14 Mar Statement by the Board of Directors, 13 March 2026
Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente
Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Roma
www.ismeo.eu ismeo@ismeo.eu
Statement by the Board of Directors, 13 March 2026
ISMEO – The International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies, in view of the current dramatic circumstances, expresses its solidarity with the Iranian people and with the populations of the surrounding countries, and conveys its profound concern regarding reports of damage to cultural and historical sites across the region, and in particular within Iran.
ISMEO recalls that the safeguarding of the cultural heritage of every country in the event of armed conflict is guaranteed by the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, as well as by the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.
In the specific case of Iran, it must be emphasised that the country is home to a civilisation of exceptional significance and possesses a cultural heritage that extends back to the most ancient periods, constituting a legacy that belongs not only to the Iranian people but also to the shared heritage of humanity.
The protection of cultural heritage in times of conflict must remain a universal responsibility and an essential duty owed to future generations.