Expert details damage to UNESCOlisted Golestan Palace following airstrike

Expert details damage to UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace following airstrike

TEHRAN – Iranian cultural heritage expert Eskandar Mokhtari-Taleqani has elaborated damage to the Golestan Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Tehran, following recent U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on March 1.

He described the destruction as a violation of international heritage law, noting the extensive debris covering the palace grounds and significant damage to the site’s exterior. “Multiple trees were destroyed, with Abyaz Palace experiencing the most severe damage, including all windows displaced and damaged, and several sections of the upper ceiling collapsing.”

The expert said the Takht-e Marmar (Marble Throne) hall, featuring a framework, sustained significant damage, though the building’s structure remained largely intact. Curtains likely absorbed the blast force, he said.

The Salam Hall (main museum hall) remained largely unharmed, but the windows facing the courtyard, particularly on the eastern side of the palace, had broken or displaced glass. The Hall of Mirrors, featuring a Kemal-ol-Molk painting and recently renovated, also sustained considerable damage, including the ceiling and its traditional ornamentations.

Mokhtari-Taleqani continued, noting that in the Ivory Hall, only the windows facing the palace were damaged. The Brilliant Hall suffered damage to both the windows facing the palace and the brick-laid framework ceiling. The Shams-ol-Emareh also sustained damage to its courtyard roof and the lower hall's framework.

He stated that Kakh-e Badgir Palace (Windcatcher Palace) suffered minimal damage, and the Diamond Hall was only lightly damaged, with one Takht-e Marmar section affected. The Chadorkhane (Tent Hall) was in good condition, although two fiberglass skylights were damaged by the blast wave.

“It was truly a heartbreaking sight,” Mokhtari-Taleqani said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the expert underlined that the situation must be reported to UNESCO and the International Council of Museums (ICOM) and ICOMOS immediately. Requests for international expert teams to assess the damage firsthand are crucial for documentation and evaluation. International scrutiny is needed to ensure proper safeguarding and preservation efforts. He also highlighted the importance of media coverage in this context.

Mokhtari-Taleqani continued, stating that emergency conservation efforts should begin swiftly in areas requiring immediate protection to prevent further damage. He noted that while the structural core of many areas remained intact, elements like Takht-e Marmar, windows, and flat ceilings were severely affected by the blast wave. Stabilization of these structures is paramount.

Regarding protection measures during armed conflicts, he referenced a 1952 convention, which obligates nations to protect cultural heritage during hostilities and to avoid military action near these sites. He emphasized this as a globally recognized commitment to prevent such events. Violations are considered “counter-cultural” acts, and damage to globally registered heritage sites is a “counter-human” violation, referencing the damage to historical sites like Isfahan’s [UNESCO-registered] Jameh Mosque during another war [with Iraq in 1980s], which was subsequently recognized by the UN cultural body as an assault on human heritage. “Damage resulting from conflict must be pursued through international legal frameworks and compensation,” he underlined.

The expert then added that the United States has withdrawn from UNESCO and refuses to be bound by its rules, but the regime of Israel remains a member and has violated the World Heritage Convention, contributing to the damage at Golestan Palace.

In that regard, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, Seyyed Reza Salehi-Amiri, visited the site on Monday, confirming the damage and stating that a report would be submitted to UNESCO regarding the incident, citing a breach of international rules.

Furthermore, Ali Darabi, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, confirmed that Golestan Palace site had sustained serious damage, while noting that protective protocols, such as the installation of "Blue Shield" (a UNESCO initiative), were in place.
Located in the heart of Tehran’s historic core, the palace complex is one of the oldest in the city, originally built during the Safavid dynasty within the historic walled city. Over time, it underwent several expansions, receiving its most defining features in the 19th century, when it was designated as the royal residence and seat of power by the Qajar ruling family. Today, the Golestan Palace complex comprises eight main palace structures, primarily used as museums, along with the eponymous gardens, a central green space surrounded by an outer wall with gates.

The complex exemplifies the architectural and artistic achievements of the Qajar era, including the integration of European motifs and styles into Persian art. It served not only as the governing base of the Qajar kings but also as a residential and recreational compound and a center of artistic production during the 19th century. Through these activities, it became a primary source and hub of Qajar art and architecture.

The palace complex offers a unique and rich testimony to the architectural language and decorative arts of the Qajar period, particularly reflecting the legacy of Naser al-Din Shah. The palace showcases European-inspired artistic motifs alongside Persian traditions, representing some of the earliest examples of a synthesized European-Persian style. This blend became a defining characteristic of Iranian art and architecture in the late 19th and 20th centuries, with parts of the palace complex regarded as foundational to the modern Iranian artistic movement.

AM

source: tehrantimes.com