The head of the National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Gholamreza Amirkhani, in an official letter to the International Federation of Library and Information Associations (IFLA), condemned the Zionist regime’s attack on the library of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran and described it as an act contrary to the fundamental principles of international law. The letter emphasizes the need for immediate action by the international library community to protect the world’s memory centers.

This letter states:

Subject: Attack on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Library – Damage to a Key Pillar of Iran’s National Documentary Heritage

To the President and Members of the Governing Board of IFLA,
With deep regret and serious concern, the National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran informs the global library and information community of a distressing incident that has affected one of the country’s key cultural institutions.
On 15 June 2025 (25 Khordad 1404), the Library of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tehran was severely damaged in an attack carried out by the Israeli occupying regime. Several of the library’s staff members also sustained injuries. This cultural institution was part of the official national memory infrastructure of Iran, housing historical documents, diplomatic reference materials, and records used by scholars, diplomats, and experts in international affairs.
This assault on a purely civilian and cultural site represents a clear violation of international legal principles and contravenes the provisions of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
The Islamic Republic of Iran, with its longstanding tradition in the preservation and promotion of documentary heritage and as an active member of international library organizations, considers this incident not only a blow to its own national memory, but also a troubling sign of the increasing vulnerability of institutions safeguarding human knowledge across the globe.
Accordingly, we respectfully call upon the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to: • Issue a public statement reaffirming the cultural immunity of archives and libraries in times of conflict; • remind its member associations of their commitments under international conventions, and take a more active role in the protection of documentary heritage.
With respect and in reaffirmation of our shared mission to safeguard knowledge, historical memory, and the world’s cultural heritage

,
Gholamreza Amirkhani

Head of the National Library and Archives of the Islamic Republic of Iran