On Behalf of the Tehran Peace Museum

TMS PEACE JOURNALISM, 13 Apr 2026

Shahriar Khateri and Mona Badamchizaedh – TRANSCEND Media Service

31 Mar 2026 – Dear colleagues, friends, members of the International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP),

It has now been more than a month since the onset of this unlawful and unprovoked war against Iran. During this period, hundreds of innocent civilians have been killed and thousands more injured. The scale and nature of the violence demand urgent and sustained international attention. Civilian infrastructure—including schools, medical centers, residential areas, public service facilities, and sites of cultural heritage—has been systematically and deliberately targeted, day and night. At the same time, leaders of the aggressor countries continue to issue threats to destroy Iran’s infrastructure, including power plants and the oil industry. Despite the severity of these actions, selective media coverage and contemporary forms of censorship have significantly limited global awareness and understanding of the realities on the ground.

Equally concerning are the silence and inaction of the international community and major global institutions. Organizations that once symbolized collective security and justice now appear increasingly marginalized and ineffective—arguably to an unprecedented degree since their establishment. This erosion of institutional credibility raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of international law and global governance mechanisms. It is particularly disheartening that frameworks intended to prevent war crimes—such as international law, the Geneva Conventions, and International Humanitarian Law—as well as institutions such as the United Nations Security Council and the International Committee of the Red Cross, are widely perceived as failing to uphold their mandates. The apparent impunity with which aggression is carried out risks undermining the very foundations of the international order.

In addition, it is important to emphasize the principle of consistency in the application of international norms. Just as the Russian invasion of Ukraine was widely condemned by governments, institutions, and civil society across the world, acts of aggression elsewhere must be met with the same clarity and resolve. Failure to do so risks reinforcing perceptions of hypocrisy and double standards in the international system, undermining trust in global governance and the universality of international law. Furthermore, more than four decades of unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States have significantly shaped Iranian society. Rather than weakening the country, these sustained pressures have contributed to a high degree of resilience and self-reliance among the Iranian people. The assumption that external military intervention would lead to a rapid internal collapse is therefore a delusion, deeply flawed and fails to account for the social, political, and historical realities of the country.

On a personal level, most members of the Tehran Peace Museum and their families remain in Tehran, as do many citizens despite the constant threat of bombardment and airstrikes. First responders continue to provide rescue and medical care to victims around the clock. The Iranian people remain deeply committed to their homeland and resolute in defending its sovereignty against external aggression and fragmentation. There is widespread concern that the current trajectory could mirror the destabilization seen in countries such as Libya and Syria, with far-reaching consequences for regional and global stability.

The human cost of this conflict is profound. These tragedies are not isolated incidents but part of a broader pattern of civilian casualties, including the devastating loss of young students in targeted schools and universities. The reported tragedy at Minab elementary school, where 170 children were killed, stands as just one heartbreaking example. While there is broad recognition that this constitutes an illegal act of aggression against a sovereign state, critical questions remain unanswered: Who will take responsibility for stopping it? What is the role and responsibility of civil society? In this context, the role of peace movements, anti-war organizations, scholars, and activists is more vital than ever. Raising awareness, spreading verified information, challenging misinformation and war propaganda, and mobilizing public opinion are essential steps toward accountability and justice. The expectation from those enduring the consequences of this conflict is clear: the global community must do more.

We call upon INMP members and other concerned individuals to engage actively, leveraging their platforms, expertise, and networks to ensure that this crisis receives the attention, scrutiny, and response it demands. Sustained, coordinated, and evidence-based action is critical—not only to address the current situation but also to uphold the integrity of international norms and to prevent further loss of innocent lives. Now is the time for voices to rise. Your role has never been more critical. Speak out. Raise awareness. Demand accountability. We cannot endure this alone!

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As a young man, Shahriar Khateri survived a gas attack in the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s by a stroke of luck because of a sudden change in the wind direction. Others were not so lucky. He decided to become a medical doctor so as to help survivors who had been affected by the gas attacks, suffering life-long injuries and disabilities. He not only established an Iranian NGO for the medical assistance of survivors, but also took the initiative for creating a museum dedicated to the campaign for the abolition of chemical weapons, and all weapons of mass destruction. The Tehran Peace Museum (TPM), which has forged strong links with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, is run by survivors of the gas attacks. It is also the secretariat of the Iranian chapter of Mayors for Peace, a global organisation (headquartered in Hiroshima) of local governments whose goal is the abolition of nuclear weapons. More than 8,500 cities around the world are members; after Japan, Iran is the country with the greatest number of member cities. It is curious that in all the speculations about Iran and nuclear weapons the existence and work of the museum is never mentioned. Dr Khateri, who continues his work as a medical doctor, served for seven years as an expert at the headquarters of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague. From its beginning, TPM has been a strong supporter of the International Network of Museums for Peace (INMP). Mona Badamchizaedh is currently one of the three coordinators of INMP. For information about the Tehran Peace Museum, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tehran_Peace_Museum

This article originally appeared on Transcend Media Service (TMS) on 13 Apr 2026.

Anticopyright: Editorials and articles originated on TMS may be freely reprinted, disseminated, translated and used as background material, provided an acknowledgement and link to the source, TMS: On Behalf of the Tehran Peace Museum, is included. Thank you.

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One Response to “On Behalf of the Tehran Peace Museum”

1. Alberto Portugheis says:

   14 Apr 2026 at 22:17

   Dear Shahriar Khateri,

   The Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, like the current war between three parties, and like all wars in the world, are illegal. But it is legal for countries for countries to ‘negotiate’ and ‘agree’ on having goes at Games of War.

   I can assure that Nothing would have happened without Iran’s approval. They prepared very well for this Game and they’re happy to make it lasts as long as possible.

   War is a RACKET. The most immoral business in the world, the creation of legal Death and Destruction by arranged by politicians and executed by their slaves, the Armed Forces.

   To expect the war industry to create Peace is as logical as planting apricots to reap dates.

   Reply