Galleries across Tehran have begun closing their doors indefinitely following Israel's Friday air strike on the Iranian capital's nuclear and military facilities. Iran retaliated with dozens of missiles toward Israeli territory, calling the strikes a 'declaration of war.' Shirin Gallery postponed two exhibitions, including 'Uncollective Memories' by Leila Yaghoubi and 'Endless Joy' by Mazyar Tahouri. Laleh Gallery postponed its group show 'New Saghakhaneh,' while Moshen Gallery, Hoor Gallery, and Bavan Gallery announced closures until further notice. Ab-Anbar, a Tehran-rooted gallery now based in London, instead opened its doors for a community lunch. The Israel Museum in Jerusalem and the Tel Aviv Museum of Art also closed indefinitely citing national security guidelines.
The closures highlight the immediate impact of escalating military conflict on cultural life in Tehran, a city home to internationally renowned institutions like the National Museum of Iran, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and the UNESCO-listed Golestan Palace. The art world's response—from postponements to indefinite shutdowns—underscores how geopolitical crises disrupt cultural exchange, endanger heritage sites, and force galleries and museums to prioritize safety over programming. The situation also raises concerns about the protection of Iran's cultural heritage under international law, as neither the National Museum nor Golestan Palace have yet issued statements regarding the strikes.