Contemporary cities, as complex human-spatial systems, are increasingly struggling with urban fragility. This phenomenon results from the interaction of physical, social, economic, institutional, and environmental factors. In this context, the concept of urban resilience has emerged as a novel approach that emphasizes the capacity of urban systems to resist, adapt and recover their functions in the face of disturbances and adverse conditions. Nevertheless, domestic literature has paid scant attention to the mediating role of resilience in reducing urban fragility. The present study aims to explain the mediating role of urban resilience in the relationship between four dimensions of urban conditions, i.e., economic, social, physical-infrastructural, and governance-managerial dimensions, and urban fragility in Zanjan City. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was adopted. The findings suggest that all four dimensions can significantly affect urban fragility; however, a substantial part of these impact is transmitted through the mediating variable of urban resilience. The governance/managerial dimension was found to be the strongest determinant of urban fragility, with a total effect of 0.720, more than half of which, 53%, was exerted indirectly through enhanced urban resilience. Furthermore, the significant path coefficient between resilience and fragility (0.713; t = 35.65) demonstrates the critical role of resilience in mitigating urban fragility. Mediation was partial across all relationships, though its magnitude was considerably greater for the governance and managerial dimension than for the other dimensions. Overall, the results suggest that urban resilience is not merely a auxiliary variable but rather a strategic and essential mechanism for mitigating urban fragility. Accordingly, urban policymaking in Zanjan should prioritize strengthening resilience capacities, particularly in the domain of governance, in order to decrease vulnerability and promote sustainable urban development.