View source for Zahedan

{{Short description|City in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran}}
{{distinguish|Necar Zadegan}}
{{About||the administrative division of Sistan and Baluchestan province|Zahedan County|the city in Fars province|Zahedshahr}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox settlement 
| official_name            = Zahedan
| native_name              = {{lang|bal|زاهدان}}
| settlement_type          = City
| image_skyline            = Zahedan in one.png
| imagesize                = 
| image_caption            = [[Photomontage]] of Zahedan
| image_seal               = Zahedan.Municipality.svg
| mapsize                  = 
| pushpin_map              = Iran
| coordinates              = {{coord|29|30|09|N|60|51|21|E|dim:4km|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = <ref>{{Cite map |author=((OpenStreetMap contributors)) |url=https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=29.5025&mlon=60.855833&zoom=13#map=13/29.50250/60.85583|website=[[OpenStreetMap]] |title=Zahedan, Zahedan County|date=15 January 2025|access-date=15 January 2025|lang=fa}}</ref>
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = Iran
| subdivision_type1        = [[Provinces of Iran|Province]]
| subdivision_type2        = [[Counties of Iran|County]]
| subdivision_type3        = [[Bakhsh (administrative division)|District]]
| subdivision_name1        = [[Sistan and Baluchestan province|Sistan and Baluchestan]]
| subdivision_name2        = [[Zahedan County|Zahedan]]
| subdivision_name3        = [[Central District (Zahedan County)|Central]]
| established_title        = 
| established_date         = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = Mohammad Amir Barahuyi<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.isna.ir/news/1400070805397 | title=محمد امیر براهویی شهردار زاهدان شد | date=30 September 2021 }}</ref>
| area_footnotes           = 
| area_total_km2           = 
| elevation_m              = 1352
| population_urban         = 587730
|population_footnotes      = <ref name="2016 Sistan and Baluchestan Province"/>
| population_metro         = 
| population_as_of         = 2016
| population_est           = 
| population_est_as_of     = 
| population_density_km2   = auto
| area_code                = +98-54
| blank_name               = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info               = [[Desert climate#Hot desert climates|BWh]]
| website                  = {{URL|http://zahedan.ir/}}
| footnotes                = 
| timezone                 = [[Iran Standard Time|IRST]]
| utc_offset               = +3:30
}}

'''Zahedan''' ([[Balochi language|Balochi]] and {{langx|fa|{{audio|fa-Zahedan.ogg|زاهدان|help=no}}}}; {{IPA|fa|zɒːheˈd̪ɒːn|}}){{efn|Also [[romanize]]d as '''Zâhedân''' and '''Zaahedaan'''; also known as '''Zâhedâne Yek''' and '''Zāhidān'''; formerly known as '''Dowzdâb''' (دوزداب), '''Dozdâb''' (دزداب), or '''Dozdâp''' (دزداپ),<ref>{{GEOnet3|-3088799}}</ref> and renamed '''Zâhedân''' by [[Reza Shah Pahlavi]] during the late 1920s<ref>{{cite book|last=Skrine|first=Clarmont|year=1962|title=World War in Iran|publisher=Constable & Company, Ltd.|page=68}}</ref>}} is a city in the [[Central District (Zahedan County)|Central District]] of [[Zahedan County]], [[Sistan and Baluchestan province|Sistan and Baluchestan province, Iran]], serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district.<ref name="Sistan and Baluchestan Province Structure">{{cite report|title=Approval of the organization and chain of citizenship of the elements and units of the national divisions of Sistan and Baluchestan province, centered in the city of Zahedan|language=fa|website=rc.majlis.ir|via=Research Center of the System of Laws of the Islamic Council of the Farabi Library of Mobile Users|url=https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/113038|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724212413/https://rc.majlis.ir/fa/law/show/113038|archive-date=24 July 2013|publisher=Ministry of the Interior, Defense Political Commission of the Government Board|last=Habibi|first=Hassan|date=5 March 2013|orig-date=Approved 21 June 1369|id=Proposal 3233.1.5.53; Letter 907-93808; Notification 82822/T129|access-date=29 December 2023}}</ref> It is near the borderlands between [[Iran]] and [[Pakistan]] in an area inhabited by [[Baloch people|Baloch]] people.<ref>https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287110253_Cross-border_trade_and_identity_in_the_Afghan-Iranian_border_region</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://hope.edu/academics/art-and-art-history/special-programs-opportunities/borgeson-scholar.html | title=Borgeson Scholar Program {{pipe}} Art and Art History Department | date=6 March 2025 }}</ref>

