Israeli airstrikes in Isfahan damage Chehel Sotoun Palace and other Safavid-era sites, raising heritage concerns
It was reported on Monday that an Israeli airstrike targeted the Isfahan Governor’s Office, causing significant damage to the city’s historic and valuable heritage, particularly within the Safavid-era government complex.
Iranian media footage showed the Chehel Palace Museum, where the large windows of the 17th-century pavilion were shattered and parts of the interior structure were damaged by nearby explosions. The Israeli military said it carried out a “wide-scale wave of strikes” across Isfahan, targeting military infrastructure and command centers.
The Iranian media shared the images below, as per a tweet by a user on X:
Another historic site damaged in Israel/US attacks on Iran. This time the Chehel Setoon Palace in Isfahan, a 17th century architectural marvel built during the Safavid Era. This isn’t a war against the Islamic Republic. This is a war against everything that is truly Iranian. pic.twitter.com/c00D1ngj1S
— kev joon (@never_oppressed) March 9, 2026
Syed Ruhollah Seyedalaskari, Deputy Director of the Isfahan Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Organization, told Iranian media that other prominent historic buildings within the Safavid government complex were also damaged, including
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Timuri Hall
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Jabe-Khaneh Building (Modern Arts Museum)
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Rakib-Khaneh Building (Isfahan Museum of Decorative Arts)
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Ashraf Hall
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Chehel Sotonoun Palace Museum
UNESCO Heritage in Iran
Iran has nine gardens listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, as of 2011, including the notable Chehel Souton Garden. The airstrikes raise concerns over the preservation of these recognized cultural sites.
Chel Sotoun Palace in Isfahan is a historic structure built in the mid-17th century, during the reign of Shah Abbas II. The palace is famous for its name, which means ‘Forty Columns’, referring to the twenty slender wooden columns at its entrance that appear as forty when reflected in the pool in front of the palace.
The attacks in Isfahan serve as a stark reminder of how conflict can endanger cultural heritage, highlighting the need for urgent measures to protect and preserve these irreplaceable treasures for future generations.
