Ottawa should make heritage protection its response to Iran

Canada has a real lane of action in Iran: defend cultural sites, support emergency documentation, and insist that civilian protection includes the protection of history.

Damage to Iran’s Golestan Palace in Tehran exposes an opening where Canada can advocate for safeguarding cultural heritage as part of civilian protection amid the ongoing war, writes Zainub Verjee. Wikimedia Commons photograph by Diego Delso

Opinion

BY ZAINUB VERJEE

March 25, 2026

As the war around Iran deepens, Ottawa should put its weight behind one thing it can credibly defend and practically advance: the protection of cultural heritage. UNESCO has confirmed damage to Golestan Palace in Tehran, a World Heritage site, after being hit with debris and...

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