Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran may need to be relocated due to severe overcrowding and worsening water shortages. The capital’s rainfall this year hit its lowest level in a century. He warned that population growth and construction could overwhelm the region.
Pezeshkian has raised relocation concerns before, citing traffic congestion, air pollution, and resource mismanagement. He stressed that development alone cannot solve Tehran’s water crisis. Authorities have begun cutting water supplies to the city’s 10 million residents to limit consumption.
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The government recently launched cloud seeding operations to induce rainfall, but the mountains surrounding Tehran remain unusually dry. Critics, including local media, have dismissed the evacuation idea as impractical. Officials clarified that the president’s remarks were meant as a warning, not a concrete plan.
Authorities are considering moving the capital to the Makran region on Iran’s southern coast. The area is largely underdeveloped, offering space for urban growth. Plans are still in early stages, and no official timeline has been announced for any relocation.
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Experts say relocating a capital could ease Tehran’s population pressure and improve resource management. However, the proposal faces challenges including infrastructure costs, political hurdles, and local opposition. Pezeshkian emphasized urgent action is necessary to prevent future crises.