==Etymology==
The original name of the city was Duzzap (Persian: ''Duzdab'', meaning "Water Stolen"), which it had received due to the abrupt floods into the valley. The name was later changed to Zahedan (Persian for "hermits") during [[Reza Shah]]'s visit in 1929.{{sfn|Dudoignon|2017|p=119}}

== History ==
[[File:Makki Mosque in Zahedan.jpg|thumb|[[Makki Mosque]]]]
[[File:Ali Ibn Abi Talib (AS) Mosque.jpg|thumb|Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque]]
Mention of Zahedan first appears in sources in August 1849. However, the city first truly started to grow during the early 20th century.{{sfn|Dudoignon|2017|pp=118–119}} During [[World War I]] it became the westernmost terminal of the [[Zahedan railway station]], which reached as far as [[Quetta]] in the northern part of what was then [[Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)|British Baluchistan]].{{sfn|Bosworth|2002|p=387}}

The city was the site of [[2022 Zahedan massacre|a deadly crackdown]] in October 2022, with dozens citizens killed by pro-governmental forces.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Engelbrecht |first1=Cora |last2=Tabrizy |first2=Nilo |last3=Jhaveri |first3=Ishaan |date=2022-10-14 |title='It Was a Massacre': How Security Forces Cracked Down in Southeastern Iran |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/14/world/middleeast/iran-zahedan-crackdown.html |access-date=2022-10-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Over 90 people were killed.<ref name="Fresh clashes"/> Two senior police officials were fired in the aftermath of the crackdown.<ref name="Fresh clashes">{{cite news |title=Iran protests: Fresh clashes in Zahedan |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63430246 |access-date=6 November 2022 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=28 October 2022}}</ref> On 28 October, there were protests in Zahedan and security forces fired on protestors, killing 98 and injuring 14.<ref name="Fresh clashes"/>

On 3 November 2022, the Shi'i cleric and Khamenei loyalist [[Sajjad Shahraki]] was assassinated in Zahedan.<ref name="Daragahi 2022">{{cite news |last1=Daragahi |first1=Borzou |title='Death to the dictator': Dozens killed as Iran's southeast erupts in political violence |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iran-baluchistan-mahsa-amini-protests-b2217865.html |access-date=6 November 2022 |work=[[The Independent]] |date=4 November 2022}}</ref><ref name="Cleric killed">{{cite news |title=Iranian cleric killed in flashpoint city of Zahedan - IRNA |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/cleric-flashpoint-iranian-city-zahedan-has-been-killed-irna-2022-11-03/ |access-date=6 November 2022 |work=[[Reuters]] |agency=[[Islamic Republic News Agency]] |date=3 November 2022}}</ref> The next day, there were widespread protests in the city; [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Revolutionary Guards]] and other armed forces fired on protestors.<ref name="Daragahi 2022"/>

==Demographics==
===Population===
While the surrounding area boasts numerous ancient sites, Zahedan itself primarily developed in the 20th century. It transitioned from a small village to the provincial administrative center in the 1930s. Its population reached 17,500 by 1956, and increased more than fivefold to 93,000 by 1976. After 1980, large numbers of refugees fleeing the [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]] helped triple the population of Zahedan to more than 281,000 by 1986, a number which has since doubled again.{{cn|date=June 2024}}

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 552,706 in 109,488 households.<ref name="2006 Sistan and Baluchestan Province">{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): Sistan and Baluchestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/11.xls|access-date=25 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920083538/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/11.xls|format=Excel|archive-date=20 September 2011}}</ref> The following census in 2011 counted 560,725 people in 134,088 households.<ref name="2011 Sistan and Baluchestan Province">{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): Sistan and Baluchestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=irandataportal.syr.edu|via=Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University|url=https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Sistan-and-Baluchestan.xls|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125114706/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Sistan-and-Baluchestan.xls|archive-date=25 November 2022|access-date=19 December 2022|format=Excel}}</ref> The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 587,730 people in 146,717 households.<ref name="2016 Sistan and Baluchestan Province">{{cite report|title=Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): Sistan and Baluchestan Province|language=fa|publisher=The Statistical Center of Iran|website=amar.org.ir|url=https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_11.xlsx|access-date=19 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223104011/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_11.xlsx|format=Excel|archive-date=23 December 2021}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{See also|Geography of Iran}}
===Location===
Zahedan is connected by rail to nearby Pakistan and is near to [[Afghanistan]]. It is about {{convert|41|km|abbr=on}} south of the [[List of tripoints|tripoint]] of the three countries and at an altitude of {{convert|1352|m|abbr=on}} above sea level and {{convert|1605|km|abbr=on}} from the Iranian capital of [[Tehran]].
[[File:Municipality Building.jpg|thumb|Zahedan Municipality]]

