Reza Salehi-Amiri said the Iranian government had formally contacted UNESCO, the World Tourism Organization, and other international entities to express concern over possible Israeli military strikes endangering Iranian heritage.
“We sent an official letter to Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO, requesting urgent and effective action to safeguard Iran’s cultural and natural heritage against the risks posed by Israeli military aggression,” Salehi-Amiri said.
The minister explained that the letter referenced international agreements, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. These conventions, he emphasized, obligate UNESCO and the global community to preserve “these irreplaceable treasures.”
He added that Iran had been informed that UNESCO’s chief had issued a warning to Israel concerning the matter.
The minister also noted that more than 100 Iranian cultural figures and intellectuals had jointly issued a letter urging international efforts to protect the nation’s heritage. They described it as a priceless national symbol that must be preserved, especially during conflict.
