JAKARTA - Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that Israel's attacks on Iran had targeted a number of historic ancient sites and buildings in the country, including sites dating back to the 14th century.
"Israel bombed Iran's historic monuments dating back to the 14th century. Several UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been attacked," Foreign Minister Araghchi tweeted on the social media X, quoted by Anadolu (13/3).
In his post, the chief diplomat of Tehran criticized UNESCO's "silence" over the Israeli attack.
"It is natural that a regime that will not last a century hates countries with an ancient past. But where is UNESCO? Its silence is unacceptable," he added.
Foreign Minister Araghchi's comments come as the US and Israel have continued a joint air offensive against Iran since February 28, killing some 1,300 people and wounding more than 10,000.
Israel is bombing Iranian historical monuments dating as far back as the 14th century. Multiple UNESCO World Heritage Sites have been struck.
"It's natural that a regime that won't last a century hates nations with ancient pasts. But where's UNESCO? Its silence is unacceptable. pic.twitter.com/7eu09Cjiyf
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) March 12, 2026
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile attacks targeting Israel, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military assets.
Meanwhile, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, "What happened is clear to everyone: In this increasingly modern conflict, civilians bear the brunt of it, civilian infrastructure bears the brunt of it, and we have all seen the destruction of priceless historical heritage," according to the Associated Press.
UNESCO itself confirmed that it had verified the damage to the luxurious Golestan Palace from the Qajar era in Tehran as well as the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun palace and the Jame Mosque, the country's oldest Friday mosque, both in Isfahan, NDTV reported.
There was also verified damage to buildings near Khorramabad Valley, which includes five prehistoric caves and one rock shelter that provides evidence of human occupation since 63,000 BC.
The governor of Isfahan, Mehdi Jamalinejad, said in a speech on social media, in previous conflicts, whether it was the Afghan war, the Mughal conquest, or the Iran-Iraq war, there had never been such destruction.
"This is a declaration of war against a civilization," he said.
"Enemies who do not have culture do not pay attention to cultural symbols. A country that has no history does not respect historical signs. A country that has no identity does not respect identity," he said.
The affected sites are among nearly 30 Iranian sites designated as special protection sites as part of UNESCO's World Heritage list.
UNESCO said it had provided the geographical coordinates of the heritage site to all parties involved in the war well before the conflict began so that they could take "precautionary measures to avoid damage".
Separately, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said his country would not take an approach in the war that includes "stupid rules of engagement."
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