TEHRAN, 19 April 2004 — Parliamentarians voted yesterday to split Iran’s largest province — Khorasan, in the northeast — into three, a proposal that has sparked violent protests in the past.
Dozens were injured and scores arrested in street clashes in 2001 and 2002 when the government first proposed dividing the province, which borders Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and is famed as the home of the medieval poet Omar Khayyam. Lawmakers said the province, which grows saffron, the world’s most expensive spice, should be carved up to allow more equitable budget allocation, accusing the regional capital Mashhad of swallowing the bulk of state money.
“Some argue the lack of development in Khorasan is due to its vastness,” one lawmaker, who declined to be named, told Reuters after the vote.
Under the decision, which must be approved by the Guardian Council, Khorasan will be divided into northern, southern and Razavi Khorasan, with capitals in Bojnurd, Birjand and Mashhad respectively.
Protests against division have in the past centered on the town of Sabzevar, the province’s largest urban center after Mashhad.
Some residents fear they will lose influence and slices of the budget when rival cities are made new regional capitals. The region has many strong tribal loyalties.
“Dividing Khorasan will make the country poorer and stir up tension and inflation. This move harms vulnerable people,” parliamentarian Hossein Ansarirad said in the debate, broadcast live on state radio.
Khorasan lies on the ancient Silk Road, which carried spice caravans to Europe from China. It still prospers from its status as a trade crossroads.
Meanwhile, Iran’s President Mohammad Khatami made a minor reshuffle of his Cabinet yesterday, with only small changes aimed at boosting economy-related portfolios. Official media said Tehran’s Finance Minister Tahmasb Mahazeri was replaced by Labor Minister Safdar Hosseini, who in turn was succeeded by Cabinet newcomer Naser Khaleghi, a deputy from the central city of Isfahan. “The reason for reshuffling is to reinforce the economic team of the Cabinet,” said Cabinet secretary and spokesman Abdollah Ramazanzadeh. “It was the view of President Khatami that the economic team should have more coordination,” he said.
