Historic Isfahan Landmarks Damaged in Israeli Strikes

In an interview with Shargh newspaper on Monday, Rouhollah Seyyed al-Asgari, the Deputy for Cultural Heritage of Isfahan Province, said that several of Isfahan’s well-known historical landmarks were damaged in Israeli strikes earlier that day.

According to him, the Chehel Sotoun Palace, the Rakib Khaneh Mansion, the Timurid Hall, and Ashraf Hall sustained damage, and the windows of the Ali Qapu Palace were shattered.

Isfahan is widely known as “Nesf-e Jahan” (Half the World), a nickname earned for its extraordinary collection of Islamic and Persian architecture. The monuments affected are not merely local attractions; they are among the finest legacies of the Safavid dynasty (16th–18th century) and stand as symbols of Persian artistic and historical achievement. Both Ali Qapu Palace and Chehel Sotoun are situated in or around Naqsh-e Jahan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest public squares in the world.

Chehel Sotoun Palace is a historic landmark from the Safavid era. The Rakib Khaneh Mansion also traces back to the reign of Shah Abbas I and was originally used to store equestrian equipment and serve the royal stables. Ashraf Hall, now incorporated into the Isfahan Governorate building, is attributed to the time of Shah Abbas II. The Timurid Hall is another surviving structure, dating back to the Timurid period.

The Israeli military had announced hours earlier that Tehran, Isfahan, and southern Iran were among the targets of Monday’s attacks. It appears that in Isfahan, the Governorate building was the primary target of the strike.

The close placement of historic landmarks alongside modern government offices has long been a sensitive issue in many Iranian cities. In this case, because Ashraf Hall is physically attached to the Isfahan Governorate - the center of provincial political authority - any strike targeting the administrative complex almost inevitably impacts the 17th-century heritage structure. It also highlights a broader pattern in which military or political command facilities have been embedded within historic or densely populated urban areas.

Last week, the Golestan Palace in central Tehran also suffered damage from aerial attacks. Following that incident, the Iranian Cultural Heritage Department proceeded to install the “Blue Shield” emblem on the country’s historical monuments.