Archive · 18 Dec 2025
Iran Faces Severe Water Shortage, Considers Moving Capital
Iran's capital, Tehran, is running out of water.
The president, Masoud Pezeshkian, says the city is in big trouble because the land is sinking and water is disappearing.
He thinks moving the capital to a place called Makran, near the ocean, might help.
This move could fix problems like too many people, not enough energy, and not enough water.
But bringing water from the Persian Gulf would be very expensive.
The president says everyone in the government needs to work together to save the environment.
Tehran is experiencing a severe water shortage, with land subsiding up to 30 centimeters per year.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has stated that the government has no choice but to act to address the ecological strain.
The proposed solution is to move the capital to the Makran coast, a remote region overlooking the Gulf of Oman.
Makran's coastline offers access to the Indian Ocean and economic projects, including Iran's only oceanic port, Chabahar.
Bringing water from the Persian Gulf is an option, but it would be costly, and Tehran's population and construction cannot continue to expand.
- Who
- Iranian government and residents of Tehran
- What
- Severe water shortage and ecological strain in Tehran
- When
- Ongoing, with immediate action required
- Where
- Tehran, Iran, with potential move to Makran coast
- Why
- Overcrowding, energy shortages, and water scarcity in Tehran
- Location
- Tehran, Iran
- Issue
- Severe water shortage
- Impact
- Ecological strain, land subsidence
- Proposed Solution
- Moving capital to Makran coast
- President
- Masoud Pezeshkian
- Land Subsidence Rate
- Up to 30 centimeters per year
- Alternative Water Source
- Persian Gulf (costly)
- Proposed New Capital
- Makran coast, southern Iran