Iran Faces Severe Water Crisis as Drought Forces Shutdowns in Tehran and Other Regions
Iran is grappling with its worst drought in decades, leading the government to announce plans to turn off water supplies in several regions, including the capital city Tehran. The Islamic Republic declared that water supply would be cut off starting Saturday night as officials attempt to manage the escalating crisis.
“We are forced to cut off water supply to citizens on some evenings so that reservoirs can refill,” Energy Minister Abbas Alibadi said during a state television broadcast on Saturday. To help mitigate the impact, Alibadi suggested that residents install pumps to compensate for reduced water pressure and gaps in supply. “This will help avoid waste even though it may cause inconvenience,” he added, according to France24.
In a stark warning, President Masoud Pezehkian addressed the nation on Friday, cautioning that if no significant rainfall occurs by December, Tehran’s approximately 10 million residents might be compelled to evacuate to other parts of the country. Details about the timing and logistics of any potential mass evacuation were not provided.
Tehran’s daily water consumption is estimated at over 790 million gallons, but the city’s water reserves have drastically diminished. The Amir Kabir Dam, one of five major reservoirs supplying Tehran, currently holds just 3.6 billion gallons of water—less than one-sixth of what was available at the same time last year. In some provinces, pipes have already started running dry, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
Officials have been aware of the worsening drought conditions since at least July, when a 31% drop in rainfall was reported. Half of Iran’s 31 provinces have experienced several months without any rainfall, exacerbating the already dire circumstances.
In response, Iranian authorities have explored the option of importing water from neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Geographically, Iran lies within a subtropical dry belt characterized by mountainous terrain and desert regions. Central Iran receives less than four inches of rain annually on average, according to global research group World Data, underscoring the longstanding challenges the country faces in securing sufficient water resources.
As the drought deepens, the situation in Tehran and across Iran remains critical, with residents and officials alike bracing for increasingly severe water shortages in the coming months.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/08/world-news/iran-to-cut-water-to-tehran-weigh-evacuations-as-it-faces-worst-drought-in-decades/
