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Cases / Water use · Iran · 1953–2025

Zayandeh Rud and the Gavkhouni wetland: water transfers and farmers' protests in Isfahan

Nature's voice · report
My Gavkhouni wetland has a legal water right of 176 million m³ a year, approved by the Supreme Water Council and never implemented; my share from the Zayandeh Rud was zero for about a year and a half, according to Mehr in February 2022.
Did nature suffer? Yes. Harm is on record. Disputed
Recorded
  • I am about 47,000 ha of salt marsh; flamingos were absent for two years before the 2019 rains, according to the Isfahan Department of Environment deputy. Tehran Times
  • My Zayandeh Rud, once over 400 km long, became seasonal and dry downstream, according to Tabnak citing IRNA. Tabnak
  • In September 2025 my dam reservoir held 236 million m³, about 19% of capacity and 29% lower than a year earlier, according to ISNA. Iran International
  • 88.1% of my basin was in long-term drought in February 2022, according to Mehr. Mehr News Agency
People
  • Four or five 5 people were injured.
    Injured in clashes with police in Varzaneh, March 2018 (IRNA).
What the record lacks: 3 none on record · 1 not disclosed · 3 disputed See the gaps
Accounts of the harm differ
What dried the Zayandeh Rud
  • Communities and civil society Farmers in Isfahan (November 2021): Blamed diversion of water to Yazd. The Daily Star (AFP)
  • Government and regulators Officials (November 2021): Cited drought. The Daily Star (AFP)
  • Government and regulators Hassan Kamran-Dastjerdi, MP (2018): The energy ministry "plundered" Varzaneh farmers' water by diverting it to steel factories and refineries. Radio Farda (English)
  • Government and regulators Mehdi Jamalinejad, Isfahan governor (July 2025): Full river revival needs demand control and projects such as Mandegan and Kuhrang 3. Tabnak

The Zayandeh Rud, which runs through Isfahan to the Gavkhouni wetland, has been dry in its lower reach for long periods since about 2000. The wetland's legal water right of 176 million m³ a year was approved by the Supreme Water Council and never implemented, according to Mehr.

176 million m³/yrGavkhouni wetland's legal water right, approved by the Supreme Water Council
Mehr reported in February 2022 that the right was never implemented, that the wetland's share from the Zayandeh Rud had been zero for about a year and a half, and that it was not specified in the Ministry of Energy's 1400–1401 water plan.

Status As of September 2025: the Zayandeh Rud reservoir was at about 19% of capacity (September 2025); no court case or compensation ruling on record.

What?
The Zayandeh Rud has been dry in its lower reach for long periods since about 2000 while transfers entered and left the basin; the Gavkhouni wetland's legal water right of 176 million m³ a year was never implemented according to Mehr, and farmers protested repeatedly, including in November 2021. Mehr News Agency
Where?
Isfahan province, central Iran; the Zayandeh Rud through Isfahan to the Gavkhouni wetland; Varzaneh in east Isfahan. Fanack Water
When?
Transfers from 1953; river largely dry since about 2000; protests in 2012, 2017, 2018 and November 2021. The Daily Star (AFP)
Who?
Gained
  • Yazd — About 90 million m³ of Zayandeh Rud water sent to Yazd (IRIB, cited by Radio Farda, March 2018) Radio Farda
Lost
  • Farmers of Isfahan and Varzaneh — 35 of 70 billion toman livelihood aid paid in 2014; 210 billion toman non-cultivation payments existed "mostly on paper"; drought losses estimated by their association head at about 6,000 billion toman Jam-e Jam Online
Harmed
  • Gavkhouni wetland — Legal water right of 176 million m³ a year not implemented; share from the river zero for about a year and a half (Mehr) Mehr News Agency
  • Flamingos at Gavkhouni — Absent for two years before the 2019 rains (Isfahan Department of Environment deputy) Tehran Times
  • Zayandeh Rud — Once over 400 km long; seasonal and dry downstream (Tabnak / IRNA) Tabnak
Why?
Farmers pointed to diversion to Yazd and industry; officials pointed to drought. The Daily Star (AFP)
How?
Inter-basin tunnels added water to the basin while transfers to Yazd, Rafsanjan and Kashan removed it, and the wetland's legal water right was not delivered. Fanack Water
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

