Rural development is a multidimensional and dynamic process, the success of which depends on the extent of social interactions among actors. Recognizing the position and role of key actors can lead to the design of effective policies for sustainable development. The aim of this study is to identify and analyze the position of key actors influential in the development of rural communities using the Social Network Analysis (SNA) method. This research was conducted in 2024 in three villages—Islamabad-e Bala, Habib Ishan, and Vahdat-e Eslami—under the jurisdiction of Aqqala County. The statistical population included 120 members of rural development and reconstruction centers, selected through a census method. Data were collected using a social network relationship analysis questionnaire and analyzed using UCINET software. The results indicated that the structural characteristics of trust and participation networks varied across the villages studied. In Islamabad-e Bala, the density of the trust and collaboration networks was 63.7% and 63.2%, respectively, indicating strong social cohesion and extensive interactions. In Habib Ishan, the trust network density was estimated at 43.3% and the collaboration network at 31.9%, reflecting a more prominent role of trust ties compared to collaboration. In Vahdat-e Eslami, the trust (38.3%) and collaboration (32.9%) network densities and the transitivity of both networks were below 25%, indicating weak network cohesion. Examination of network centrality revealed that Islamabad-e Bala had higher in-degree centrality and greater dispersion compared to out-degree centrality. In Habib Ishan, the high dispersion of out-degree centrality in the trust network indicated an unequal distribution of trust. In Vahdat-e Eslami, the low median centrality values reflected weaker social cohesion. From the perspective of occupational groups, the “Other Occupations” group in Islamabad-e Bala’s trust and collaboration networks (median in-degree centrality 82% and out-degree centrality 56%), farmers in Habib Ishan’s trust network played a more central role in the social networks. Additionally, housewives in Vahdat-e Eslami (out-degree centrality 46.15%) had the greatest role in expanding collaboration. Finally, it is recommended that social capital enhancement programs be designed with a focus on key actors in each occupational group to improve the structure of trust and collaboration in low-cohesion villages.