Iran Faces Unprecedented Water Crisis.. Water Rationing in the Capital Tehran Approaches Amid Warnings of Possible Evacuations

The Iranian authorities announced on Saturday their intention to start water rationing in the capital Tehran, which has more than ten million inhabitants, amid a drought wave considered the worst in decades. Energy Minister Abbas Ali Abadi said on state television that rationing distribution, although "annoying," is necessary to reduce waste and control consumption.


Previous statements from officials showed that the level of rainfall during October was the lowest in nearly 100 years. With declining water flows from dams, the reservoirs supplying the capital recorded their lowest levels in decades, according to Mohsen Ardakani, the general director of Tehran Water Company.


The Iranian President Hints at Evacuation Option

Iranian President Masoud Bezhakian warned weeks ago that the capital might face a "population evacuation" scenario if the country does not witness rainfall before the end of the year. He stated that rationing would begin between late November and early December, adding that even with rationing, and in the absence of rain, water would effectively run out.


Already Frequent Interruptions

Tehran has experienced extensive water cuts over the past months during the summer, accompanied by almost daily power outages due to the intense heat. The government was also forced in July and August to declare official holidays in the capital to alleviate pressure on water and energy consumption.


Prolonged Crisis Becomes More Complicated

Although the country usually experiences more rainfall during the winter, the significant decline this year has made the repercussions of the drought crisis hit the capital more severely and sensitively than the rest of the provinces. The current crisis, as described by state media, is one of the deepest water crises Iran has faced in decades, amid a complete lack of clarity on how the evacuation scenario will be handled if it actually occurs.