Iran Considers Dividing Sistan-Baluchestan Amid Tensions

Iran’s Interior Minister announced plans to divide the Sistan-Baluchestan province, one of Iran’s largest, into several smaller regions with threats to relocate millions of the predominantly Sunni minority population.

“This is a large province, and managing a province of this size may require more divisions,” Ahmad Vahidi stated. 

He said on Saturday that a technical review is underway, and should the Iranian parliament pass the proposal, the Ministry of the Interior is prepared to implement the changes.

The proposal under discussion aims to split the predominantly Sunni-inhabited Sistan-Baluchestan into four distinct areas. The region, adjacent to Afghanistan and Pakistan, is economically underdeveloped and has been a hotspot for ethnic tensions and government neglect.

Controversially, plans reportedly include relocating 10 million people and transferring control of the province's coasts to other regions, raising fears among the Baluch community of an "occupation of the coast of Baluchestan" and threats to their existence.

The government asserts that the division is intended to promote development. However, the Baluch people view it as an attempt to fragment Baluch lands and alter the ethnic composition of the region.

Recently, Sistan-Baluchestan saw significant unrest during nationwide protests following the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, recording the highest number of casualties among Iran's 31 provinces.

The province continues to be a focal point for protests driven by unemployment, water shortages, and security policies perceived as targeting the Baluchi minority.