Water erosion of soil is considered one of the most important environmental challenges in the mountainous regions of Iran, especially in the Zagros. The present study was conducted with the aim of quantitatively estimating and spatially zoning annual soil loss in a representative area of the central Zagros using the RUSLE model and remote sensing data. The five factors of the RUSLE model, including rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K based on the EPIC equation), topography (LS), vegetation management (C), and conservation practices (P), were calculated on a 30-meter grid and combined with one another. Precipitation data were extracted from CHIRPS satellite products and ERA5-Land reanalysis data, and soil physical property data were obtained from the OpenLandMap database. The results showed that the average annual soil loss in this region is 28.55 tons per hectare per year, with a range from approximately 0.0003 to 202.08 tons per hectare per year, which was adjusted by applying a mask for rocky slopes exceeding 55 degrees. The results of the present study showed that approximately 45.75 percent of the region area, equivalent to 2265.56 square kilometers, falls within the very severe and severe erosion classes of more than 20 tons per hectare per year, indicating the critical state of erosion in the region. The topography factor (LS), with a mean of 8.10 and a standard deviation of 8.23, was identified as the most influential factor in controlling erosion intensity. The maximum soil loss occurred in the elevation class of 2500 to 3000 meters (45.32 tons per hectare per year), resulting from steep slopes, sparse vegetation cover, and increased surface runoff caused by snowmelt. The validation of the reanalysis precipitation data also indicated that the CHIRPS precipitation estimates, with a correlation coefficient of 0.974 and a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) of 0.840, perform very well in the study area, whereas ERA5-Land, with a positive bias of 259.90 millimeters and a negative NSE (-0.933), suffers from severe overestimation. The analysis of temporal precipitation fluctuations indicates a decreasing trend of -22.16 millimeters per year, although this trend is not statistically significant (p-value = 0.168). Based on the findings, the implementation of comprehensive watershed management and bio-mechanical programs focused on 23.4 percent of the study area, the development of vegetation cover, and the application of grazing management in rangelands are proposed as the main priorities for soil conservation in this region.