On Friday, April 4, a group of farmers in the Khorasgan area, located in eastern Isfahan, held a protest and march to voice their objection to the government’s failure to allocate water rights from the Zayandeh Rud River and to protest officials’ disregard for their demands. This gathering, which included the chanting of protest slogans, is part of a series of demonstrations that farmers have held in recent days and weeks regarding the water crisis in the region.
The protesting farmers chanted slogans such as “Zayandeh Rud’s water is our rightful claim!” and “No nation has ever seen such injustice!” They demanded that the authorities fulfill their earlier promises regarding the provision of agricultural water rights and stated that they would continue their sit-ins and protests until their demands are met.
On April 3, farmers in the town of Ziyar also held a similar demonstration. The protesters strongly criticized the government and certain officials, chanting slogans such as “Death to Pezeshkian,” referring to regime president Masoud Pezeshkian, and warned about the continuous neglect of their livelihoods and water resources.
On the same day, a number of residents in Natanz also gathered in front of the county courthouse to protest the activities of mining companies in the region. These citizens cited excessive extraction of rural water resources, environmental damage, and the support these companies receive from the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade as well as the Forests and Rangelands Organization as reasons for their demonstration.
Background of Farmers’ Protests in Isfahan
The protests by farmers in Isfahan province—particularly in its eastern parts—have a long history. The main issue at the heart of these demonstrations is the government’s failure to allocate the legal water rights of farmers from the Zayandeh Rud River. This river has faced drought for years due to water diversion projects that prioritize the steel industry and military systems of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with ineffective water resource management policies.
In recent years, farmers have repeatedly held protests in areas such as Varzaneh, Khorasgan, Ziyar, and other parts of eastern Isfahan. These protests have taken the form of multi-day sit-ins, marches, road blockades, and demonstrations in front of government offices. However, the authorities have yet to provide a clear response to the demands of these producers, and the crisis remains unresolved.
On Thursday, farmers expressed their strong dissatisfaction with the policies of Pezeshkian’s administration by chanting “Death to Pezeshkian.”