===Climate===
Zahedan has a [[hot desert climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''BWh'', [[Trewartha climate classification|Trewartha]]: ''BW''). Precipitation is very low, and mostly falls in winter.

Zahedan experiences very hot summers, there are 84.7 days per year with maximum temperature above {{Convert|35|C|F|abbr=on}}, of which 7 days have a daily maximum above {{Convert|40|C|F|abbr=on}}. Winters are quite cold with minimum temperatures below {{Convert|0|C|F|abbr=on}} for 43.7 days annually. Zahedan also experiences 81.3 days a year with [[haze]].<ref name="ncei"/>

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Zahedan (1991–2020, extremes 1961-present)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
| precipitation colour  =  green
| unit precipitation days =1.0 mm
|Jan record high C = 27.0
|Feb record high C = 29.8
|Mar record high C = 34.5
|Apr record high C = 37.4
|May record high C = 41.0
|Jun record high C = 43.4
|Jul record high C = 43.0
|Aug record high C = 43.2
|Sep record high C = 41.0
|Oct record high C = 36.4
|Nov record high C = 32.6
|Dec record high C = 28.6
| Jan high C  =14.8
| Feb high C  =17.7
| Mar high C  =22.4
| Apr high C  =28.4
| May high C  =33.1
| Jun high C  =36.4
| Jul high C  =37.4
| Aug high C  =36.0
| Sep high C  =32.9
| Oct high C  =28.2
| Nov high C  =21.9
| Dec high C  =17.1
| year high C =
| Jan mean C  =7.5
| Feb mean C  =10.5
| Mar mean C  =15.3
| Apr mean C  =21.1
| May mean C  =25.9
| Jun mean C  =29.2
| Jul mean C  =30.3
| Aug mean C  =28.2
| Sep mean C  =24.0
| Oct mean C  =18.9
| Nov mean C  =13.0
| Dec mean C  =8.6
| year mean C =
| Jan low C  =0.8
| Feb low C  =3.7
| Mar low C  =8.4
| Apr low C  =13.2
| May low C  =17.5
| Jun low C  =19.9
| Jul low C  =20.8
| Aug low C  =18.1
| Sep low C  =13.7
| Oct low C  =9.6
| Nov low C  =4.9
| Dec low C  =1.0
| year low C =
|Jan record low C =-22.0
|Feb record low C =-14.0
|Mar record low C =-7.0
|Apr record low C =-1.0
|May record low C =   1.4
|Jun record low C =  10.8
|Jul record low C =  12.0
|Aug record low C =   8.0
|Sep record low C =2.0
|Oct record low C =-4.0
|Nov record low C =-11.0
|Dec record low C =-16.0

| Jan precipitation mm  =16.5
| Feb precipitation mm  =12.4
| Mar precipitation mm  =13.9
| Apr precipitation mm  =8.6
| May precipitation mm  =3.6
| Jun precipitation mm  =1.2
| Jul precipitation mm  =1.0
| Aug precipitation mm  =0.2
| Sep precipitation mm  =0.1
| Oct precipitation mm  =4.0
| Nov precipitation mm  =3.9
| Dec precipitation mm  =12.5
| year precipitation mm =
| Jan precipitation days  =2.7
| Feb precipitation days  =2.1
| Mar precipitation days  =2.5
| Apr precipitation days  =1.8
| May precipitation days  =1
| Jun precipitation days  =0.2
| Jul precipitation days  =0.1
| Aug precipitation days  =0
| Sep precipitation days  =0.1
| Oct precipitation days  =0.5
| Nov precipitation days  =0.8
| Dec precipitation days  =1.3
| year precipitation days =
| Jan snow days  =0.7
| Feb snow days  =0.4
| Mar snow days  =0.1
| Apr snow days  =0
| May snow days  =0
| Jun snow days  =0
| Jul snow days  =0
| Aug snow days  =0
| Sep snow days  =0
| Oct snow days  =0
| Nov snow days  =0
| Dec snow days  =0.3
| year snow days =

