Iraj Haghighi and the Untold Stories of Azadi Tower
Iraj Haghighi, the project manager and one of the key figures in the construction of Azadi Tower, played a significant role in shaping this national monument. In this account, we revisit some of his memories from the construction process.
A Life Given to Stone
“Ostad Akbar placed his life on the first stone of the southeastern side of the tower. His life was laid upon the very symbol of a land whose people had lived alongside it for centuries, marking the most significant moments of their history near it. He lifted the heavy stone onto his back. Suddenly, the weight shifted. In an instant, his spine gave in. Ostad Akbar was gone.
He laughed. He walked toward the unyielding granite. Pressing his back against the stone, he locked his hands around it. The stone carried him away into another world.”
The Young Architects and Engineers Who Built a Monument
“The design of Azadi Tower won the competition, and the task of building it fell to us. We were all young. This project could only be realized with the help of Iran’s finest engineers—Kamarei, Mohtashami, Sasan, Esmaeil Shafahi, Katiraei, and the supervising engineer, Farahmand Jahangpour. Alongside them were many other distinguished engineers and master stonemasons from across Iran. At its peak, we had between 400 to 500 workers on-site.”
“I was the only one working three shifts. Security, protection, and replacing section supervisors—all fell under my responsibility. There were nights when I barely slept more than an hour or two at the workshop table. Those were days when I didn’t even have time to get a haircut. Everyone was in the same state.”
A Crisis in the Stone Supply
“I remember when the quarry that supplied the tower’s stone ran into a problem. We had no stone to work with for a while. But we waited—long enough for the quarry to open up again through the tireless efforts of the miners. No! These stones could no longer be sourced.”
The Masters of Stone
“Ghanbar Rahimi was involved in the stonework of Azadi Tower—a man known as the Sultan of Stone in Iran at the time. Ghafar Davarpanah was responsible for coordinating the stonework. He alone had 50 workers under his supervision. He handled the cutting and preparation of the stones, making sure they were ready for installation. He was a legend among stonemasons, a handsome master sculptor who used to say that at the age of 18, he had carved the delicate stone flutes of Marble Palace. In his hands, stone and chisel worked together as effortlessly as wax.”
*“Many who built this tower have passed on. He, too, passed away recently. I was by his side, looking into his eyes. He held my hand just as he once held the stones of this tower—firmly, with determination. Back then, during the construction