The Zayandeh Rud runs through Isfahan to the Gavkhouni wetland, and inter-basin transfers were added over decades. According to Fanack, the first Kuhrang tunnel in 1953 added about 340 million m³ a year (MCM/yr) to a natural runoff of about 900 MCM/yr; the Chadegan reservoir (1,500 MCM) was completed in 1970; Kuhrang 2 (about 250 MCM/yr) followed in 1986, and in 2010 Kuhrang 3 (260 MCM/yr) and the Lenjan tunnel (200 MCM/yr from the upper Dez). Transfers also leave the basin, to Yazd, Rafsanjan and Kashan; IRIB, cited by Radio Farda in March 2018, put the amount sent to Yazd at about 90 million m³. AFP reported in November 2021 that the river had been dry apart from brief periods since about 2000.

The Supreme Water Council approved a nine-point revival resolution in 1392 (2013), which Al Jazeera described as never fully implemented. Farmers protested in 2012, November 2017, February–April 2018 and November 2021. In March 2018 protesters brought down power towers and cut the transfer to Yazd on 9 March; Isfahan MP Hamidreza Fooladgar said the second pipeline to Yazd would be removed from the next year's budget, and IRNA reported four or five farmers injured in clashes with police in Varzaneh. From 9 to 26 November 2021 thousands gathered in the dry riverbed, farmers set up a tent city, and tear gas was used on 26 November (Fars: about 500 people). Farmers blamed diversion to Yazd; officials cited drought.

The money to farmers is documented in fragments. Jam-e Jam reported in July 2014, citing Hossein Mohammadrezaei of the Association for Supporting Farmers of Isfahan County, that of 70 billion toman of livelihood aid received in Farvardin, 35 billion toman had been paid; that 210 billion toman had been approved for Zayandeh Rud farmers for not cultivating, which existed "mostly on paper"; and that he estimated actual multi-year drought losses at about 6,000 billion toman. Radio Farda reported in March 2018 that officials in Tehran promised partial payment of non-cultivation damages from 23 Esfand 1396 (14 March 2018), with no amounts given. The National reported that farmers ended the November 2021 protest after authorities promised compensation for drought losses, with no amounts or payer named.

The Gavkhouni wetland, about 47,000 ha of salt marsh, has a legal water right of about 176 MCM/yr that Mehr reported as never implemented; its share from the Zayandeh Rud was zero for about a year and a half. The Isfahan Department of Environment deputy told IRNA in May 2019 that flamingos had been absent for two years before the 2019 rains briefly revived the wetland. In September 2025 the Zayandeh Rud dam reservoir held 236 million m³, about 19% of capacity and 29% lower than a year earlier (ISNA, via Iran International).

A desalinated sea-water pipeline to Isfahan, financed mainly by Mobarakeh Steel according to the Presidential Office, delivered its first water on 9 July 2025 and was ordered opened by President Pezeshkian on 6 December 2025 (see the related case on the Persian Gulf water transfer). No court case or compensation ruling over the drying of the river has been reported.

  1. 1953First Kuhrang tunnel adds about 340 MCM/yr to a natural runoff of about 900 MCM/yr
  2. 1970Chadegan reservoir (1,500 MCM) completed
  3. 1986Kuhrang tunnel 2 (about 250 MCM/yr)
  4. 2000River dry apart from brief periods from about 2000 (AFP, November 2021)
  5. 2010Kuhrang 3 (260 MCM/yr) and Lenjan tunnel (200 MCM/yr from the upper Dez)
  6. 2013Supreme Water Council approves a nine-point revival resolution (1392)
  7. 2014Livelihood aid: 35 of 70 billion toman paid to Isfahan farmers; 210 billion toman non-cultivation payments approved (Jam-e Jam, July)
  8. 2018Farmers cut the Yazd transfer and bring down power towers (9 March); Radio Farda reports promised non-cultivation payments
  9. 2019Flamingos return to Gavkhouni after two years (May)
  10. 2021Largest protest wave, 9–26 November; tear gas on 26 November
  11. 2025Reservoir at about 19% of capacity (September)

What was said

Claims, in the words of those who made them.

“We hope to fill these gaps in the coming months.”

Ali Akbar Mehrabian, Energy Minister, on state TV (as reported by AFP) · November 2021 · The Daily Star (AFP)

“Give Isfahan its breath, give our Zayandeh Rud back.”

Protesters' chant, Isfahan · November 2021 · translated from Persian · Al Jazeera

“The water rights are theirs.”

Hassan Kamran-Dastjerdi, MP, on Varzaneh farmers · 2018 · translated from Persian · Radio Farda (English)

“normalising the critical drought of the Zayandeh Rud”

Council of Isfahan environmental NGOs, on a recreational event in the dry riverbed · 5 September 2025 · translated from Persian · Iran International

Where accounts differ

Each party's account, side by side, with its source. The record does not settle these points; it shows them.

What dried the Zayandeh Rud
Communities and civil society
Farmers in Isfahan (November 2021)

Blamed diversion of water to Yazd.

The Daily Star (AFP)
Government and regulators
Officials (November 2021)

Cited drought.

The Daily Star (AFP)
Government and regulators
Hassan Kamran-Dastjerdi, MP (2018)

The energy ministry "plundered" Varzaneh farmers' water by diverting it to steel factories and refineries.

Radio Farda (English)
Government and regulators
Mehdi Jamalinejad, Isfahan governor (July 2025)

Full river revival needs demand control and projects such as Mandegan and Kuhrang 3.

Tabnak
Whether farmers were compensated
Communities and civil society
Mohammad Sadeghi, secretary of Isfahan Farmers' House (2018)

Farmers' rights had been violated for years; no water rights or compensation had been paid.

Radio Farda
Communities and civil society
Hossein Mohammadrezaei, Association for Supporting Farmers of Isfahan County (July 2014)

Of 70 billion toman of livelihood aid, 35 billion toman had been paid; the 210 billion toman approved for not cultivating existed "mostly on paper"; the amounts were livelihood aid, not compensation.

Jam-e Jam Online
Government and regulators
Officials in Tehran (March 2018)

Promised partial payment of non-cultivation damages from 23 Esfand 1396 (14 March 2018); no amounts given.

Radio Farda

How it looked

What was shown, beside what was recorded.

Shown

  • The administration was following up "seriously" and had ordered the agriculture and energy ministers to resolve the matter
    Mohammad Mokhber, First Vice President · Al Jazeera
  • The energy ministry had "plundered" Varzaneh farmers' water by diverting it to steel factories and refineries
    Hassan Kamran-Dastjerdi, MP, 2018 · Radio Farda (English)
  • Full river revival needs demand control and projects such as Mandegan and Kuhrang 3
    Mehdi Jamalinejad, Isfahan governor, July 2025 · Tabnak

Recorded

  • Gavkhouni's legal water right of 176 MCM/yr approved by the Supreme Water Council was never implemented; the wetland's share from the Zayandeh Rud was zero for about a year and a half; the right was not specified in the Ministry of Energy's 1400–1401 water plan (Mehr, February 2022)
    Mehr News Agency
  • 88.1% of the basin was in long-term drought (Mehr, 13 Bahman 1400 / 2 February 2022)
    Mehr News Agency
  • Of 70 billion toman of livelihood aid received in Farvardin 1393 (2014), 35 billion toman was paid; the 210 billion toman approved for not cultivating existed "mostly on paper" (Association for Supporting Farmers of Isfahan County)
    Jam-e Jam Online
  • Isfahan Farmers' House secretary Mohammad Sadeghi said in 2018 that farmers' rights had been violated for years and that no water rights or compensation had been paid
    Radio Farda
  • Wetland expert Ali Arvahi warned in 2022 that Gavkhouni could be placed on the Ramsar Montreux Record; Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari had not approved the management plan
    Mehr News Agency

Who gained

Money that reached nature, beside money that stayed elsewhere.