| Jan humidity    =48
| Feb humidity    =43
| Mar humidity    =37
| Apr humidity    =28
| May humidity    =21
| Jun humidity    =16
| Jul humidity    =16
| Aug humidity    =16
| Sep humidity    =17
| Oct humidity    =25
| Nov humidity    =35
| Dec humidity    =42
| year humidity   =
| Jan dew point C =-4.6
| Feb dew point C =-3.5
| Mar dew point C =-2.0
| Apr dew point C =-0.4
| May dew point C =0.2
| Jun dew point C =-0.4
| Jul dew point C =0.8
| Aug dew point C =-1.3
| Sep dew point C =-3.9
| Oct dew point C =-3.5
| Nov dew point C =-4.1
| Dec dew point C =-5.7

| Jan sun  =231
| Feb sun  =221
| Mar sun  =240
| Apr sun  =267
| May sun  =307
| Jun sun  =329
| Jul sun  =344
| Aug sun  =342
| Sep sun  =316
| Oct sun  =298
| Nov sun  =262
| Dec sun  =229
| year sun =
| Jan light = 10.5
| Feb light = 11.2
| Mar light = 12
| Apr light = 12.9
| May light = 13.6
| Jun light = 14
| Jul light = 13.8
| Aug light = 13.2
| Sep light = 12.3
| Oct light = 11.5
| Nov light = 10.7
| Dec light = 10.3
| year light= 
| Jan uv  =4
| Feb uv  =6
| Mar uv  =9
| Apr uv  =11
| May uv  =12
| Jun uv  =12
| Jul uv  =12
| Aug uv  =12
| Sep uv  =10
| Oct uv  =8
| Nov uv  =5
| Dec uv  =4
| year uv =
|source  =[[NCEI|NOAA NCEI]]<ref name="ncei">{{cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020: Zahedan |url=https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-2-WMO-Normals-9120/Iran/CSV/Zahedan_40856.csv |website=ncei.noaa.gov |format=CSV |publisher=NOAA |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>(1961–1990 extremes)<ref name=NOAA/>
|source 2 =Weather atlas<ref>{{cite web |title=Yearly & Monthly Weather - Zahedan, Iran |url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/iran/zahedan-climate |website=weather atlas |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>

}}

{{Weather box
|collapsed    = yes
|width = auto
|location = Zahedan (1955–2010)
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan record high C = 27.0
|Feb record high C = 29.8
|Mar record high C = 34.0
|Apr record high C = 38.0
|May record high C = 41.0
|Jun record high C = 43.0
|Jul record high C = 43.0
|Aug record high C = 43.0
|Sep record high C = 41.0
|Oct record high C = 38.0
|Nov record high C = 31.0
|Dec record high C = 28.0
|Jan high C = 14.3
|Feb high C = 17.0
|Mar high C = 21.9
|Apr high C = 27.7
|May high C = 32.5
|Jun high C = 36.2
|Jul high C = 37.0
|Aug high C = 35.8
|Sep high C = 32.5
|Oct high C = 27.8
|Nov high C = 21.8
|Dec high C = 16.7
|Jan mean C =  7.2
|Feb mean C =  10.2
|Mar mean C = 15.0
|Apr mean C = 20.1
|May mean C = 24.5
|Jun mean C = 27.5
|Jul mean C = 28.6
|Aug mean C = 26.6
|Sep mean C = 22.7
|Oct mean C = 18.2
|Nov mean C = 12.8
|Dec mean C =  8.8
|Jan low C = 0.2
|Feb low C =  3.1
|Mar low C =  7.9
|Apr low C = 12.4
|May low C = 16.3
|Jun low C = 18.9
|Jul low C = 20.0
|Aug low C = 17.5
|Sep low C = 12.9
|Oct low C =  8.5
|Nov low C =  3.8
|Dec low C =  1.0
|Jan record low C = −22.0
|Feb record low C = −14.0
|Mar record low C =  −7.0
|Apr record low C =  −1.0
|May record low C =   1.4
|Jun record low C =  10.8
|Jul record low C =  11.0
|Aug record low C =   8.0
|Sep record low C =   2.0
|Oct record low C =  −4.0
|Nov record low C = −11.0
|Dec record low C = −16.0
|precipitation colour=green
|Jan precipitation mm = 21.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 17.3
|Mar precipitation mm = 15.7
|Apr precipitation mm =  10.6
|May precipitation mm =  4.5
|Jun precipitation mm =  0.8
|Jul precipitation mm =  1.3
|Aug precipitation mm =  0.5
|Sep precipitation mm =  0.1
|Oct precipitation mm =  2.2
|Nov precipitation mm =  4.0
|Dec precipitation mm =  11.2
|Jan rain days = 5.0
|Feb rain days = 4.3
|Mar rain days = 5.0
|Apr rain days = 4.0
|May rain days = 2.6
|Jun rain days = 0.5
|Jul rain days = 0.5
|Aug rain days = 0.1
|Sep rain days = 0.2
|Oct rain days = 1.0
|Nov rain days = 1.5
|Dec rain days = 2.7
|Jan snow days = 0.6
|Feb snow days = 0.3
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 0.3
|Jan humidity = 54
|Feb humidity = 47
|Mar humidity = 40
|Apr humidity = 32
|May humidity = 26
|Jun humidity = 21
|Jul humidity = 21
|Aug humidity = 21
|Sep humidity = 22
|Oct humidity = 29
|Nov humidity = 38
|Dec humidity = 48
|Jan sun = 215.1
|Feb sun = 209.2
|Mar sun = 224.9
|Apr sun = 251.6
|May sun = 304.5
|Jun sun = 316.8
|Jul sun = 330.7
|Aug sun = 333.8
|Sep sun = 308.1
|Oct sun = 294.0
|Nov sun = 252.9
|Dec sun = 217.3
|source 1 =NOAA (1961–1990)<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP |url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-II/IR/40856.TXT
  |server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
  |title = Zahedan Climate Normals 1961–1990
  |access-date = 19 December 2012}}</ref>
|date=March 2014}}

