Iran Reports Damage to 56 Cultural Sites from Strikes

Iran's Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts announced on Saturday that at least 56 museums, historical monuments and cultural sites have sustained damage since the United States and Israel launched strikes against the country on February 28. The affected locations span multiple provinces, with the heaviest impacts reported in Tehran, where 19 sites were hit, including the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace.

The ministry's assessment, reported through state media, detailed destruction from airstrikes and missile impacts, primarily caused by blast waves, debris and nearby explosions targeting what the United States and Israel describe as military infrastructure. In Tehran, the Grand Bazaar, a centuries-old marketplace dating to the Qajar dynasty, and the former Senate building also suffered damage. Golestan Palace, a walled complex from the Qajar era (1789-1925) that blends Persian architecture with European influences, features gardens, pools and intricate mirror-work ceilings. Footage from early March showed shattered glass, broken archways and scattered moldings across its floors.

Damage extended beyond the capital to provinces including Isfahan, Kurdistan,...