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The president of Iran has stated that the country has no option but to move its capital city from Tehran to the southern region due to the excessive growth of the city, insufficient water resources, and the growing danger of land sinking.

Plan Raised with Supreme Leader

Masoud Pezeshkian stated that he had presented the suggestion to the leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the previous year. He admitted that it had faced significant criticism, but maintained that the accumulating resource crises were so critical that Iran now had a duty to move the capital, with no alternative.

He made these comments during a trip to Hormozgan province, which is located on the Persian Gulf across from Dubai.

"Hormozgan is located on the shores of the Persian Gulf and provides direct access to the sea and the development of economic ties. If we adopt a different perspective on the capabilities of this region, we can build a highly successful and developed region. It is not sufficient to accept the present conditions and not design a well-researched and local map for the future," he stated.

Water Crisis Affecting Key Urban Areas

"The problems the nation is currently experiencing necessitate us to direct the growth trajectory towards the Persian Gulf. Tehran, Karaj, and Qazvin are currently facing a water crisis, and this crisis cannot be resolved quickly."

Tehran has grown to a city of over 10 million residents, and consumes nearly a fourth of Iran's water resources.

Past Leaders Also Raised the Idea

Previous presidents have also raised the topic of moving the capital, including Hassan Rouhani, who even proceeded to draw up a proposal with alternatives.

Alarming Water Shortage Statistics

Pezeshkian has consistently sounded the alarm about Iran's worsening water crisis. He stated: "Last year, the precipitation was 140mm, while the standard is 260mm; that means rainfall has decreased by about 50 to 60%. This year, the situation is equally serious." Some recent estimates put the rainfall in 2025 at just below 100mm.

He added: "The decline in water in the dams, the depletion of some wells, and the expensive process of moving water from other areas all indicate the need for a change in approach. If we want to transport water from here to Tehran, the cost per cubic meter will be up to €4."

Resource Breakdown and Problems

Tehran's dams normally provided 70% of the capital's water, with the remaining 30% supplied by underground resources. However, low rainfall and higher evaporation rates have reduced the dams' contribution and raised stress on groundwater.

"Development without taking into account the effect on supplies and expenditures will result in nothing but damage. If someone cannot maintain this equilibrium, their development is doomed to failure.

"In some regions, the ground is sinking by up to 30cm per year. This is a catastrophe and shows that the water underground is depleting."