TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has warned that the capital, Tehran, may face severe water shortages and could even require evacuation if rainfall does not improve soon.

Speaking during a visit to Sanandaj in western Iran, Pezeshkian said the country is grappling with overlapping economic, environmental, and social challenges, including inflation, sanctions, and worsening drought conditions.

“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, according to the newspaper Daily Itimad.

Turning to the deepening drought, Pezeshkian warned that dwindling rainfall and water reserves have placed Tehran in a critical situation.

“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,” he said.

He described the situation as “alarming,” stressing the urgent need for improved management and conservation of the country’s water and energy resources.

Tehran’s water supply relies on five main dams — Lar, Mamlu, Amir Kabir, Taleqan, and Latyan — with Amir Kabir being the largest.

However, rainfall in the capital has dropped sharply over the past five years, with precipitation this year about 40% below seasonal averages, according to meteorological data.

The prolonged drought has severely depleted both surface and groundwater reserves.

The Tehran Water Authority warned on July 20 that reservoir levels had reached their lowest point in a century.

Intermittent water cuts have already been implemented during the summer months.

On Nov. 3, Behzad Parsa, head of the Tehran Water Authority, said dam reserves could sustain the city for only two more weeks if dry conditions persist.

Pezeshkian previously cautioned on July 23 that without urgent and effective measures, providing sufficient water to the public would soon become impossible. — Agencies