Ali Darabi, Iran’s deputy minister for cultural heritage and acting head of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, said all museums nationwide had been shuttered “until further notice” and historic items were being moved under emergency protocols, IRNA reported.
“In light of the war situation and the extraordinary circumstances,” specific measures were issued to safeguard national treasures, Darabi said, describing the move as the “most urgent” step to protect cultural property.
The order follows Israeli strikes launched in the early hours of June 13 after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war. Multiple sites in Tehran and its outskirts were targeted, and the attacks continued into Saturday and Sunday.
Iranian officials fear further escalation could put centuries-old artifacts and sites at serious risk. “We instructed museum custodians to act in line with crisis protocols and coordinate with heritage protection units,” Darabi said.
Under international law, cultural heritage sites are protected during armed conflict. The 1954 Hague Convention prohibits attacks on historic monuments and museums, classifying deliberate damage as a potential war crime.
Krista Pikkat, UNESCO's Director of Culture and Emergencies Entity, underscored that point, warning earlier during Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon that “World Heritage sites belong to all humanity.” She noted that any intentional targeting “could amount to a war crime.”
Iran is home to roughly 840 museums, about 300 of which are run directly by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage. Many house rare archaeological finds from the Achaemenid, Sassanid, and Islamic eras.
Public concern has mounted over the fate of iconic artifacts. One cultural official called the situation “unprecedented in recent history.”
Meanwhile, the Treasury of National Jewels, a major public attraction in Tehran containing priceless royal regalia, was also closed on June 15 due to the “special circumstances,” according to a Central Bank statement published by ISNA. The site will remain shut until further notice.
IRNA