In a Tuesday letter to Khaled Ahmed El-Enany, UNESCO director general, Salehi Amiri called for immediate dispatch of an independent UNESCO expert mission to assess the extent and nature of the damage to the palace.
The full text of the letter follows:
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to inform you, with profound concern, of the serious damage inflicted upon a cultural property of outstanding universal value in the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran, following the unlawful military attack carried out by the United States of America and the Israeli regime against my country.
According to verified national assessments, parts of the Golestan Palace, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2013, have sustained structural and decorative damage as a result of explosions and shockwaves caused by the aforementioned attacks. Furthermore, sections of the Grand Bazaar of Tehran, located in close proximity to the Palace and forming an integral component of the historic urban fabric of the capital, have also suffered damage.
Given the outstanding universal value of Golestan Palace and the historical significance of the surrounding urban context, these sites require urgent technical assessment, emergency stabilization measures, and protective interventions to prevent further deterioration.
As you are aware, these actions constitute a blatant violation of the international commitments of the United States of America and the occupying regime of Jerusalem, including United Nations Security Council Resolution S/RES/2347 (2017) regarding the protection of global cultural heritage. Moreover, Golestan Palace is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List under the "1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage." Pursuant to the provisions of this Convention, as well as the "1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Additional Protocols," the protection of the heritage of humanity is a universal obligation incumbent upon all State Parties.
In light of UNESCO’s mandate and the collective responsibility of Member States to safeguard the cultural heritage of humanity, the Islamic Republic of Iran respectfully requests:
1. That UNESCO condemn the actions of the United States of America and the occupying regime of Palestine, which constitute a flagrant violation of UNSC Resolution S/RES/2347 (2017), the 1972 UNESCO Convention, and the 1954 Hague Convention; and that both parties be urged to immediately cease their attacks on Iran’s historical cultural heritage and respect their international obligations in this regard.
2. The immediate dispatch of an independent UNESCO expert mission to assess the extent and nature of the damage;
3. The provision of technical cooperation and assistance for emergency stabilization, documentation, and the preparation of conservation plans in accordance with international standards;
4. The activation of the relevant monitoring and protective mechanisms under the World Heritage framework.
The Islamic Republic of Iran reiterates its full readiness to cooperate closely with UNESCO and its Advisory Bodies in addressing this urgent matter and ensuring the safeguarding of this irreplaceable heritage.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
IRNA