Damage to historical sites in Iran raises alarm about war’s impact on protected places

Recent US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran have resulted in significant damage, including to the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace in Tehran. The strikes, which began on Saturday, have targeted numerous government and military sites, reportedly killing nearly 800 people. Iranian media reports that the Golestan Palace sustained damage to windows, doors, and mirrors due to the reverberations from blasts targeting Arag Square. UNESCO confirmed the damage and stated that it had provided the coordinates of World Heritage sites to all parties involved to prevent such incidents. The US military claims to have hit nearly 2,000 targets inside Iran since the operation began.

As of March 3, 2026, the Middle East is experiencing escalating violence following coordinated US and Israeli attacks on Iran. Key government and symbolic sites in Tehran have been damaged, resulting in over 600 deaths, including Supreme Leader Khamenei. The US has warned of further strikes intended to cripple Iran's military capabilities and halt its nuclear ambitions. In response, Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, threatening any vessels attempting passage, and has launched attacks on US and allied targets across the region, including energy facilities. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is expected to have significant global economic consequences.

In March 2026, the United States and Israel intensified military actions against Iran, while Iran launched attacks on Israeli and US bases. A US submarine sank an Iranian warship off the coast of Sri Lanka, resulting in numerous casualties. The conflict escalated following an Israeli strike that killed Iran's Supreme Leader. The US Defense Secretary indicated the war had "only just begun," while President Trump claimed the US may have influenced the timing of Israeli strikes. Israel also initiated new strikes in Lebanon. The conflict has resulted in damage to Iranian infrastructure and casualties, as evidenced by images of destroyed facilities and unexploded projectiles.

Oman's Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi stated that diplomatic options remain to de-escalate the ongoing conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel. Al-Busaidi urged an immediate ceasefire and a return to regional diplomacy, suggesting "off-ramps" are available. Oman had previously mediated talks between the US and Iran before the recent US-Israeli attacks on Iran, which followed stalled nuclear program negotiations. Conflicting reasons for the US attacks have been given by President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio. Despite progress in prior negotiations, Iran has retaliated with strikes against Israel and US forces, drawing Oman into the conflict despite not hosting US forces. Oman is now calling for a return to diplomacy.

Following U.S. strikes in Iran, Secretary of State Rubio initially suggested the action was prompted by knowledge of an impending Israeli strike and the anticipation of Iranian retaliation against U.S. forces. The U.S. government decided to attack Iran based on these assumptions. However, Rubio later walked back this suggestion. The initial statement implied that Israel's planned actions influenced the U.S. decision to strike Iran. The reason for Rubio's retraction was not specified in the provided information.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez reiterated his opposition to military actions in Iran, despite trade threats from the U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to end trade with Spain after Sánchez refused to allow the U.S. to use joint military bases for attacks on Iran. Sánchez criticized the U.S. and Israeli attacks as unjustifiable and dangerous, stating that Spain would not be complicit in actions against its values. He expressed concern about the potential consequences of the conflict, calling it "playing Russian roulette" with millions of lives. The feasibility of Trump's trade threat is unclear, as the EU negotiates trade agreements for its member states.

In March 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a planned Israeli attack on Iran influenced the timing of the US military's assault on Tehran. Rubio explained that the US was aware of Israel's impending action and anticipated Iranian retaliation against US interests. To preemptively mitigate potential casualties, the US launched its own strikes. This revelation came as the US military confirmed six service members had died in the conflict following Iranian retaliation, which included drone and missile attacks on US bases. Rubio defended the US-Israeli joint action, arguing it was necessary to thwart an imminent threat, as Iran would have retaliated against the US following the Israeli strike.

Following joint US-Israeli strikes in Iran, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated the US aims to destroy Iran's navy, ballistic missile production, and nuclear weapon capabilities. Hegseth indicated the US does not plan to pursue a democratic transition in Iran and avoided providing a timeline for the operation, while emphasizing the US would not get "bogged down." President Trump stated he wouldn't rule out sending ground troops "if they were necessary." General Dan Caine, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US has established air superiority over Iran, but expects additional losses and that the operation will not be quick. These remarks are the first from US officials since the strikes began, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader.