Dezful
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Dezful (; pronounced ) is a city in the Central District of
Dezful County Dezful County () is in Khuzestan Khuzestan province () is one of the 31 Provinces of Iran. Located in the southwest of the country, the province borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of . Its capital is the city of Ahvaz ...
, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.


History

Dezful is one of Khuzestan province's oldest cities. According to Walther Hinz excavations,
Awan Awan may refer to: * Awan (surname), including a list of people with the name *Awana, also known as Awan is a clan of Gujjars in South Asia * Awan (tribe), a social group of Pakistan * Awan dynasty, an Elamite dynasty of Iran * Awan languages, ...
(capital of the first dynasty of
Elam Elam () was an ancient civilization centered in the far west and southwest of Iran, stretching from the lowlands of what is now Khuzestan and Ilam Province as well as a small part of modern-day southern Iraq. The modern name ''Elam'' stems fr ...
, the
Awan dynasty The Awan dynasty was the first dynasty of Elam of which very little of anything is known today—appearing at the dawn of recorded history. The dynasty corresponds to the early part of the Old Elamite period, first Paleo-Elamite period (dated to ...
) was located in Dezful. The name Dezfūl is believed to be associated with a
Sasanian The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranians"), was an Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, the length of the Sasanian dynasty's reign ...
bridge constructed over the Āb-e Dez by
Shapur II Shapur II ( , 309–379), also known as Shapur the Great, was the tenth King of Kings (List of monarchs of the Sasanian Empire, Shahanshah) of Sasanian Iran. He took the title at birth and held it until his death at age 70, making him the List ...
. The Sasanians also built a fortress in close proximity to protect the bridge. This area, encompassing the bridge and the fortress, eventually evolved into the city of Dež-Pol or Dezfūl, although this name was not commonly used until the 12th century. In the 10th century, the writer Eṣṭaḵrī referred to it as Qanṭarat-al-Andāmeš. It was also known as Qaṣr al-Rūnāš. The stone foundation of the bridge is still visible, while the upper part underwent several brick reconstructions during the early Islamic, Saljuq, and Qajar periods. In the 14th century, Ḥamd-Allāh Mostāwfī described it as 520 paces long and 15 paces wide, with forty-two arches. Šaraf-al-Dīn Yazdī, who visited the area in 795/1393, also provided a detailed description. According to George Curzon, who visited the area in the late 19th century, the principal local industry in Dezfūl was indigo, with 120 factories in the town. The cultivation of indigo was introduced in the early 19th century. Dezfūl was also renowned for its fine reed pens.


Etymology

The name Dezful has been derived from the two words ''dej'' (fortress) + ''pul'' (bridge), which in combination could stand for 'the bridge to the fortress' or 'fortified bridge' in Persian language. The original name of the city was Dezhpul, but after the
Muslim conquest of Persia As part of the early Muslim conquests, which were initiated by Muhammad in 622, the Rashidun Caliphate conquered the Sasanian Empire between 632 and 654. This event led to the decline of Zoroastrianism, which had been the official religion of ...
, the city was renamed Dezful, since the Arabic language does not have 'p' and 'zh' sounds. The city is also known as Dizful and Desful.


Demographics


Language

The people of Dezful, known as Dezfuli, Dezfoolian or Dezfulian, speak
Dezfuli Dezfuli is one of the southwestern dialects of Iran, which is the dialect of a part of the people of Dezful, who are known as Dezfuli. Dezfuli and Shushtari share common features with the surrounding Luri dialects. A glottologist places Dezfuli ...
– a dialect distinct to Dezful – and Shushtari, a dialect of
Shushtar Shushtar () is a city in the Central District of Shushtar County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Shushtar is an ancient fortress city, approximately from Ahvaz, the centre of the province ...
that is sometimes considered to be one of the most archaic dialects spoken in the Iranian plateau, and by others as a dialect of the
Persian Persian may refer to: * People and things from Iran, historically called ''Persia'' in the English language ** Persians, the majority ethnic group in Iran, not to be conflated with the Iranic peoples ** Persian language, an Iranian language of the ...
language. These dialects belong to the Southwest Iranian language group. However, they differ significantly from standard Persian in terms of pronunciation, word formation, and vocabulary. The most notable distinctions are found in the structure of verbs. Although they share some similarities with nearby Lor dialects, they are still distinct. The differences between Dezfuli and Shushtari are mainly a result of variations in the detailed sound patterns of the language. Historically, Dezful was home to a
Mandaean Mandean or Mandaean may refer to: * Mandaeism, a Gnostic religion * Mandaeans, the ethnoreligious group who follow the Gnostic religion * Mandean, the language family in West Africa known as the Mande languages See also * Mandaic (disambiguation) ...
community for many centuries. One of Dezful's best-known residents was the
Mandaean priest A Mandaean priest or ''Tarmida'' () refers to an ordained religious leader in Mandaeism. Overview All priests must undergo lengthy ordination ceremonies, beginning with tarmida initiation. Mandaean religious leaders and copyists of religious text ...
Ram Zihrun Ram Zihrun () was a 19th-century Mandaean priest. Although initially a learned layman (''yalufa''), he became known for reviving the Mandaean priesthood together with his cousin Yahya Bihram after a cholera epidemic had killed all living Mandaean ...
.


Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 228,507 in 55,711 households. The following census in 2011 counted 248,380 people in 66,715 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 264,709 people in 78,348 households.


Geography

Dezful is 650 kilometers away from the national capital of
Tehran Tehran (; , ''Tehrân'') is the capital and largest city of Iran. It is the capital of Tehran province, and the administrative center for Tehran County and its Central District (Tehran County), Central District. With a population of around 9. ...
and 155 kilometres away from
Ahvaz Ahvaz (; ) is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is home to Persians, Arabs and other groups such as Qashqai and Kurds. Languages spok ...
, the provincial capital of
Khuzestan Khuzestan province () is one of the 31 Provinces of Iran. Located in the southwest of the country, the province borders Iraq and the Persian Gulf, covering an area of . Its capital is the city of Ahvaz. Since 2014, it has been part of Iran's ...
. The city is located 300 kilometres from the
Persian Gulf The Persian Gulf, sometimes called the Arabian Gulf, is a Mediterranean seas, mediterranean sea in West Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Arabian Sea and the larger Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.Un ...
and is at an altitude of 143 meters. The city lies at the foot of the
Zagros Mountains The Zagros Mountains are a mountain range in Iran, northern Iraq, and southeastern Turkey. The mountain range has a total length of . The Zagros range begins in northwestern Iran and roughly follows Iran's western border while covering much of s ...
and has a history that dates back to the Sasanian era. The area around Dezful has been home to civilizations for 5000 years. Dezful sits on the main north-south highway from Tehran to Ahvaz. The main rail line from Tehran to the Persian Gulf is 15 km (9 mi) from Dezful, on the opposite side of the
Dez River The Dez (), the ancient Coprates (;James Knowles (1835) ''A Pronouncing and Explanatory Dictionary of the English Language'' or Κοπράτας), is a river in Iran. This 400 km long river is a tributary of the Karun River. It is the site ...
.


Climate

Dezful has a
hot semi-arid climate A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of sem ...
(
Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''BSh'') with extremely hot summers and mild winters. Rainfall is higher than most of southern Iran, but is almost exclusively confined to the period from November to April, sometimes with thunderstorms, though on occasions it can exceed per month or per year. Dust is quite common in the region and happens most frequently in summer. Snowfall in this city is a very rare event. But in 2020, for the first time, the city of Dezful witnessed snowfall.


Economy

Sugarcane, which has been cultivated in the Dezfūl region for more than a thousand years, is still an important economic factor; a modern sugar refinery with a capacity of more than 300 tons has been built in Haft Tappa near the town of Dezfūl. Other major agricultural products of the šahrestān include wheat, barley, clover, alfalfa, sesame, maize, and grass peas; sheep are the most important livestock