Reached nature or the ground

Not published
No figure published.

Gained elsewhere

Not totalled
Livelihood aid received for Zayandeh Rud farmers, Farvardin 1393 (2014)70bn
Window: 2014
70 billion toman received; 35 billion toman paid (Jam-e Jam).
Non-cultivation payments approved for Zayandeh Rud farmers210bn
Window: 2014
210 billion toman; described as existing "mostly on paper" by the farmers' association head.
Multi-year drought losses estimated by the farmers' association head≈ 6000bn
Window: multi-year to 2014
6,000 billion toman; his estimate.
Currency: toman · Window: Mixed — see each line. Figures cover different periods and are not compared as a ratio. * Estimate built from cited figures.

Responses on record

  • iran-ministry-of-energy (November 2021): Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian: "We hope to fill these gaps in the coming months." · The Daily Star (AFP)
  • government-of-iran (November 2021): First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber said the administration was following up "seriously" and had ordered the agriculture and energy ministers to resolve the matter. · Al Jazeera
  • government-of-iran (July 2025): Isfahan governor Mehdi Jamalinejad said full river revival needs demand control and projects such as Mandegan and Kuhrang 3. · Tabnak

In court and with insurers

Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

Lawsuits and rulings

No court case on record. No court has ruled on this case.

Insurers

No insurer decision on record.

What nature saw

Outcomes measured on the ground, and nature's note.

Nature's report opens this page. Below: further outcomes measured on the ground.

Gavkhouni legal water right
176 million m³/yr
Approved by the Supreme Water Council; reported as never implemented (Mehr, 2022)
Basin in long-term drought
88.1%
Mehr, February 2022
Zayandeh Rud reservoir
≈ 19% of capacity
236 million m³ in September 2025, 29% lower than a year earlier
Livelihood aid paid to farmers
35 of 70 billion toman
Jam-e Jam, July 2014

What we don't know

Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.
No court caseKey earnings undisclosed

Nature

Court

Accounts

  • Disputed Whether farmers were compensated

Record

  • None on record None on record: payment of the compensation promised to farmers in November 2021.
  • None on record None on record: a court case or compensation ruling over the drying of the river.
  • Not disclosed Not disclosed: the amounts of the partial non-cultivation payments promised in March 2018 and of the compensation promised in November 2021.
  • Disputed Disputed: the cause of the river's decline, drought or diversion (see disputes).

Did the harm stop?

The river remained dry for long periods: the Zayandeh Rud reservoir held about 19% of capacity in September 2025, and the Gavkhouni wetland's legal water right has not been implemented according to Mehr (2022).

Who paid?

The river and the Gavkhouni wetland, and the farmers downstream. Of 70 billion toman of livelihood aid received for farmers in 2014, 35 billion toman was paid, according to Jam-e Jam.

Sources

Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

Press and investigations

  1. Zayandehroud River in Iran
    Fanack Water · 2017-07-12
  2. Thousands protest dried-up river in Iran's Isfahan
    The Daily Star (AFP) · 2021-11-19
  6. Iran farmers protest water rights, Isfahan
    Radio Farda (English) · 2018-04-08

Connected cases

Related matters, and cases linked to this one through the same organisations, with the role each played in both.
Terms used on this page

Science and environment

Hectare (ha)
A unit of area equal to 10,000 square metres, about 2.5 acres. 100 hectares make one square kilometre.
Wetland
Land that is saturated or covered with water for long periods, such as marshes, swamps and peat bogs.
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