Tehran and its surrounding region are experiencing a deepening water shortage, with declining reservoir levels, prolonged drought and growing pressures on water supplies prompting authorities to impose rationing and consider emergency measures.
Satellite imagery and hydrological data show that key reservoirs supplying the capital have fallen far below their typical seasonal levels amid a multi-year dry spell and reduced inflows. Officials and analysts say prolonged drought conditions, combined with high demand from Tehran’s expanding population and longstanding water management challenges, have contributed to the severity of the situation.
In recent weeks, government authorities have instituted water rationing in parts of Tehran to reduce demand. The national government has also signaled that more stringent measures may be required if rainfall does not arrive soon, including potential relocation planning for water-dependent infrastructure.
Iran’s president warned that the persistence of the crisis could force planners to consider moving the capital or relocating large numbers of residents if essential water supplies cannot be maintained. While this has drawn attention internationally, officials have not announced definitive relocation plans.
The water shortage is occurring against a backdrop of what authorities describe as one of the country’s worst droughts in decades. Across Iran, reduced precipitation and depleted aquifers are affecting agriculture, hydropower and municipal systems, with Tehran among the most visible examples of the strain.
Local officials and experts have urged increased conservation and longer-term reforms to improve water efficiency and infrastructure, noting that even recent winter rainfall has not substantially replenished depleted reservoirs or groundwater reserves.
The evolving situation continues to draw attention from residents and policymakers alike, as authorities balance short-term emergency actions with broader water management and environmental planning for Iran’s future.