Artisan work

The Dezful reed pen is one of the important commercial products that has been cultivated in Dezful for the past three hundred years and is recognized as the finest reed pen at the national and global levels. In the past, the Dezful
reed pen A reed pen ( '; singular ') or bamboo pen () is a writing implement made by cutting and shaping a single Phragmites, reed straw or length of bamboo. History and manufacture Reed pens with regular features such as a split nib (pen), nib have ...
was exported to countries like Turkey and China, and it is still exported to most cities in Iran. Dezful is also known for its handmade wooden tools, including hookah bases, hookahs, candlesticks, coat hangers, and salt shakers. Additionally, the city's handicraft traditions encompass metalwork, such as varshoosazi (crafting items from a Nickle Silver), engraving on gold and silver, and goldsmithing. In the varshoosazi workshops of Dezful's old bazaar, artisans craft tools for tea drinking and other purposes. The craft of varshoosazi (the making of varsho items) in Iran dates back to the
Safavid era The Safavid dynasty (; , ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of the gunpowder empires. The Safavid Shah Ismai ...
, but its peak occurred during the
Qajar era The Guarded Domains of Iran, alternatively the Sublime State of Iran and commonly called Qajar Iran, Qajar Persia or the Qajar Empire, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Qajar dynasty, which was of Turkic peoples, Turkic origin,Cyrus G ...
and continued into the
Pahlavi era The Imperial State of Iran, officially known as the Imperial State of Persia until 1935, and commonly referred to as Pahlavi Iran, was the Iranian state under the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty. The Pahlavi dynasty was created in 1925 and lasted ...
. Varsho metal sheets, also known as German silver or Nickle Silver, were imported from Germany, particularly from Poland. This is why Iranian artisans named the metal varsho (Warsaw), after the city of Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and the craft became known as varshoosazi. Artisans from Isfahan, Borujerd, and Dezful were the first to learn how to produce varsho crafts by observing Russian samovars and other products. The varshoosazi industry reached its height in Iran, particularly in the cities of Dezful and Borujerd, during the late Qajar and early Pahlavi eras. Many individuals adopted the surname Varshoochi or Varshabi in Dezful because it was closely associated with their profession as varsho craftsmen.


Higher Education

Dezful is home to various higher education institutions, each offering various academic and professional programs. These institutions have played an integral role in promoting education, research, and professional development in khuzetsan, significantly contributing to Dezful's academic and cultural richness. * Dezful University of Medical Sciences * Jundi-Shapur University of Technology (Dezful) *Islamic Azad University of Dezful *University of Applied Science and Technology (Dezful Applied Science and Technology Center) *Payame Noor University of Dezful *Khadijeh Kobra Higher Education Center (Farhangian University) *Sheikh Morteza Ansari Higher Education Center (Farhangian University)


Historic monuments

In an area with a history that extends back to ancient civilization, the city houses a
bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
that dates back to 300 AD.


Transportation

There are direct flights from Tehran to Dezful (and reverse) at least twice a day. There are also weekly flights from Dezful to
Mashhad Mashhad ( ; ), historically also known as Mashad, Meshhed, or Meshed in English, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. ...
(mawhad or mašhad). Dezful can also be reached by the Iranian railways. Buses are available from almost all Iranian major cities to Dezful or one of its adjacent cities. Trains of the
Trans-Iranian Railway The Trans-Iranian Railway () was a major railway building project started in Pahlavi Iran in 1927 and completed in 1938, under the direction of the then-Iranian monarch Reza Shah. It was entirely built with indigenous capital, and links the capit ...
serve the neighbouring town of
Andimeshk Andimeshk () is a city in the Central District of Andimeshk County, Khuzestan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The city is about north of Shush, on the main road and the rail line between Tehran and ...
.


Twin towns – sister cities

* Tyre, Lebanon


Contemporary people

*
Abdulrahman Nafisi Murder at Hamedan's Bank Keshavarzi Iran occurred on 11 February 1990 in the basement of the central branch of Bank Keshavarzi Iran in Hamedan, located close to Avicenna Mausoleum which is called Meydan-e-Aramgah (. In this incident, the bank ma ...
(1948-1990), bank manager


See also

* Battle of Dezful *
Morteza Ansari Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Murtadha al-Ansari al-Tostari (1781–1864; ) known as Shaykh al-Ta'ifah () was an Arab Islamic scholar who was “generally acknowledged as the most eminent jurist of the time". He is considered to have laid the foundation ...
(1781–1864), a famous Shia jurisprudent *
Gholam Ali Rashid Major general Gholam Ali Rashid (; 1953 – 13 June 2025) was an Iranian military officer who served as the commander of Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters. He was killed during the Israeli strikes on Iran on 13 June 2025. Early life Rash ...
(born 1953), Iranian commander from Dezful


Notes


References


Sources


Iran Census organization


External links


Persian Language and Dezful Tourism

Azarkish DezfulDezful Tourism

Dezful News Network

Dezful Magazine

Dezful Unofficial Website
{{Dezful County, state=collapsed Cities in Khuzestan province Populated places in Dezful County