Printed in The Times, Monday 30 March 2026

Sir, We are deeply concerned not only about the humanitarian impact of the war in Iran but also about reports of damage to that country’s cultural heritage. Cultural heritage is always at risk in the event of heavy bombing.

Buildings that are known to have suffered from bomb damage are the UNESCO-registered Golestan Palace in Tehran and the buildings surrounding and near to the Naqsh-e Jahan in Isfahan, including the Masjid-Shah/Imam and the Ali Qapu and Chehel Sutun Palaces. Elsewhere, a provincial museum in Khorramabad has been completely destroyed. All this is a loss for the cultural heritage of the world, not just for the people of Iran.

In addition, damage to oil depots and refineries inevitably results in pollution that causes irreversible damage to sites such as Persepolis and Pasargadae and famous rock-reliefs such as Bisitun, Raqsh-e Rostam and Bishapur. Also at risk are Zoroastrian sites in and around Yazd.

Professor Ladan Abkbarnia, Fitzwilliam Museum; Dr Lindsay Allen, King’s College London; Professor Ali Ansari and Dr Vesta Sarkhosh Curtis, British Institute of Persian Studies, Professor Sussan Babaie, Courtauld Institute of Art; Dr Paul Collins, British Museum; Dr John Curtis FBA; Professor Robert Hillenbrand FBA; Professor Nicholas Simpson-Williams FBA.