Urgent Call by the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO to the International Community to Protect Cultural Heritage, Schools, and Research Vessels Amid Military Tensions

Amid rising military tensions in the region, the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has sent official letters to Antonio Rodríguez, President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and Lidia Brito, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General, calling for urgent intervention by the international community to prevent damage to the country’s cultural, scientific, and educational infrastructure.

In the correspondence, Dr. Hassan Fartousi, Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO, emphasized the need to activate UNESCO’s protection mechanisms, warning that continued military attacks could cause irreparable damage to humanity’s shared heritage and scientific assets.

A section of the letter addressed to the International Council of Museums (ICOM), referring to concerns raised by the President of ICOM Iran, states that Iran’s cultural heritage, as part of the world’s shared heritage, is under direct threat and requires urgent protective measures by the international community. The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO has called on ICOM to implement emergency measures to safeguard the country’s historical and cultural sites.

Another section of the correspondence refers to the recent attack on a girls’ primary school in Minab. The Iranian National Commission for UNESCO describes the incident as a clear violation of children’s right to education and security. It has also sent UNESCO a joint statement signed by a group of faculty members from Iranian universities, calling on the United Nations to take the necessary steps, in accordance with international law and human rights principles, to ensure the protection of Iran’s educational institutions.

A separate letter also highlights the situation of the research vessel Kavoshgar-e Khalij-e Fars (Persian Gulf Explorer). The Secretary-General of the Iranian National Commission for UNESCO stated that the vessel, stationed at the pier in Dargahan on Qeshm Island, conducts oceanographic and research activities under the supervision of national institutions and UNESCO’s regional center. He warned that any damage to the vessel could deal a severe blow to regional scientific cooperation. He called on UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General to take immediate action to prevent this scientific asset from being targeted during military hostilities.