==Economy==
{{See also| Economy of Iran}}
{{Expand section|date=March 2014}}

Zahedan is the main economic center of the region and home to many small- and medium-scale industries. Its main products include cotton textiles, woven and hand-knotted rugs, ceramics, processed foods, livestock feed, processed hides, milled rice, brick, reed mats and baskets.

[[File:Street view fountain.jpg|thumb|Street view, Zahedan]]

== Transport ==
{{See also| Transport in Iran}}
[[File:Zahedan Railway Station.jpg|thumb|[[Zahedan railway station]]]]

Zahedan is served by [[Zahedan International Airport]].

Highway [[Road 95 (Iran)|95]] links Zahedan to [[Tehran]] and [[Mashhad]] in the north and the port of [[Chabahar|Bandar Chabahar]] on the [[Sea of Oman]] in the south, and Highway [[Road 84 (Iran)|84]] to the Pakistani city of [[Quetta]] in the east and to [[Kerman]] in the west.

For decades the {{Track gauge|5ft6in|lk=on}} [[broad gauge]] (Indian subcontinent system) railway exists from [[Zahedan railway station|Zahedan station]] to/from [[Quetta railway station|Quetta's station]] in Pakistan, the [[Quetta–Taftan Railway Line]]. Beyond this, west, a [[standard gauge]] line was completed from Zahedan to [[Kerman]] linking the city with the rest of the Iranian rail network.<ref>{{cite news |title=Closing the gap from Bam to Zahedan |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/closing-the-gap-from-bam-to-zahedan.html |work=[[Railway Gazette International]] |date=1 January 2007 |author=Dr John Stubbs |access-date=29 July 2009 |archive-date=9 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100509164749/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/10/closing-the-gap-from-bam-to-zahedan.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> This flowed from a 18 May 2007 [[Memorandum of Understanding|MOU]] for rail co-operation (of Pakistan and Iran) under which the line was to be completed by December 2008.{{cn|date=September 2024}} It was completed with an opening ceremony on 19 June 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/afghanistan/tag/zahedan/|title=Zahedan {{pipe}} Railways of Afghanistan|website=andrewgrantham.co.uk|date=7 September 2010 }}</ref> This means that Zahedan hosts the [[break of gauge]] between the [[Islamic Republic of Iran Railways|Islamic Republic of Iran Railway]]'s standard gauge tracks of the [[Trans-Iranian Railway]] and [[Pakistan Railways|Pakistan Railway]]'s broad gauge aforementioned.

