Overview
- Debris and blast shockwaves from an attack on Arag Square in the palace’s buffer zone shattered windows and damaged doors and mirrors, according to UNESCO and Iranian officials.
- Iran’s cultural heritage minister inspected the complex and said a formal damage report will be submitted to UNESCO.
- Government photos and local videos showing smashed glass and mirrorwork have circulated, though outlets report the imagery has not been independently verified.
- UNESCO says it is closely monitoring heritage sites across the region under protections in the 1954 Hague Convention and the 1972 World Heritage Convention.
- The incident occurred during the US–Israel offensive on Iran launched on 28 February, which reporting says killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials as regional reprisals continue.