Iran is confronting an unprecedented drought that has plunged its capital, Tehran, into a severe water crisis, with rainfall plummeting to record lows and reservoirs nearly depleted. President Masoud Pezeshkian has issued stark warnings, including the possibility of water rationing and even evacuation if conditions do not improve.
The scale of the drought is alarming, with meteorological officials reporting a 92% decrease in rainfall compared to the previous year. Key water sources like the Latian Dam and Karaj Dam are holding less than 10% of their capacity, with much of the remaining water deemed unusable. Mohammad-Ali Moallem, manager of the Karaj Dam, described the situation as dire, noting that such low levels have never been seen in his lifetime.
In response, President Pezeshkian has raised the alarm, stating that water rationing might be implemented soon. He went further to suggest that if rationing proves insufficient, the evacuation of Tehran could be necessary. These comments have sparked criticism, with former Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi dismissing the idea as nonsensical and calling it “a joke.”
The crisis is already affecting daily life in Tehran. Residents are resorting to buying water tankers for essential needs like toilets, and social media posts, such as one from rapper Vafa Ahmadpoor, highlight instances of taps running dry for hours. The government is urging citizens to conserve water, but with no rainfall forecast for the next 10 days, the situation is expected to worsen.
Beyond natural causes, officials point to underlying issues exacerbating the crisis. Energy Minister Abbas Ali Abadi cited water leakage from Tehran’s century-old infrastructure and damage from recent conflicts, including a 12-day war with Israel in June, which caused flooding in some areas. This combination of factors has accelerated the water shortage.
The water crisis extends beyond Tehran to other provinces. Ahmad Vazifeh, head of Iran’s National Centre for Climate and Drought Crisis Management, warned that dams in West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan, and Markazi are also at worrying levels. In Mashhad, Iran’s second-largest city, dam reserves have dropped to as low as 3%, prompting local officials to describe it as a “mega-challenge.”
This drought is not a sudden occurrence but the result of decades of environmental neglect. Even Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has acknowledged water shortages in past speeches, yet effective measures have been lacking. The current crisis underscores long-standing issues in water management and climate adaptation.
Looking ahead, the government is considering stricter measures, including penalizing households and businesses for excessive water use. However, with bleak weather forecasts, the focus remains on hoping for late autumn rains to replenish reservoirs. If these do not materialize, Iran faces the unprecedented prospect of major urban centers running out of water, with potential implications for public health, economy, and social stability.
