Name: UNESCO warns priceless Iranian heritage is being destroyed by war
Uploaded: 2026-04-02T11:19:40.275Z
Duration: 1 min 26 s
Description: As the war in the Middle East continues, cultural and historical sites in the region are increasingly under threat sparking renewed calls from Middle East states and UNESCO for help protecting heritage sites.

As the war in the Middle East continues, cultural and historical sites in the region are increasingly under threat sparking renewed calls from Middle East states and UNESCO for help protecting heritage sites.

Tehran

UNESCO officials have reported that at least 132 cultural and historical sites in Iran, including palaces and a mosque, have been damaged by recent strikes attributed to the United States and Israel. Iranian UNESCO representatives described the sites as priceless and irreplaceable, emphasizing the impossibility of restoring their cultural value once lost.

UNESCO stated that it had provided all parties involved in the conflict with the coordinates of these heritage sites in advance to prevent damage. Iranian officials have since requested that more sites be added to the agency's enhanced protection list in an effort to safeguard the nation's cultural legacy.

UNESCO warns 'priceless' Iranian heritage is being destroyed by war

The United States and Israel have striked at least 132 cultural and historical sites in Iran, according to an Iranian UNESCO official. Numerous palaces and a mosque have been damaged. We can't talk about the cost of these sites at all. First of all, these sites are priceless. They are irreplaceable. How can we replace them? Fatoussi accused the United States and Israel of intentionally targeting the sites, stressing they possess advanced technologies, enabling them to know what they are hitting. UNESCO said it provided all parties to the conflict with the coordinates of the heritage sites ahead of time to avoid damage. It is more defenseless than cultural heritage and natural heritage. In my opinion, setting a goal for cultural heritage is setting a goal for human identity. If we have human dignity, we must respect cultural heritage. Iranian officials requested the United Nations Cultural Agency earlier this month to add more sites to its enhanced protection list.

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