New Delhi, Sept. 26 -- ST. PETERSBURG - Abbas Salehi did not describe the ruins back home as collateral damage. Iran's minister of culture and Islamic guidance stood on the sidelines of a Russian cultural forum on Friday and told reporters that the United States and Israel had the technology to know precisely which sites were historical monuments before striking them, and struck them regardless.

"Dozens of our historical sites were severely damaged, and hundreds of our cultural heritage sites sustained less serious damage," Salehi said. "Without a doubt, taking into account the technologies they have, both Americans and Israelis knew that these objects were historical monuments." He was speaking at the 12th St. Petersburg International U...