Iran (IMNA) - President Masoud Pezeshkian said the project showcases Iran’s capacity to confront climate change and chronic drought while securing the industrial backbone of central provinces.
For decades, major industries in Isfahan — especially Mobarakeh Steel — depended on the overstressed Zayandeh Rud, whose flow has diminished due to excessive withdrawals, upstream diversions, and shifting rainfall patterns. The new transfer line guarantees a stable water supply, reducing the sector’s exposure to recurring shortages that once disrupted production and threatened regional economic stability.
Officials stress that the water pipeline is not just about safeguarding existing industries; it marks a strategic economic pivot. President Pezeshkian emphasized that Iran’s future industrial expansion and population growth must increasingly concentrate along the southern coasts, signaling a broad transition toward a marine-centered economy. Inland water resources, he said, can no longer sustain long-term industrial growth.
At the core of this shift lies the Makran corridor along the Oman Sea. Ports such as Chabahar and Bandar Abbas are being developed as full-fledged industrial and logistics hubs, not merely transit gateways. Chabahar — Iran’s only deep-water ocean port — provides direct access to open seas and serves as a vital outlet for landlocked Central Asian countries. Upgrades, including modern berths, container terminals, and integrated transport links, are designed to elevate Iran’s competitiveness in regional shipping while lowering costs for domestic industries and attracting foreign investment.
The marine-economy vision encompasses far more than port development. Renewable energy projects along the southern coast — wave, tidal, ocean-thermal, and wind — are under evaluation to complement traditional power generation. The Makran coastline, with its strong wind and wave activity and high solar potential, is seen as an ideal base for clean-energy production to power coastal industrial zones.
At the same time, aquaculture and marine biofuels are emerging as new engines of sustainable growth. Coastal provinces are widening their capacity in fisheries, algae-based bioenergy, and marine biotechnology, generating jobs and contributing to national GDP.
Iran’s broader industrial policy is increasingly intertwined with this marine strategy. By linking port modernization to energy production, logistics networks and manufacturing, the government aims to build an integrated industrial ecosystem along the southern coastline. The inland water transfer project fits into this vision by stabilizing key industries that will eventually align with coastal expansion. For Mobarakeh Steel, the new water supply ensures uninterrupted operations and encourages long-term investment.
Infrastructure remains the backbone of this shift. Ports including Shahid Beheshti in Chabahar, Bandar Imam Khomeini, and Bushehr are undergoing major upgrades to handle larger cargo volumes and improve logistics services. These enhancements strengthen supply chains for steel, petrochemicals, and manufactured goods. Islands such as Qeshm, Kish, and Abu Musa are also being positioned as emerging nodes of industrial, commercial, and residential development, supporting the southern growth corridor.
With more than 5,800 kilometers of coastline, officials argue that Iran possesses exceptional potential for expanding a sea-based economy, long described as a missing link in national development. The water transfer project underscores the importance of coordinated public and private investment in building a resilient economic model. To accelerate growth, Iran is encouraging domestic and foreign private-sector participation in high-value coastal industries, logistics hubs, renewable energy projects, and maritime services. This investment flow is expected to stimulate employment, enhance skills and support technology transfer.
Human capital development is considered a critical pillar. Training and education programs are being designed to cultivate expertise in shipping, logistics, marine engineering and other maritime fields essential to the new economic direction.
The Oman Sea–Isfahan water transfer ultimately symbolizes more than an engineering milestone. It secures the resource base for vital industries, strengthens production in key sectors such as steel and petrochemicals, and acts as a strategic bridge toward Iran’s southern coastal expansion. By combining water security with industrial sustainability and coordinated coastal development, Iran aims to lay the groundwork for a resilient and competitive marine economy.
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