The president of Iran has stated that the nation has no choice but to transfer its national capital from Tehran to the southern region due to the city's over-expansion, inadequate water supplies, and the increasing threat of land sinking.
Plan Discussed with Supreme Leader
Masoud Pezeshkian stated that he had presented the suggestion to the leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, last year. He acknowledged that it had received a lot of opposition, but maintained that the growing environmental problems were so severe that Iran now had a duty to move the capital, with no other option.
He spoke during a visit to Hormozgan province, which is situated on the Persian Gulf across from Dubai.
"This region is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and offers easy entry to the sea and the expansion of economic ties. If we adopt a new outlook on the capabilities of this area, we can build a very prosperous and developed region. It is inadequate to tolerate the present conditions and not create a scientific, accurate and indigenous map for the years ahead," he said.
Water Crisis Affecting Major Cities
"The challenges the country is currently facing require us to steer the growth trajectory towards the Persian Gulf. Tehran, Karaj, and Qazvin are experiencing a water crisis, and this crisis cannot be resolved quickly."
Tehran has grown to a city of over 10 million people, and consumes almost a fourth of Iran's water supplies.
Past Presidents Also Proposed the Issue
Previous presidents have also brought up the topic of relocating the capital, such as Hassan Rouhani, who even proceeded to develop a proposal with alternatives.
Alarming Water Shortage Statistics
Pezeshkian has long sounded the alarm about Iran's deteriorating water crisis. He said: "Last year, the precipitation was 140mm, while the average is 260mm; that means rainfall has fallen by about 50 to 60%. This year, the situation is just as critical." Some latest figures place the rainfall in 2025 at just below 100mm.
He continued: "The reduction in water in the dams, the drying up of some wells, and the high costs of transporting water from different regions all indicate the necessity for a new strategy. If we want to move water from this area to Tehran, the cost per cubic meter will be up to €4."
Water Supply Distribution and Challenges
Tehran's dams typically provided 70% of the capital's water, with the other 30% provided by groundwater. However, reduced precipitation and higher evaporation rates have lowered the dams' contribution and raised stress on groundwater.
"Growth without taking into account the effect on supplies and expenditures will lead to nothing but damage. If someone cannot maintain this equilibrium, their development is doomed to failure.
"In some areas, the ground is subsiding by up to 30cm per year. This is a catastrophe and indicates that the water underground is depleting."
