heritage properties, spanning archaeological layers from prehistoric settlements to major urban and architectural centers of the Achaemenid, Parthian, Sasanian and Islamic eras.
The scholars urged expanded international support for documentation, digitization and academic mobility programs, warning that disrupted research and damaged archives could have irreversible consequences for the study of ancient and modern societies.
They also called for sustained academic cooperation with Iranian researchers, citing France’s long-standing scientific engagement in the region, and warned that continued conflict risks deepening divisions and eroding shared historical memory across the Middle East.