Testing the rigid block rotation model in Central-Eastern Iran under active tectonic regime

This configuration provides an opportunity to test the block rotation model within a natural strike-slip fault zone. Therefore, in this study, we apply a fault-bounded block rotation model, developed for strike-slip zones, to evaluate the compatibility of this model with the kinematics of the CEI since the Neogene.

The cumulative offsets and slip rates along the block-bounding faults predicted by this model are consistent with those estimated from geological, geomorphological, and geodetic studies, at least within their uncertainties. The results show that the CEI accommodates Arabian-Eurasian convergence primarily through strike-slip faulting. Furthermore, rotation of fault-bounded blocks in the CEI can accommodate part of the convergence, while also exerting a significant influence on the structural geometry and seismicity of the region.