HIBAPRESS – Follow-up
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian confirmed on Thursday that moving the capital from Tehran to another city has become an "obligatory necessity," in light of the environmental and urban crises the largest city in the country is experiencing.
Pezeshkian said in an official speech that "limited budgets have delayed this decision for many years, but the reality today forces us to admit that Tehran is no longer able to withstand further expansion," pointing out that the water crisis in the capital has become "out of control" with the continued unprecedented drought that is hitting the country. The Iranian President warned that the deteriorating water situation could push the government to take exceptional measures, noting that some areas in Tehran may face the risk of evacuation if it does not rain in the coming period. Pezeshkian revealed that the project to transfer water from the Gulf to the capital costs approximately "500,000 tomans per cubic meter," which is equivalent to about $10, questioning: "What economic logic accepts this spending? The development map in Iran must be redrawn radically." The Iranian President called for wider popular participation in addressing the economic and service crises, saying: "It is difficult for me to see the suffering of the people and I cannot help them… Solutions will not be achieved without the presence of the people and their trust." Tehran, which has a population of over 10 million, is facing a series of accumulated crises, including water scarcity, declining infrastructure, traffic congestion, and pollution, while local reports describe the development approach in the city as "unsustainable".
