Iran has inaugurated the first phase of a major water transfer project designed to supply desalinated seawater from the Persian Gulf to the central province of Isfahan, a move officials say will significantly ease pressure on overstretched groundwater resources and the Zayandehroud River.
Speaking at the online inauguration ceremony on Saturday, President Masoud Pezeshkian said the arrival of seawater to water-intensive industries in Isfahan marks a turning point in managing the province’s chronic water stress. According to the president, industrial users will no longer rely on groundwater or withdrawals from the Zayandehroud, helping safeguard both the river’s environmental flow and local communities’ water rights.
Pezeshkian described the project as the result of sustained efforts by engineers and contractors to deliver seawater from the Persian Gulf to Iran’s central plateau.
He emphasized that diverting industrial water demand away from inland freshwater sources is essential to preserving downstream ecosystems and reducing regional tensions over water allocation.
The president also highlighted the government’s broader approach to addressing Iran’s water crisis, calling for continued expert-led planning, adherence to sustainable development principles, and a strategic shift of future industrial expansion toward coastal areas. Acknowledging longstanding disputes among provinces over shared water resources, he said resolving these challenges requires consensus-building and respect for academic and technical expertise.
Isfahan Governor Mehdi Jamalinejad said the launch of the project’s first phase coincides with a complete halt to water withdrawals from the Zayandehroud by major industrial facilities, including Mobarakeh Steel Company and the provincial refinery.
He said the move fulfills long-standing commitments by large industries to reduce their burden on the river and represents a critical step toward its restoration.
According to the governor, the first phase—supplying water via the Sirjan route—has been completed, clearing the way for a second phase that will fully connect the pipeline to the Sea of Oman. He added that the expanded system could eventually support additional regions and potentially extend water transfer capacity toward Tehran.
Jamalinejad stressed that the project relies on advanced desalination technologies designed to minimize environmental harm, with treated water suitable not only for industrial use but potentially for drinking supplies.
He also called for a fundamental shift in Isfahan’s industrial strategy toward high-tech and environmentally friendly sectors, warning against any new water-intensive developments along the Zayandehroud.
Officials expressed cautious optimism that, with proper resource management and increased use of desalinated water, Isfahan’s water supply conditions in the coming summer will be more stable than in recent years.
