Interior Minister Announces Review of Plan to Divide Sistan and Baluchestan Province; Baluch Groups: Population Restructuring in Baluchestan is Underway

Ahmad Vahidi, the Interior Minister of Ebrahim Raisi's government, states that "Sistan and Baluchestan is a large province" and requires "further divisions" for its administration. Vahidi referred to the plan to separate Sistan and Baluchestan into four provinces in the parliament, mentioning that this matter is "currently under review in the Ministry of Interior." He emphasized that "expert assessments" are ongoing in the Ministry and that "if we reach a conclusion, the next steps will continue in the government." Baluch political groups have referred to such plans as "the disintegration of Baluchestan" and believe that simultaneously, the "issue of changing the demographic structure of Baluchestan" is also "being pursued." According to the plans currently under review in parliament, if the proposed plans are finally approved, the province will be divided into two main parts: Sistan and Baluchestan, Makran, with Sistan itself including two main sections: Sistan and the border of Sistan, and Makran including two sections: Saravan and Jahalavan. So far, based on published reports, some have proposed a division into three provinces while others suggest a division into four. According to current proposals, the province will be divided into four provinces: Sistan Province (northern part of the province, upper half) with Zabol as the center, Border Province (northern part of the province, lower half) with Zahedan as the center, Baluchestan Province (central regions of the province) with Iranshahr as the center, and Makran Province (southern regions of the province) with Chabahar as the center. Sistan and Baluchestan province currently borders South Khorasan, Kerman, Hormozgan, the Sea of Oman, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In recent decades, some decisions related to administrative divisions in various parts of Iran have faced significant protests and in some cases have escalated into violence. Gatherings of citizens in the Rasak Water and Wastewater Department protesting the water crisis, a protest gathering by the people of the Koteh village against gold mining in the area, a citizen's criticism of officials regarding the substandard condition of roads in Sistan and Baluchestan, the "medical" trip of Molavi Abdulhamid to Turkey; his official channel announced that the Sunni Imam of Zahedan will return, Balal Nasravi, a protesting Baluch singer, was killed by knife wounds in Zahedan, at least 22 citizens were arrested in Oshnaviyeh and Rasak.