Tehran, November 7, 2025: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the capital city, Tehran, could face severe water shortages and may even have to be evacuated if the country does not receive rainfall soon.
Speaking during a visit to Sanandaj in western Iran on Thursday, Pezeshkian said the government was grappling with a combination of economic, environmental, and social crises.
He noted that high inflation and price hikes stem from both domestic policy shortcomings and international sanctions, according to Daily Itimad.
“High prices and inflation are the fault of both the parliament and the government. There are efforts underway, but limited financial resources mean projects remain unfinished,” he said.
Turning to the escalating drought crisis, the president said Iran faces grave natural challenges due to dwindling rainfall and shrinking water reserves.
“If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in Tehran next month. If the drought continues, we will run out of water and be forced to evacuate the city,” Pezeshkian warned, describing the situation as “alarming.”
Tehran relies on five major dams, Lar, Mamlu, Amir Kabir, Taleqan, and Latyan, for its water supply. However, the capital has seen a 40% decline in rainfall this year compared with seasonal averages.
The shortage has led to a drastic drop in reservoir levels, affecting both surface and groundwater sources. On July 20, the Tehran Water Authority warned that the city’s reservoirs had reached their lowest level in a century.
Intermittent water cuts have already been introduced since the summer. On November 3, Behzad Parsa, head of the Tehran Water Authority, said the remaining reserves could only sustain the city for two more weeks if dry conditions persisted.
President Pezeshkian had earlier cautioned, in July, that without immediate and effective measures, ensuring public access to water would soon become impossible.
