Iran: US-Israeli strikes damaged 120 museums and historic sites including UNESCO Golestan Palace

Ahmad Alavi, head of the Tehran city council's cultural heritage committee, said on 27 March 2026 that US and Israeli strikes have damaged at least 120 museums and cultural and historic sites across Iran since the start of the war. 'At least 120 museums, historical buildings and cultural sites across various provinces were directly targeted and sustained serious structural damage,' Alavi told state TV. He specifically named UNESCO World Heritage-listed Golestan Palace, Saadabad Palace, the Marble Palace, and Teymourtash House (also known as the War Museum) among the damaged sites. The figures are unverified by independent sources and come from Iranian state media. The cultural heritage damage claim aligns with UN rights chief Turk's call for accountability for the Minab school bombing and builds the international humanitarian case.