The Paris-based International Council of Museums had issued an emphatic warning after the first bomb strikes: There was a "growing danger" for museums and their employees in Israel and Iran.

The ICOM, which consists of 8,000 museum professionals worldwide, including members from Israel and Iran, had demanded that both sides adhere to international conventions for the protection of cultural heritage, even in the event of conflict. "However, we can do no more than admonish and warn," the president of the ICOM's German National Committee, Felicia Sternfeld, told DW.

Did this appeal have an impact? The news situation on the ground is thin, with only sparse information coming out of Iran in particular, as the government allows hardly any foreign journalists to enter and severely restricts the press. However, one thing seems certain: Contingency plans were activated in both countries at the start of the Israel-Iran conflict. As much as possible, experts worked to secure, remove and relocate cultural assets. It is currently unclear whether there has been any damage.

Iran has a rich cultural heritage. This includes 28 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and about 840 museums, 300 of which are under the administration of the Culture Ministry. "Iran has a well-organized and professional heritage authority," Judith Thomalsky, the head of the Tehran branch of the German Archaeological Institute, said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio.

Thomalsky's office has been operating from Berlin since 2023, when thousands of Iranians protested the regime........

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