In 1997 and in 2000, we measured the distances between 14 geodetic benchmarks across the central Zagros mountain belt. The results show that about 10 mm/yr of shortening in the central Zagros is distributed across the mountain belt. This shortening corresponds to roughly 50% of the total convergence between Arabia and Eurasia and is consistent in direction. The Persian Gulf does not deform significantly. The Main Zagros Reverse Fault is not an active kinematic boundary. The internal deformation of the folded belt is rather homogeneous, at the scale of our survey, which does not allow us to detect any individual active blind fault. However, the strain pattern suggests that N-S dextral strike slip faults may accommodate part of the deformation.