WANA (Mar 10) – An airstrike on the Isfahan Governor’s Office by the U.S. and Israel on Monday afternoon caused significant damage to the city’s historic fabric and valuable cultural heritage, particularly the Safavid-era government complex.

 

Seyed Ruhollah Seyedalaskari, Deputy Director of the Isfahan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, told local media that because the governor’s office is located in the heart of Isfahan’s historic district, the bombing inflicted widespread damage on cultural heritage sites and the Safavid government complex.

 

Historic Sites Affected

Seyedalaskari noted that several prominent historic buildings within the Safavid government complex adjacent to the governor’s office were seriously damaged by the blast waves. These include:

  • Timuri Hall
  • Jebe-Khaneh Building (Modern Arts Museum)
  • Rakib-Khaneh Building (Isfahan Museum of Decorative Arts)
  • Ashraf Hall
  • Chehel Sotoun Palace Museum

 

He explained that the governor’s office lies within the primary protective zone of Chehel Sotoun Palace, and the airstrike caused notable damage to the central pavilion of the palace garden.

Airstrike Damages Isfahan's Heritage Sites. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Airstrike Damages Isfahan’s Heritage Sites. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Damage reported includes:

  • Partial collapse of the ceiling of the Jebe-Khaneh (Modern Arts Museum)
  • Broken doors and windows of Timuri Hall
  • Shattered glass and some windows of Ali Qapu Palace in Naqsh-e Jahan Square

 

Seyedalaskari said that many historic buildings in the Safavid government complex have double-layered ceilings, with the lower layers collapsing due to the blast, including those of Chehel Sotoun Palace.

 

He added that the full extent of damage to Naqsh-e Jahan Square is still being assessed, but glass in the surrounding bazaars and parts of Ali Qapu Palace were damaged by the force of the explosions. He emphasized that the most serious harm is evident in the decorative elements associated with the architecture, and experts are evaluating the overall impact on these historic sites.

 

About the Safavid Government Complex

The Safavid government complex comprises several surviving structures from different historical periods, notably the Safavid era, including Chehel Sotoun Palace, Ashraf Hall, Ali Qapu Palace, Rakib-Khaneh, Tohidkhaneh, and Timuri Palace, all located near Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the Grand Bazaar.

 

Chehel Sotoun Palace, built during the Safavid period (11th century AH), is renowned for its exquisite murals by the Safavid-era artist Reza Abbasi, painted in the Iranian miniature style, which adorn the palace halls.

 

UNESCO World Heritage Context

Iran has nine UNESCO World Heritage gardens, registered in 2011. Isfahan province’s share in this designation includes Chehel Sotoun Garden and Fin Garden in Kashan. The airstrike raises concerns over the preservation of these internationally recognized cultural sites.

Airstrike Damages Isfahan's Heritage Sites. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Airstrike Damages Isfahan’s Heritage Sites. Social media/ WANA News Agency

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Baghaei, also reacted to these damages in a post on the social media platform X, stating: “After hitting Golestan Palace in Tehran, the U.S. and Israel damaged another cultural heritage site of outstanding universal significance in the city of Isfahan: Chehel Sotoun Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site within Naqsh-e Jahan Square.”

 

He added, “This Safavid masterpiece is not only part of Iran’s cultural and civilizational heritage but also a cultural treasure belonging to all humanity.”

 

“The aggressors deliberately targeted the historic heart of Isfahan, damaging Chehel Sotoun and putting priceless heritage sites at risk, and the world cannot remain silent while the aggressors’ brutal crimes threaten the shared heritage of humankind,” he concluded.

 

Residents Form Human Chain to Protect Isfahan’s World Heritage Sites

Residents of Isfahan also formed a human chain around the historic Chehel Sotoun Palace to express support for protecting the city’s cultural heritage after recent attacks reportedly damaged several historic sites.

 

Participants gathered at the Safavid-era palace—part of the Naqsh-e Jahan Square historic complex—to show solidarity and call for the preservation of the city’s globally recognized heritage.