Paris, France, 26 March 2026—ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, has issued a statement on the protection of cultural heritage in the context of the ongoing Middle East conflict, including in Iran, Israel, and Lebanon. It expressed “deep concern regarding the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East and its devastating human consequences”, and “condemns any destruction—whether intentional or incidental—of cultural and natural heritage. ICOMOS recalls that cultural heritage must not be considered a target.”
It noted: “Cultural heritage forms part of essential social structures embedded in everyday life, sustaining continuity even in situations of displacement. Damage should therefore be understood not only as physical loss, but also as disruption to practices, shared reference systems and cultural anchors, including through loss of access, use and presence. Such losses directly affect the capacity of communities to sustain and transmit cultural life, while cultural heritage can also support continuity, identity and social cohesion in times of crisis.”
The full statement can be read here.
The image above shows damage caused to Golestan Palace in Tehran, Iran, due to falling debris and shockwaves when the nearby Arg Square was bombed in March 2026 during the 2026 Iran war. (Photograph by Mohammadreza Abbasi, Avash Media; CC-BY 4.0 International.)