TEHRAN – Iran’s capital, Tehran, is facing a worsening water crisis as reservoirs reach critically low levels, prompting urgent warnings from President Masoud Pezeshkian about potential water rationing and even possible evacuation if the drought continues.
In a televised address, President Pezeshkian cautioned that the city could run dangerously low on water if rainfall does not occur in the coming days.
“If there is no rain, Tehran will face an acute water shortage,” he said. “We may begin water rationing by the end of November or early December, and if the dry spell continues during rationing, we might be forced to evacuate the city.”
According to government officials, Tehran’s main reservoirs contain only two weeks’ worth of water, and residents have already been warned about the gravity of the situation.
Authorities reported that rainfall across Iran has fallen by nearly 40 percent this year, with several provinces suffering water deficits between 50 and 80 percent. Many regions of the country are also experiencing prolonged drought, further straining Iran’s already limited water resources.
Environmental experts have linked the crisis to climate change, mismanagement of water resources, and over-extraction of groundwater, calling for immediate conservation measures to prevent a humanitarian and environmental emergency.
