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The president of Iran has claimed that the country has no option but to transfer its national capital from Tehran to the south of the country due to the city's over-expansion, inadequate water supplies, and the increasing threat of land sinking.

Plan Raised with Supreme Leader

Masoud Pezeshkian revealed that he had submitted the proposal to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the previous year. He acknowledged that it had received a lot of opposition, but argued that the growing environmental problems were so severe that Iran now had a responsibility to shift the capital, with no other option.

He made these comments during a visit to Hormozgan province, which is situated on the Gulf coast across from Dubai.

"Hormozgan is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and offers easy entry to the sea and the development of trade and economic relations. If we adopt a new outlook on the capabilities of this area, we can create a highly successful and developed region. It is inadequate to tolerate the present conditions and not design a well-researched and indigenous plan for the years ahead," he stated.

Water Crisis Affecting Major Cities

"The problems the nation is currently experiencing necessitate us to steer the development path towards the Persian Gulf. Tehran, Karaj, and Qazvin are experiencing a severe water shortage, and this issue cannot be resolved quickly."

Tehran has grown to a metropolis of more than 10 million people, and consumes nearly a quarter of Iran's water resources.

Previous Presidents Also Proposed the Issue

Previous presidents have previously raised the issue of moving the capital, including Hassan Rouhani, who even went so far as to develop a plan with alternatives.

Alarming Water Shortage Statistics

Pezeshkian has long warned about Iran's deteriorating water crisis. He stated: "Last year, the rainfall was 140mm, while the standard is 260mm; that means rainfall has decreased by about 50 to 60%. This year, the condition is just as critical." Some recent estimates place the rainfall in 2025 at just below 100mm.

He added: "The reduction in water behind the dams, the drying up of some wells, and the expensive process of moving water from different regions all point to the necessity for a new strategy. If we want to move water from here to Tehran, the expense per cubic meter will be up to €4."

Water Supply Distribution and Problems

Tehran's dams typically supplied 70% of the capital's water, with the other 30% supplied by underground resources. However, low rainfall and increased evaporation have reduced the dams' contribution and increased stress on underground water sources.

"Growth without considering the impact on supplies and costs will lead to nothing but destruction. If someone cannot maintain this balance, their development is doomed to failure.

"In some areas, the land is subsiding by up to 30cm per year. This is a disaster and indicates that the water beneath our feet is running out."