Strike near Chehel Sotoun Palace, Isfahan

According to Iranian cultural heritage authorities and Iranian media reports, missile impacts and blast waves from strikes in the area surrounding Chehel Sotoun Palace damaged the historic palace complex and multiple protected heritage structures within the Isfahan historic precinct. The reports indicate that the palace was affected by the force of nearby explosions rather than a confirmed direct strike on the main palace building.

The reported damage extended beyond Chehel Sotoun Palace to other significant historic buildings, including Rakibkhaneh Mansion and Ashraf Hall. Heritage officials also reported damage to parts of the broader historic complex and raised concerns about structural impacts to the affected monuments, including damage to decorative architectural elements and masonry. The reports described concerns regarding structural deterioration and the potential risk of further damage to historic architectural elements.

Independent reporting by Reuters documented damage to the Chehel Sotoun complex and reported that the apparent target of the March 9 strike was the Isfahan governor’s building, located less than 200 meters from the palace complex. This reporting supports the assessment that the palace and surrounding heritage structures were affected by nearby missile impacts and blast waves.

Chehel Sotoun Palace forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage property of Isfahan and is protected as cultural property under the framework of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Reuters reported that UNESCO had previously communicated the geographic coordinates of World Heritage sites to the parties to the conflict for their protection, and the reported damage affected multiple historic structures within the protected heritage precinct.