Iran is confronting one of the worst water emergencies in its modern history, with depleted reservoirs, shrinking groundwater and record heat raising the risk that the capital, Tehran, could soon run out of water. President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that environmental pressures have become so severe that relocating the capital may be necessary to save millions of people from a future without reliable water.
The warning comes at a time when rainfall has sharply declined across large parts of the country. Autumn marks the beginning of the rainy season in Iran, but this year many regions have seen almost no precipitation. Reservoir levels are at historic lows, and experts fear that Tehran, a metropolitan area of fifteen million people, is approaching “Day Zero,” the point at which taps run dry.
The proposal to shift the capital is not new. Earlier governments have considered it, but no administration has taken action. Tehran’s development has continued, bringing with it worsening water shortages, land subsidence, air pollution, traffic congestion and vulnerability to seismic hazards. This time, though, the president has framed the move as a national requirement rather than a long-term option. He cautioned in November 2025 that without major corrective steps the city could become uninhabitable.
How Decades of Mismanagement Led to Water Bankruptcy
Iran’s current crisis stems from years of unsustainable water extraction and planning. The country has relied heavily on water-intensive agriculture, subsidised water use and extensive dam construction to fuel economic growth and achieve food self-sufficiency. Overpumping of aquifers, river diversion projects and the rapid expansion of major urban centres, particularly Tehran, have reduced available water faster than nature can replenish it.
Environmental scientists describe this situation as “water bankruptcy,” a condition in which demand permanently exceeds supply. Falling groundwater levels, drying lakes, rising soil salinity and repeated droughts now threaten communities across Iran, not only the capital region.
According to water resource experts, Iran’s centralised approach to water governance has proved ineffective. Since the 1979 revolution, large infrastructure projects were prioritised over conservation, and sanctions limited the ability to invest in more efficient systems. Those choices have accelerated environmental decline.
Drought, Heat and Uncertain Climate Patterns
Tehran has experienced four extremely dry years since 2020. The autumn of 2025 has been the hottest and driest season in the city since reliable records began in 1979. Reduced snowpack and changing rainfall patterns make it harder for officials to predict river flow, while rising temperatures increase demand and leave less water available.
Authorities have attempted emergency measures, including an inter-basin transfer from the Taleqan Dam, more than one hundred miles away. Experts warn that such moves may provide short-term relief but worsen the long-term imbalance by encouraging unsustainable growth in already stressed regions.
At the root of the problem is Tehran’s expanding population. Analysts say it remains unclear whether moving the political capital would meaningfully reduce demand for water in the Tehran region, especially when other major Iranian cities are also facing similar shortages.
Proposed Solutions Require National Commitment
Environmental researchers emphasise that no single solution can resolve Iran’s water crisis. They propose reducing irrigation of water-intensive crops, improving urban water conservation, upgrading infrastructure to prevent leaks and expanding the recycling of treated wastewater for both drinking and ecological uses.
Experts say Iran also needs to diversify its economy, shifting away from sectors that require heavy water consumption. Importing water-intensive crops rather than growing them domestically could help replenish aquifers, although this is unlikely without major economic reforms and greater openness to international trade.
While desalination, aquifer recharge through flood management and other technical approaches may contribute to relief in selected areas, scientists stress that only coordinated action and long-term planning will prevent further environmental decline.
The debate over relocating the capital highlights how environmental pressures are increasingly shaping national policy. However, specialists warn that unless the fundamental causes of rising water demand and mismanagement are addressed, even moving the capital will not solve Iran’s deepening crisis.