[News Spot] Half of the World... Israel Targets 'Isfahan'

Half of the world. Isfahan in Iran, targeted by Israel on the 19th (local time) in response to Iran's retaliatory airstrikes, is called this because it is a city so beautiful that it cannot be exchanged even for half of the world. It is the capital of Isfahan Province in Iran, located 440 km south of the capital Tehran. It is the third most populous city in Iran, with about 2.2 million residents.

Imam Square in Isfahan, Iran [Image source=Yonhap News]

Isfahan was built during the Achaemenid dynasty of the Persian Empire in the 6th century BC and was the capital during the reign of Shah Abbas I in the 16th century, the golden age of the Safavid dynasty. Although it was the capital for a relatively short period of 140 years, thanks to the highly developed culture of the Safavid dynasty, it was reborn as a city of splendid art. Various mosques and relics have been well preserved to this day, earning it the nickname "Jewel of Persia."

The most famous places in Isfahan are Imam Khomeini Square, one of the world's three great squares, and Si-o-se-pol, considered the most beautiful bridge in the world. Around Imam Khomeini Square are the Shah Mosque, Ali Qapu Palace, and Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, where one can experience medieval Islamic civilization as it was. Si-o-se-pol, made with 33 arches, is a symbol of religious harmony connecting the Muslim and Christian quarters of 16th-century Isfahan.

Due to its geopolitical location, it was frequently invaded. It was destroyed by the Mongol invasion in the 13th century and suffered a massacre of 70,000 people when resisting Timur, who claimed to be a descendant of Genghis Khan.

Perhaps because of this history of invasions, another face of Isfahan, a city considered so beautiful that it cannot be exchanged even for half of the world, is that it is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. Various nuclear facilities, including the underground Natanz enrichment facility, are located in Isfahan Province. It is also the center for missile development and production. Iran has been producing various medium- and long-range ballistic missiles here. There are also military facilities such as air force bases. On the 13th, missiles and suicide drones (unmanned aerial vehicles) fired by Iran toward mainland Israel were launched from here.