Isfahan

Footage published by Iranian media today shows damage to Chehel Sotoun Palace, a Safavid-era cultural landmark located in the historic centre of Isfahan, following air strikes in the area.

Two more landmarks, Golestan Palace and Tehran Grand Bazaar, sustained damage last week. pic.twitter.com/MFgPN9xLjW

— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) March 9, 2026

We may look at such old cities and think of them as “foreign” and thus unworthy of our emotions as they are bombarded by our planes. And yes, people matter more than buildings.  The schoolgirls killed by an errant Tomahawk matter more than a 400 year old building.

But we should spare some thought for such old monuments as well.

Have you ever visited the Acropolis in Athens, and cursed the soldiers (both Ottoman and Venetian) who blew out the temple to Athena there ? Have you looked at the pictures of the Bamiyan Buddha (from before the Taliban blew it up), and cursed the barbarians who blew it up.  Have you cursed the ISIS for all the damage they did to numerous archaeological sites?

Apparently, our government is now itching to put us in the same category.

These old buildings, and architecture belong to all of us. They are UNESCO designated “world heritage sites”...not just Iranian/Persian heritage sites.