By Sahar Dadjoo

Destruction of Iran's cultural sites by Israel, US tantamount to destroying a civilization

Historian Touraj Daryaee says international law is nearly powerless against superpowers, but UNESCO status could deter future attacks

TEHRAN – Since US and Israeli strikes began in February, over 130 registered monuments and museums across Iran have sustained damage, from the Golestan Palace to historic quarters in Isfahan, Kordestan, and Lorestan. In an exclusive interview with Tehran Times, Touraj Daryaee, historian of ancient Iran and editor of Encyclopaedia Iranica, discusses the emotional and scholarly weight of watching millennia-old heritage damaged within weeks, the limits of international legal accountability, and what the destruction means for how Iran's history will be told and remembered.

By Afshin Majlesi

War, memory and the race to save a civilization

An interview with Dr. Jebrael Nokandeh, Director of the National Museum of Iran

TEHRAN – What happens when one of the world's oldest civilizations is confronted with the realities of modern warfare? How do museums prepare for conflict, protect irreplaceable artifacts, and respond when cultural institutions come under threat? And what lessons have museum professionals learned from navigating these extraordinary challenges?

By Sahar Dadjoo

Failure to condemn attacks on Iran’s heritage makes the world complicit, Italian archaeologist warns

TEHRAN – The recent U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran, which began on February 28, have triggered widespread concern over the safety of the country’s historical and cultural heritage. Reports indicate that prominent sites, including the Golestan Palace and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square, have sustained damage, highlighting the potential for irreversible losses to monuments that reflect centuries of Iranian civilization.

By Afshin Majlesi

Minister reveals legal, restoration efforts to protect cultural heritage

TEHRAN – Following extensive damage to some of Iran’s most important cultural heritage sites, including the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace, Tehran has intensified its diplomatic, legal, and cultural response, describing the attacks as not only material destruction but also an assault on humanity’s shared heritage.