TEHRAN - Iran has formally called on an international cultural body to take urgent action to protect its historical sites, citing growing threats to some of the country’s most significant cultural landmarks.

According to Mehr news agency, Ali Darabi, the deputy minister for cultural heritage, sent an open letter on Tuesday to Salim M. al-Malik, head of ICESCO, urging immediate legal and diplomatic measures to safeguard Iran’s cultural assets.

“Iran, as one of the world’s oldest civilizations, holds a vast array of tangible and intangible heritage,” Darabi said in the letter, according to the report, adding that much of it forms part of humanity’s shared historical memory.

Official figures cited in the report show that more than 34,000 historical sites are registered on Iran’s national heritage list. In addition, over 100 Iranian sites are inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list across 29 entries.

Among the sites highlighted as particularly vulnerable are Golestan Palace, Naqsh-e Jahan Square, Shah Mosque, Falak-ol-Aflak Citadel, Chehel Sotun Palace and Safiabad Palace.

Experts warn that damage to such sites—some of which are UNESCO-listed—could have far-reaching cultural and international consequences.

In the letter, Darabi referenced several international legal frameworks, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1972 World Heritage Convention, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2347, all of which emphasize the protection of cultural heritage during crises.

He outlined four key demands: a formal international warning against any attacks on Iranian heritage, the establishment of legal deterrence mechanisms, pursuit of international claims against those responsible for potential damage, and the use of diplomatic channels for immediate preventive action.

Cultural heritage experts say such appeals highlight the global dimension of the issue.

“When a country with Iran’s historical depth faces such threats, it is not only about protecting a few monuments, but about preserving regional and global historical identity,” one expert said.

They added that international organizations such as ICESCO and UNESCO can play a crucial role through official statements, monitoring mechanisms and expert missions, which in past cases have helped deter destruction.

Analysts note that many of Iran’s most important heritage sites are located in densely populated or strategically sensitive areas, increasing the complexity of protecting them.

AM