Engineers showcase capabilities in relocation of Jomhouri minaret advancing major Imam Reza shrine expansion.

The operation was carried out alongside the construction of the new Amir al-Momenin portico, an underground expansion designed to increase covered space for the growing number of pilgrims at the Imam Reza shrine.
According to Jafar Farzaneh, head of Astan Quds Razavi’s Structural and Building Health Department, “Our team is responsible for documenting and analyzing all historic and modern buildings before any construction begins. Many structures in the shrine complex lack engineering records due to their age, making it necessary to reconstruct their technical identity through detailed measurements, identification of cracks, material behavior and construction techniques”.
Farzaneh, who has worked at the shrine for 16 years, said this analytical approach shaped the foundation for later expansion projects, noting, “The need for more covered space has been evident for years, and earlier proposals faced technical limitations. By 2023, studies for Amir al-Momenin portico intensified, and in 2024 engineers finalized a design capable of supporting large crowds on the rooftop while allowing artistic elements to be installed beneath a reinforced structural slab”.
Because the new portico lies beneath Jomhouri Courtyard, the project required relocating the courtyard’s minaret. 
According to the official, “Earlier experiences with underground construction and previous relocations in the shrine complex provided confidence. Despite the minaret’s 150-ton weight, engineers determined that its concrete structure was stable enough for movement. A rail-based system was designed, and the minaret was shifted roughly 70 meters after extensive structural analysis”.
He said the main concern was the condition of the old foundation that would bear redistributed loads. 
Engineers conducted in-situ tests and transferred weight across 25 to 30 columns to ensure safety. Multiple engineering teams and national experts reviewed the plans before execution.
Farzaneh went on to say: “Confidence in the project came from thorough documentation of existing structures, analysis of historical construction methods and verification of reinforcement quality”. 
He concluded that several engineering options were evaluated, and the final design was approved after demonstrating that the project was technically feasible.