In the ongoing joint military operations against Iran, Israeli and United States forces have targeted Isfahan, resulting in the reported damage of several historic palaces and buildings, previously serving as cultural and tourism sites.
Isfahan, a city celebrated for its dynastic architecture from its days as the Persian capital during the Safavid Empire, now serves as a significant industrial and military center, believed to hold a substantial portion of Iran’s uranium for its nuclear program.
According to the WANA Agency, damage occurred to the 17th-century Chehel Sotoun palace during strikes on the adjacent provincial government building near Isfahan’s central public square on Monday, March 10. While the palace structure remains standing, explosions have shattered its glass windows, damaged intricate khatam inlays, and cracked several murals styled after Persian miniatures.
Since the onset of US and Israeli attacks on February 28, over 1,000 fatalities have been reported, primarily in Iran and Lebanon, with estimates of casualties in Isfahan province ranging from 20 to 60. The Chehel Sotoun palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011, was commissioned by Safavid Shah Abbas the Great and completed by Shah Abbas II in 1647.
IranWire reported additional damage to nearby sites, including the Rakib-Khaneh building, the Talar-e Teimuri hall, and the Museum of Contemporary Art’s ceiling. Criticism of the attacks has emerged from academics and cultural figures like Assal Rad, who highlighted the destruction on social media, questioning the impact on cultural heritage.