=== Chabahar–Zahedan railway ===
[[File:Iran_railway_en.png|thumb|300px|right|Existing Iran railway network in 2015, Zahedan–Bam–Mirjaveh railway is already complete and operational]]
In May 2016, during Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]'s trip to Iran, agreement was signed to develop two terminals and five berths at [[Port of Chabahar]] and to build a new railway between [[Chabahar]] and Zahedan, as part of [[North–South Transport Corridor]], by [[Indian Railways]]'s public sector unit [[Ircon International]].<ref name=FP1>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/business/report-chabahar-port-india-to-build-500-km-rail-line-on-southern-coast-of-iran-as-part-of-transit-corridor-to-afghanistan-2215791|title=Chabahar port: India to build 500&nbsp;km rail line on southern coast of Iran as part of transit corridor to Afghanistan|date=23 May 2016|website=Daily News and Analysis}}</ref> This proposal is under study and consideration, a via Kerman connection to the port of Chabahar.<ref name=FP1/>

In July 2016, India began shipping US$150 million of tracks to Chabahar<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/india-to-export-usd-150-mn-rails-for-chabahar-port-next-month-2857029/|title=India to export USD 150 mn rails for Chabahar port next month|date=16 June 2016}}</ref> to build the US$1.6 billion line, for which India pledged additional US$400 million and Iran has also allocated US$125 million in December 2016, thus taking the total allocation to US$575 million (out of US$1.6 billion needed) by the end of 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/56102/125m-for-chabahar-zahedan-railroad|title=$125m for Chabahar-Zahedan Railroad|date=24 December 2016|website=Financial Tribune|access-date=3 April 2017|archive-date=10 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710155603/https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-domestic-economy/56102/125m-for-chabahar-zahedan-railroad|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Sports==
{{See also| Sport in Iran}}
In April 2008 the 70 billion IRR (about 2.5 million [[USD]]) [[Zahedan Stadium]] was built with a seating capacity of 15,000 people. It was inaugurated on 18 April 2008 with a friendly football game between ''Honarmandan'' (Artists) and a local team.

== Education ==
[[Image:University of Sistan and Baluchestan.JPG|250px|thumb|left|[[University of Sistan and Baluchestan]]'s Amphitheater in Zahedan.]]
{{See also|Education in Iran}}
Zahedan is the home of the Islamic Azad University of Zahedan,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iauzah.ac.ir/|title=دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد زاهدان|website=iauzah.ac.ir|access-date=14 January 2007|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217201049/http://www.iauzah.ac.ir/|url-status=dead}}</ref> the [[Zahedan University of Medical Sciences]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zaums.ac.ir/default.page|title=خانه|website=zaums.ac.ir|access-date=6 May 2020|archive-date=16 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116154920/http://zaums.ac.ir/default.page|url-status=dead}}</ref> and the [[University of Sistan and Baluchestan]]. Besides, the largest Sunni seminary, [[Jamiah Darul Uloom Zahedan|Darululoom Zahedan]], is located in Zahedan. There are some other religious Sunni schools in the city and the vicinity.

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==Notable people==
*[[Mohammad Jorjandi]], cybercrime expert

== See also ==
* [[2022 Zahedan massacre]]
* [[2007 Zahedan bombings]]
* [[2009 Zahedan bombings]]
* [[July 2010 Zahedan bombings]]
* [[2019 Khash–Zahedan suicide bombing]]

* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Zahedan}}

{{clear}}

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Sources ==
* {{EI2|last=Bosworth|first=C.E.|authorlink=Clifford Edmund Bosworth|volume=11|title=Zāhidān|pages=387|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/zahidan-SIM_8075}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dudoignon |first=Stéphane A. |title=The Baluch, Sunnism and the State in Iran: From Tribal to Global |date=2017 |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rWlNDwAAQBAJ |isbn=978-0-19-065591-4}}

== External links ==
* [http://portalzahedan.ir/ Municipality of Zahedan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223144113/http://www.portalzahedan.ir/ |date=23 December 2011 }}
* [http://www.zaums.ac.ir/ Zahedan University of Medical Sciences] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217015657/http://zaums.ac.ir/ |date=17 February 2018 }}
* [http://en.sunnionline.us/ Official Website of the Sunni Community of Iran, Sunnionline] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123145446/http://en.sunnionline.us/ |date=23 January 2012 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{Sistan and Baluchestan Province|state=collapsed}}

{{Provincial capitals of Iran}}

[[Category:Cities in Sistan and Baluchestan province]]

[[Category:Zahedan| ]]

[[Category:Populated places in Zahedan County]]

[[Category:Iranian provincial capitals]]