Iran could have a new capital. President Pezeshkian warns: 'We cannot solve the water problem'

Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian on Thursday revived the idea of ​​moving the capital from Tehran, citing that the city is overpopulated and affected by a severe water crisis. The statements come after a year in which rainfall reached “the lowest level in the last century”.

Collective prayer for rain in Tehran PHOTO: EPA EFE

Massoud Pezeshkian pointed out that Tehran's current problems can no longer be managed effectively, especially regarding water resources. “We can develop (the capital), but we cannot solve the water problem”he said, noting that the severe drought puts the city at risk.

At the beginning of November, the president had even warned that, in the absence of rains before winter, the capital could be evacuated, without providing additional details. Tehran, accustomed to hot summers offset by autumn rains and winter snows, is experiencing an almost total lack of precipitation this year. Mountain peaks, which should normally be covered with snow, remained “extremely empty“, according to Le Figaro.

Faced with the shortage, the government decided to periodically cut the water supply to the city's approximately 10 million inhabitants. Statements about a possible evacuation drew criticism in local media, and authorities later clarified that the president only wanted to draw attention to the severity of the crisis, not announce a concrete plan. Last week, the authorities also launched cloud seeding operations in an attempt to stimulate the formation of precipitation.

Where the capital could be moved

The idea of ​​relocating the capital is not new. Pezeshkian has repeatedly cited traffic congestion, water scarcity, poor resource management and severe pollution as reasons why Tehran is no longer sustainable in the long term.

In January, government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced that one option under consideration was the Makran region, a largely underdeveloped area on Iran's southern coast. However, so far no official plan has been presented, and the proposal has already generated a lot of criticism.

Talks continue, but pressure on Tehran's infrastructure and the water crisis remain major issues that could turn the capital's relocation from a controversial idea to a necessity.