AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The ambassadors of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Russian Federation to UNESCO, in a joint emergency letter addressed to the Director-General of the organization, protested against the destructive consequences of missile attacks on civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage in Tehran.
Ahmad Pakatchi and Rinat Alyautdinov, the permanent representatives of Iran and Russia, expressed their protest to UNESCO regarding the destructive consequences of missile attacks on civilian infrastructure and cultural heritage in Tehran in a joint letter.
According to the documentation presented in this letter, following missile attacks on the morning of April 1, 2026, the vicinity of the Orthodox St. Nicholas Cathedral in Tehran was targeted. This historical building, designed by the prominent Russian architect Nikolay Markov and registered on Iran's National Heritage List, has suffered serious structural damage.
The letter notes that this incident occurred during the holy season of Lent and on the eve of Easter, which doubles the religious significance of this site for its followers. The intensity of the explosions caused widespread shattering of windows and destruction of the doors of this religious building. Additionally, the building adjacent to the cathedral, which serves as the "Russian Nursing Home," has suffered severe damage, including the collapse of part of its roof.
Pakatchi and Alyautdinov, the permanent representatives of Iran and Russia, emphasized in this joint letter that targeting areas adjacent to cultural sites and civilian humanitarian infrastructure constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law, particularly the 1954 Hague Convention.
The two countries' ambassadors, condemning the military actions of the United States and Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, warned that these attacks endanger the cultural identity and sustainable peace in the region.
In conclusion, Iran and Russia called upon the Director-General of UNESCO to officially condemn these actions, support international efforts to prevent further destruction of cultural property, and halt the decline of the region's religious and historical heritage.
**************
End/ 345E
